Kids’ Party Food Ideas & Tips

Children’s Party Food Ideas from Puddles Kids Parties in London

Organising kids' food for a children’s party can be a challenging task, but we are here to help you and share some tips from our experience as kids' party organisers! We want to share a few notes about planning a food break and why it’s a good idea, good menu ideas and a few practical tips.

Food break:

At Puddles parties, we include a short food break during which children have a moment to sit down to eat together. The break is very much needed after nearly an hour of playing party games as children can rest and regenerate for the next round of party activities. A sitting food break also means children don’t feel like they’re missing out on games because everyone eats together. Another great benefit is that sitting down to eat is not as messy as a buffet table for kids as children don’t walk around with plates. Finally, it is easier to control allergies. A child with an allergy can be given their own special allergy-safe food option while enjoying eating with friends.

Kids’ table at Kensal Rise Library, Queen’s Park

Kids’ table at Islington Ecology Centre, Highbury, Islington

Kids Menu:

Tip 1: Keep it simple

Keeping the kids' menu simple makes it easier for catering for different diets and allergies and makes a party more inclusive. Using simple ingredients also means most people will be able to enjoy the menu. Classic finger food works really well at kids' parties!

Sandwiches are a great and simple idea for a kids' menu. Even if they’re simple, they’re filling and nutritious, so give children lots of energy to continue playing. Not to mention, sandwiches are easy to make and most kids like them. A final benefit - sandwiches are great for special dietary requirements and allergies because it’s easy to switch fillings.

We recommend avoiding meat, eggs, and peanut butter in kids catering to make the menu available for all guests and allergy safe.

At Puddles, we offer sandwiches on wholemeal bread with organic vegan butter and cheese or jam. Our sandwiches can be adjusted to allergies.

Tip 2: Adding a healthy & nutritious snack instead of sweets

Adding a healthy snack is a great way to sneak more nutrients into children’s diets, but we know it’s often not easy. We love fruit kebabs and watermelon lollipops and cucumber slicers - they’re healthy and nutritious, but also visually appealing, so children are attracted to them! The natural sweetness of fruits makes the kebabs and lollipops tasty, but it doesn’t result in children eating lots of sugar even before the birthday cake.

Another great snack we recommend is popcorn. It’s easy to prepare and share among children. It looks nice and the children love it. Plus, it’s a fun snack but still quite simple and healthier than crisps or chicken nuggets.

Practical tips:

Tip 1: don’t bring too much food - food often goes to waste at kids' parties. We always recommend bringing sensible amounts of food that is quick and easy to set up. A quick & tasty snack works better than a full selection of sweets & snacks.

Tip 2: if you’re considering warm food, we recommend ordering pizza.

There is often little time to prepare and little time to tidy up after the party, so warm dishes add more stress and new problems. Venues and party organisers may also have restrictions on whether you can bring any kitchen appliances to heat the food, so you may not be able to heat your food properly. Pizza is the safest and most hassle-free warm kids party catering option.

Tip 3: Tableware & cutlery - remember to bring tableware and cutlery for kids and adults, and cake tableware. We recommend using biodegradable tableware when possible to reduce the environmental impact.

Party host Abi setting up tableware at Welsh Harp.

Tip 4: Ask your party provider or venue if they can provide catering

Sometimes your party provider or a party venue can provide kids and adults catering to make it easier for you on the day. Popular kids' party venues often have their own kids' parties menu, which also works great and saves you time and stress.

At Puddles, we offer kids catering, adults catering and lots of adult drink options in the Puddles party package! Please get in touch via email (click here)to find out more about what we can offer. Also, Puddles venues such as Gee Gee Cafe (Mill Hill), Museum of Brands (Notting Hill) and Belair House (Belair Park/Dulwich) offer their in-house kids and adults catering.

Puddles team preparing to serve Puddles kids catering

Tip 5: Cake & candles

Remember to bring a birthday cake and things like candles and a lighter. You may also think of how you want to serve the cake: during a party or as a part of party bags for guests to take home. If you want a birthday cake to be a part of party bags for guests, we recommend bringing cake boxes to pack the cake safely.

We can recommend great and checked cake makers in London - please get in touch (click here), and we’ll happily share our recommendations.

In Puddles party package, we help you with cake serving and cutting, and most importantly making the cake moment really special for a birthday child. We also bring things like a knife and a lighter, so you have less on your plate to think about.

Cake & cupcakes display at Puddles parties

Tip 6: Alcoholic beverages

Kids' parties are also a great way for parents to get to know each other, and alcoholic drinks like champagne are often popular drink options at kids' parties. We recommend that before you bring alcoholic drinks you check with your kids' party venue or your party provider if alcohol is allowed at the premises of a venue and a party.

Puddles, as a party organiser, allows sensible consumption of alcohol during our parties, but we kindly ask parents to let us know before the party about wanting to bring alcoholic beverages, so we confirm if that is ok at a chosen party venue. Many kids' party venues do not allow alcohol consumption, so it’s important to check ahead of the event to avoid potential breaches of terms and conditions at the venue.

Coffee and tea station - a popular booster for adults!

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Please get in touch with any questions!

Best

Puddles

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PuddlesDecember 14, 2022