Birthday Nosh?
August 30, 2016 1:24 PM Subscribe
I'm hosting my young toddler's birthday party in a few weeks and looking for some party food suggestions, especially various finger foods.
It will be a late afternoon party with extended family, from a few young toddlers and several older/elderly relatives. Given the start time, age range, and distance some guests will travel, I need to serve what will may be snacks for some but a light dinner for others.
- The toddlers aren't picky, but many of the adults have specific dietary requirements or very conservative (bland) tastes. The toddlers are kind of messy eaters, of course.
- This question had some great vegetarian suggestions. Meat is ok, and some lower carb options would be nice (since some guests would like dinner and cake).
- Self-assembled meals have not worked out well for this crowd.
- We don't live near a big suburban grocery store or Costco.
Do you have a great recipe for delicious but not too adventurous or hard to eat party food?
It will be a late afternoon party with extended family, from a few young toddlers and several older/elderly relatives. Given the start time, age range, and distance some guests will travel, I need to serve what will may be snacks for some but a light dinner for others.
- The toddlers aren't picky, but many of the adults have specific dietary requirements or very conservative (bland) tastes. The toddlers are kind of messy eaters, of course.
- This question had some great vegetarian suggestions. Meat is ok, and some lower carb options would be nice (since some guests would like dinner and cake).
- Self-assembled meals have not worked out well for this crowd.
- We don't live near a big suburban grocery store or Costco.
Do you have a great recipe for delicious but not too adventurous or hard to eat party food?
Best answer: I would provide heavy appetizer-type things that will fulfill dietary requirements and that could be assembled to provide a toddler dinner (cheese cubes, veggie tray, hummus and pita chips, fresh fruit). Then you could do something a little more sophisticated that adults (or toddlers) could partake in. A crockpot meat would be a good option...pulled pork, shredded Mexican chicken. Something that you could put together ahead of time and then leave on warm for the party. I went to a first birthday party where the host made a lovely pumpkin soup (served from a slow cooker), a veggie quinoa salad, and rolls and that was perfect.
posted by LKWorking at 1:56 PM on August 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by LKWorking at 1:56 PM on August 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
I've attended at least two children's parties with vegetarian chili and all kinds of fixings on this side. This actually worked very well because dietary concerns were cordoned off and could also be recombined for the children (eg, a plate of crackers, pieces of cheese, avocado, etc). Also you can have a little bit of chili to eat something but not feel gross if you were eating, say, pizza. Especially if it's a healthier, vegetarian option.
posted by Tevin at 2:00 PM on August 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Tevin at 2:00 PM on August 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
We just hosted my toddler's bday this weekend and decided to keep the food all-American and easy. Mainly it was hot dogs and brats, with some vegan dogs and grilled squash for the veggie crew. My dad made a huge pasta salad the night before and my mom made potato salad. We set up a nacho bar and also cut up a watermelon. Everything just sat out and people ate whenever they wanted to. It wasn't adventurous, but it was all good, cheap, and let me focus on the party instead of fussing in the kitchen.
posted by galvanized unicorn at 2:27 PM on August 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by galvanized unicorn at 2:27 PM on August 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
When I was a military wife, I learned to make spare ribs to bring to potlucks. I don't even eat them, but they are a finger food and they are meat and I never had anything leftover to take home. They always disappeared and got rave reviews. Fancier foods often did poorly at such events because it was just too complicated.
I might also do something like bagel bites or, alternately, build-your-own flat bread pizzas with pizza quick sauce and your choice of toppings if you can figure out an easy way to heat them. These can be microwaved, but that might be a long line at the microwave, depending upon how many guests you have. If you have both a large oven and large cookie sheet to do a batch of them, plus a toaster oven to do singles for stragglers, this might work fine.
posted by Michele in California at 2:30 PM on August 30, 2016
I might also do something like bagel bites or, alternately, build-your-own flat bread pizzas with pizza quick sauce and your choice of toppings if you can figure out an easy way to heat them. These can be microwaved, but that might be a long line at the microwave, depending upon how many guests you have. If you have both a large oven and large cookie sheet to do a batch of them, plus a toaster oven to do singles for stragglers, this might work fine.
posted by Michele in California at 2:30 PM on August 30, 2016
Best answer: Cook some tortellini. Get some marinated mozzerella balls (the small-ish size) and some cherry tomatoes. Dump all together (with the marinade) in a pan. Fridge for a few hours. Serve on toothpicks. You could add salami or pepperoni chunks as you prefer.
Buy small clear plastic cups. Put dip in the bottom of each cup. Add carrot sticks, celery sticks, slices of peppers.
Frozen meatballs in bbq sauce in the crockpot. This is the only reason I would ever suggest using frozen meatballs.
Kielbasa & kraut
Manly meatballs
All of the above can be prepped in advance, isn't fussy about the temperature, and lasts a long time if you have leftovers.
posted by lyssabee at 3:22 PM on August 30, 2016
Buy small clear plastic cups. Put dip in the bottom of each cup. Add carrot sticks, celery sticks, slices of peppers.
