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What Are Some Good Kids' Party Food Ideas?
What is it about children’s parties that give moms hives? Why is it so panic-inducing to give a kids’ party? In a word: food. It seems many more children have food allergies these days, so when thinking about kids’ party food, it’s always a good idea to call the moms of each child on the guest list and find out if there are any allergies or special diets to consider.
If no one is allergic to peanuts, then the list of kids' party food increases exponentially, since most children love peanuts and peanut butter. A healthy snack is peanut butter on celery sticks, or having dry-roasted peanuts available. Fruit, other raw vegetables with ranch dip, and cheese cubes are all healthy party foods for kids. Most children, even those on special diets, can eat these examples of kids' party food.
For a smaller party, kids can help make their own party food. Split mini bagels or halved pitas are perfect little pizzas, and an assortment of toppings can be laid out so the guests can assemble their own pizzas, and an older child or Mom can toast them in the oven. Small triangles of bread can also be spread with peanut butter, raisins, bananas and other tasty toppings for mini sandwiches.
Soft pretzels are another great party food. Most children love them and they also can be served with a variety of sauces, including mustard, ketchup, marinara sauce, ranch dressing, and for the sweet tooth, chocolate sauce. Sliced apples with caramel dip also make good party food for kids. Almost anything that can be eaten with the fingers, in fact, appeals to children. Parents may want to limit true junk food such as chips, although these may be served in moderation. Mild salsa eaten with tortilla chips increases the nutritional value of the food, as well as being a tasty condiment.
Most children will be happy with a basic assortment of snacks and treats. Sweets can be kept to a minimum, so as not to send children home on a sugar high, but it is a party after all, and a few sweets are acceptable. Parents can keep the sugar content of the kids' party food lower by serving items such as sugar-free ice cream with a regular brownie or piece of cake. Most children will not be able to tell the difference.
If a parent plans ahead and thinks creatively, preparing kids' party food that is tasty and healthier is not nearly as daunting a task.
Discussion Comments
Mini pigs in a blanket are also nearly always hits. Just roll mini-wieners in crescent dough and bake. Again, this is one that can be used with all kinds of dipping sauces, including the universal one: ketchup.
@ Glasshouse- You gave some cool examples of party food that involve creating shapes. I have a few techniques that I could add to the list.
Kids love rolled foods. Little taquitos, flautas, and egg rolls are usually big hits. Add a few different dipping sauces and arrange them into towering piles, and your troop of kids will be happy.
If you don't want to go the fried food route, you can make rolled sandwiches. Stack luncheon meat and cheese on slices of wheat bread and roll them up, tying them off with a little piece of dried corn husk ribbon.
You can do the same with tuna or peanut butter and jelly (or thinly sliced bananas, honey, etc.). Just be sure to spread the toppings thin, and leave a little space around the edges so the toppings don't ooze out when you roll them.
Cookie cutters can be useful in preparing finger foods for a kid’s party. You can use a star or heart shaped cookie cutter to cut stacks of corn tortillas. After you cut them, deep-fry them to make fun shaped tortilla chips. You can also use blue, white, and yellow corn tortillas to make the chip bowl even more interesting.
You can also use bigger cookie cutters to cut lunch meat, grilled cheese, and peanut butter sandwiches. A sandwich platter with fun shaped miniature sandwiches is sure to be a hit.
You can even use small cookie cutters to cut the skin off cucumber slices, and make fun shapes out of bell peppers. These are just a few creative ideas I can think of.
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