The Party Catering Conundrum – Catering for Kids Parties

About The Author: DNA Kids are a UK based children’s entertainment company specialising in disco and party games for 4 to 11 year olds! With a range of themed parties available including the all new DNA Kids Magic Party for children ages 4-7 years of age!

What’s the best way to cater for children’s parties? While catering for a party can be as simple as putting on a buffet of snacks, it can often be more difficult than that. You need to factor in the size of the party, as well as how to source the most cost effective foods that can be kept out and replaced during the day. Similarly, it’s important to check for any allergies or special diets that children attending the party may have. Having help on the day and making decisions over the birthday cake and party bags is also essential to solving the party catering conundrum!

1 – Budgeting and Preparation
The first step to take with catering is to make sure that your budget is suitable for the party. Set a maximum limit for children that can be invited to the party, and budget accordingly. When preparing food, try to cook in the morning or the night before, and get help to put things together and store them if you don’t have space in your fridge. Some parents can also bring a few dishes that can be added to a buffet. You should also decide whether you’d rather cater in your home, or rent a local hall with a kitchen so you can have more space for preparation.

2 – Basic Foods
Some basic foods that are typically included at a children’s party include pizza slices, sandwiches, kebabs made with fruit and meat, crisps, sausage rolls and healthy vegetables and dips. You can also cook hot food like chicken wings and burgers, or host a BBQ outside. Most of this food can be bought frozen and heated up in the oven, or can be quickly prepared the same day.

3 – Check for Allergies and Diets
It’s important to check with parents if their children have any allergies or special diets. Vegetarian and vegan children can be easily catered for by including sandwiches with vegetarian spreads and dips, as well as crisps, nuts and sweets that don’t contain gelatin. Vegan children are somewhat harder to cater for, but can be provided with most vegetarian foods, as well as dairy free sweets, and meat substitutes like vegetarian sausages and burgers. Any specific allergies to nuts, gluten, wheat or dairy should also be checked beforehand to make sure that you have food ready for them.

4 – Setting Up on the Day
The day of a kids party can be a mad rush, making it important to have people to help you set up a table and keep the kitchen running. It’s a good idea to have some food ready when people arrive, and then add in more plates and hot food during the day, building up to the cake. Having paper plates and cups is also the easiest way to avoid having a lot of washing up to do at the end of the day.

5 – The Cake
For the cake, you can either go to a cakemaker, or make it yourself for less money. Most children are just happy to have a cake of any kind, although having a good decoration is important if they’ve made a specific request. If children do request this kind of cake, and you don’t think you can make it, ask a friend or family member for help.

6 – Party Bags
Catering for party bags is important if you have a lot of children at the party. It’s generally a good idea to have a mix of small sweets, as well as toys, without going overboard. Children can also take back a slice of cake in the bag.