Frozen meatballs in bbq sauce in the crockpot. This is the only reason I would ever suggest using frozen meatballs.
Kielbasa & kraut
Manly meatballs
All of the above can be prepped in advance, isn't fussy about the temperature, and lasts a long time if you have leftovers.
posted by lyssabee at 3:22 PM on August 30, 2016
Since my daughter's second birthday (she's 13 now) we've always had a Watermelon Man, a Watermelon Woman, a Watermelon Caterpillar ... anything we could make out of a watermelon and lots of fruit stuck on it with toothpicks, skewers, etc. It's super healthy, the kids adore it, and it's easy to eat.
I came up with this idea after taking my girl to a toddler's birthday party where the kids were mainlined pharmacy grade sugar and after about 35 minutes not a single one was happy, and most were in hysterics. Poor little bodies just could not process that much sugar.
posted by Capri at 4:27 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
I came up with this idea after taking my girl to a toddler's birthday party where the kids were mainlined pharmacy grade sugar and after about 35 minutes not a single one was happy, and most were in hysterics. Poor little bodies just could not process that much sugar.
posted by Capri at 4:27 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
What my 3yo eats at get togethers:
Sliced mixed fruit (berries, grapes, watermelon chunks). This is all he'd eat ever if allowed.
Pickles
Pretzels
Popcorn
Goldfish crackers/bunny crackers
Thick slices of ham sliced into French fry pieces
Green beans
Peas
Tater tots or sweet potato puffs
Ketchup licked off of fries
Chocolate chip cookies
The frosting (and only the frosting) off the cake/cupcakes
For his birthday, he had deconstructed deli sandwiches (he doesn't care about the buns) with deli ham slices, sliced cheese (didn't eat), grapes and green beans. Adult folks got to construct their sandwiches and had mixed green salad on the side.
posted by jillithd at 7:50 PM on August 30, 2016
Sliced mixed fruit (berries, grapes, watermelon chunks). This is all he'd eat ever if allowed.
Pickles
Pretzels
Popcorn
Goldfish crackers/bunny crackers
Thick slices of ham sliced into French fry pieces
Green beans
Peas
Tater tots or sweet potato puffs
Ketchup licked off of fries
Chocolate chip cookies
The frosting (and only the frosting) off the cake/cupcakes
For his birthday, he had deconstructed deli sandwiches (he doesn't care about the buns) with deli ham slices, sliced cheese (didn't eat), grapes and green beans. Adult folks got to construct their sandwiches and had mixed green salad on the side.
posted by jillithd at 7:50 PM on August 30, 2016
Pinwheel sandwiches! Fun for kids and substantial enough for the adults.
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/pinwheel-sandwiches/
posted by theappleonatree at 8:14 PM on August 30, 2016
I just went to a toddler birthday party, and the main food items were a giant platter of popcorn chicken with a couple of different dipping sauces, and a big platter of cut up fruit. Everyone was happy.
posted by gatorae at 8:42 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by gatorae at 8:42 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I'm definitely looking for alternatives to the topping bar/whatever bar/assemble your own sandwich approach. That just doesn't seem to work out for these guests.
Sadly, grilling is also out. The party is in an urban apartment with no access to an outdoor space or a grill
posted by sputzie at 4:38 AM on August 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sadly, grilling is also out. The party is in an urban apartment with no access to an outdoor space or a grill
posted by sputzie at 4:38 AM on August 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oops! I missed your first statement that self assembled meals are a no go.
I have attended lots of buffets. I am not a vegetarian, but I have special dietary needs and I get food poisoning super easily. Meat is the biggest risk for that. So, I often choose the vegetarian option. Thus, I know this can be flexible, if done right.
You could put out a buffet with snacks and presliced cake and finger foods. Include a meat dish, like fried chicken, that stands well on its own. Make sure some of the sides work well as vegetarian main dishes, like beans or vegetarian quiche.
Make things plain for the folks with dietary restrictions, then have salt, pepper, dips, toppings, etc on the side for folks who want to add some flavor.
posted by Michele in California at 9:53 AM on August 31, 2016
I have attended lots of buffets. I am not a vegetarian, but I have special dietary needs and I get food poisoning super easily. Meat is the biggest risk for that. So, I often choose the vegetarian option. Thus, I know this can be flexible, if done right.
You could put out a buffet with snacks and presliced cake and finger foods. Include a meat dish, like fried chicken, that stands well on its own. Make sure some of the sides work well as vegetarian main dishes, like beans or vegetarian quiche.
Make things plain for the folks with dietary restrictions, then have salt, pepper, dips, toppings, etc on the side for folks who want to add some flavor.
posted by Michele in California at 9:53 AM on August 31, 2016
Would you mind explaining how these things haven't worked for your group in the past. It seems to work for most people and you may get better suggestions if you explain what about it seems to be problematic for these folks.
posted by koahiatamadl at 9:59 AM on August 31, 2016
posted by koahiatamadl at 9:59 AM on August 31, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:35 PM on August 30, 2016