It's that time again - your little one's most important day - their birthday.
You have a lot going on in your mind - decor, invites, activities and food. So many things to organize and so little time. There are a lot of boxes to tick to make the day special, and as a parent, you want to ensure you get everything right.
When it comes to party preparations, food ideas take the spotlight. You have several options and so little time to get everything ready. With the increased inflation that we are facing, you also want to keep it within the budget and make sure that you give the best for the kids and the rest of the people attending the special day.
Savouries, cake and whatnot - there's so much to explore. But let us tell you that with a little bit of creative sauce, it is not a mammoth task to bring out a fantastic spread on a budget. You will also need to ensure that you have the correct quantity and not less. A birthday party where food runs out is a disaster.
The last thing you want to see happening is food running out, and you need to order in. The wait from sending an order and for the food to arrive will feel like one of your life's most extended waiting times. Also, preparing every dish from scratch is something that you want to avoid. You must complete the different lists before the party; you don't need to spend more time in the kitchen.
So here are 8 easy-to-make kids' party food on a budget that anyone can make.
1 Chocolate-fudge Brownies and Marshmallow slices
At the bakery counter, you can easily find large slices available for sale. Instead of spending hours and hours baking, you can easily purchase a set of yummy-looking ones and cut them into dainty pieces to serve.
You can add sprinkles on top of these store-bought marshmallow slices or a little bit of icing sugar to the brownies to make them even more delicious.
Pro-tp: If you present them well with the toppings, they can look like you made them yourself.
2 Fairy Bread
Everyone loves fairy bread!
It is one of the most popular items everyone wants to see at a party - the kids are going to love them, and they are pretty easy to make. If you have a theme for the party, you can match the shape of the bread to it.
If you get this right, it will be a delicious treat and something everyone will talk about for weeks after the party.
3 Fruits
Seasonal fruit platters are great for bringing balance to your spread. Don't go shopping for exotic ones since they can increase your bill because you want them in large quantities.
Serve the fruit cut in slices, in small dishes or as fun kebabs. Kebab sticks and fruits are a great combo; they look colourful and attractive.
Another option will be to cut out shaped pieces of fruit with the help of a cookie cutter so that they look attractive to eat to anyone. For instance, you can use a star cookie cutter to cut a start off a watermelon.
If you are having a fairy-themed party, you can use these stars on a fairy wand.
4 Lollies
Kids love lollies at a party. An excess of sugar isn't the best thing to have at a party, and you can limit this intake by having lollies.
You can start by serving each kid around 3 to 4 lollies each. The other option will be to have a pre-packaged one for each kid. You can get creative with this and have boxes that match the party theme.
You can even use mini cupcake papers or small paper bags tied with a little ribbon.
5 Mini Fish and Chips
Serving fish and chips is excellent if you have a large crowd or have a fish shop close by so that they will make them for you.
Making fish and chips takes time, so you must go shopping a few days earlier to get your supplies. Check to see if you can arrange a specific catheter to help out or if there are quick and easy recipes from YouTube to help you make your own.
Noodle boxes or any other small food boxes can come in handy to serve this so that it will reduce the spill and make life easy.
6 Popcorn
Freshly popped popcorn is a popular dish and an excellent alternative to chips. The best thing to do is to leave the popcorn plain with no butter or any additives so that kids can enjoy them without any allergies when they eat.
Serving off cardboard boxes or noodle boxes can help to allocate the quantity and to reduce any added work when cleaning up.
7 Sausage Rolls
Sausage rolls are a fun treat at any party. There are ample options available at the supermarket store that you can purchase and cook at home.
Add a little bit of milk or egg on top before you start baking for that nice brown look.
8 Shaped Sandwiches
Sandwiches are by far the oldest treat, and we are pretty disappointed that it doesn't get the attention it deserves. A simple heart-shaped jam sandwich is a great mood fixer for any party. You can even add marmite, vegemite or cheese as fillers, and they will be an instant hit.
If you are also making fairy bread, you can use the same loaf of bread, saving on cost and wastage.
Watch what the kids eat!
Most importantly, before the party, make sure you reach out to the parents to see if the kids have any allergies or food choices so that you can make arrangements for any particular food. You don't want anyone that comes to your kid's special day to go home on an empty stomach.
Also, if you have food on a table, mark it and let everyone know what's in it to prevent any accidental allergies from happening. It is always a good practice to have an adult serve the kids so that they can manage the food and ensure nothing of this nature happens.
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