Food for kids

I've been there! Trust me, you want to set up a buffet style table with the same things set out on both sides of long tables. That many kids will take forever to serve, especially at that age. The other solution is to prepare bag lunches with a variety of things ahead of time. And just leave them at each table or give them out if you prefer.

Now then, at that age peanut butter things are great. Snack crackers with peanut butter, even apple wedges with peanut butter. Banana & peanut butter sandwiches cut in quarters are popular. But make two kinds: mashed bananas mixed with peanut butter, and banana slices on top of spread peanut butter. Kids have different preferences as to how the bananas are treated.
All those fruit drinks in cardboard with straws are also indispensable. Remember, we are talking about lessening spills at that age and the ease and efficiency of clean-up.
Easier than making that many hamburgers is making burritos with soft wheat flour tortillas, grated cheese, warmed up refried beans from cans, ground hamburger, and a little mild salsa. Kids also just love a little ketchup in these.

And always try to check ahead to see who is vegetarian or has a different diet due to ethnicity. Ask the parents for suggestions on what their kids will eat in these cases. Not what they SHOULD eat under "ideal conditions", but what they have already shown a preference for and are likely to eat during the excitement of a party.

I could go on and on....but I'll let other people chime in!

Well! Looks like somebody's really entertained kids, judging from the last entry! I might add that I love to make firmed up jello shapes, using less water than normal, that makes them kind of rubbery and fun to chew, plus, kids can pick them up with their hands. You can also make these with carbonated water so they taste like pop rocks! Kids love 'em!

I have three kids and have given many birthday parties. So with all my trial and errors here are a few of the things that were easy to put together and had very little leftovers:

*I boil hot dogs (I hate to sound picky, but Hebrew International is always a hit), put them into a bun and wrap them individually in foil and put into a cooler (the bun gets steamed soft with this method, just like Costco`s). You could have a crockpot of chili available to spice up those hot dogs for any adults that may be there too, don`t forget the chopped onions and grated cheese.
*A bowl of frosted Animal Cookies with the sprinkles are fun with very little mess. At one of my parties I skipped the cake and frosting and made a cookie mountain, piling assorted cookies on a platter as high as I could and using bits of frosting attached fun cake decorator figures like fish, mermaids and such.
*I cut Velveeta into small chunks and smash one onto a Wheat Thin then push into bacon bits, and serve them on a platter. My kids love me to put these in their school lunches to assemble themselves.
*Ritz Crackers spread with creamy Jiff and topped with colorful M&M`s are another hit. I put one color around the edges and a different color in the middle to make flowers.
*A fruit salad is a must, just fruit, no sauces. Or even a large bowl of Red Flame Grapes.
*What about freezing a big box of Gogurts and piling them in a big metal bowl to keep cold? (I hadn`t tried that one yet, but it`s fairly healthy and self contained)


Hope this helps!.....Cari @www.allaboutthefun.com