Will you guys lend me your opinion on dd's birthday party food?

[oatmeal]

I am trying to settle on exactly how much variety of food I need at my dd's upcoming 2 year old birthday party next week.

We are having it in a park 20 minutes from our home via freeway so portability is an issue. I advertised pizza and birthday cake on the invite and I confirmed with the pizza place today they will deliver hot pizza to us at 11:30 in the morning in the park that day.

I was going to make a fresh fruit salad (I have 18 adults and 10 toddlers rsvpd so far with four more outstanding) to go with the pizza to break it up, but do I need more? Do I need chips and guacamole and other appetizers in order not to look like a poor woman trying to throw a feeble party? I would probably put all that stuff out automatically if I weren't broke at the moment.

We are vegetarian and I am not serving any meat -- there will of course be drinks and lots of birthday cake...

Please let me know what you think/suggest...

[cat_astrophe]

Most people do not go to a 2 year old's b-day party expecting appetizers and such. I think your guests will be pleasantly surprised by the fruit salad, I know I would be.

If you must add something, make it something toddler friendy (i.e. finger foods, nothing messy).

Have a great time. Happy birthday to your dd!!!

[oatmeal]

thanks cat

I am bumping this up becasue I would love to see more opinions - at least in the poll.

thanks ladies!

[oatmeal]

hi again. Please vote in my little poll

when I come back in the morning it would be splendiferous to see what you guys think

Thanks!~

[Dar]

I would second the finger-food idea... fruit salad sounds potentially messy and requires bowls and forks and all, but you could do some fresh veggies and dip pretty easily, fo about the same cost...

Or maybe finger-food-fruit, like orange and apple slices?

Dar

[JessicaS]

I am with Dar some veggie or fruit slices would probably make a nice addition.

[Susana]

I think what you have planned sounds lovely, and more than enough food-wise.

Happy Birthday to your daughter

[SamuraiEarthMama]

birthday cake for a 2-y.o.'s party is just fine... you're really going the extra mile with both pizza AND fruit salad (in the winter, no less! THAT won't be cheap!).

the only thing i'd add (i don't think you mentioned it) is something to drink...

the only time i've ever wondered about food at a party is when a parent schedules a party over a mealtime (noon or 4 p.m.) and then doesn't serve anything but cake. if you want to do just cake, then have a 1 or 2 p.m. party, please!

just my 2 cents,

katje

[oatmeal]

Originally posted by klsabin
birthday cake for a 2-y.o.'s party is just fine... you're really going the extra mile with both pizza AND fruit salad (in the winter, no less! THAT won't be cheap!).


katje

You poor Midwesterners! LOL

We have fruit all thetime in Los Angeles at regular prices... lucky us.

Thanks to all for your feedback!!!

[lilyka]

I think something the kids can munch on would be good. Maybe some crackers, pretzles, raisins or grapes or somehting. Nothing spectacular. I think it sounds just fine though. If people know that is what you are serving and are coming anyway they must be OK with it. Don't worry. PS I went way over board with food for dd 2nd b-day and no one touched any of it.

[oatmeal]

Originally posted by lilyka
PS I went way over board with food for dd 2nd b-day and no one touched any of it.

I always do that too, that's why I'm torn. At our party the parents will be running around looking after the kids too , so eating won't be too leisurely.

I kind of decided to make some sauteed baby artichokes in addition - just to add to my stress:LOL

For some reason I'm really not worried about the kids. They'll love the fruit salad and then straight away pizza will be there - then after that - cake.:

[lilyka]

Originally posted by oatmeal
I kind of decided to make some sauteed baby artichokes in addition - just to add to my stress:LOL

yummy, can i come?

[oatmeal]

Originally posted by lilyka
yummy, can i come?

Sure c'mon over!!

[mountain mom]

Sounds like a well thought out party! Maybe the addition of some snacking veg is an idea, like celery, carrot, broc, cauli,edamane or turnip pieces. I do think however that since the pizza will be veg just the fruit salad probably will do!

[joesmom]

fruit salad & pizza sounds spiffy to me, maybe throw in a bag of cheesies or something. 2 year olds don't care though!! they're waiting on the cake! :LOL

[lorijds]

I wish you would quit fretting about this. Ihave read your posts on your dds birthday party with some saddness. It shouldn't be this stressful!

Stick with pizza and cake. Who the hell cares if you have enough appetizers and the like. When I try to get my kids to eat at the park, they usually don't, anyhow. They just want to run around and play.

And some friends you have anyhow, if they are going to be jerks about food at a two year olds party. Better off without them, because to have *them* providing validations for *you* when *they* are jerks is not something you need to keep perpetuating. I have been to plenty of parties where we have ran out of food. Do I talk about my friends behind their backs, snicker at their inability to predict exactly how much every one will eat on any given day!?!?!? Of course not! Why would I?

Who is this party for, your daughter or your friends?

Do what I do at all my kids' parties...serve alcohol to the adults. Then everyone is happy!

Seriously, don't stress this so much! What are you teaching your daughter...that this is HER day, to celebrate how happy you are about her becoming a part of your life; or is it about impressing your friends, so they will like you? Of course it is about the first. Keep it in perspective, oatmeal. Enjoy your daughter and her birthday. Have pizza and cake. Laugh and love and play and have fun at the park.

[EFmom]

Pizza and cake is fine. Honestly, these are two year olds. I spent way too much time agonizing about the food for my dd's first couple of parties. The way little kids are, I could have just brought home the food from the store and dumped it directly in the trash. It would have saved a lot of time.:LOL They are too excited at parties to eat much.

Now I have the parties at obvious non-meal times. It's cheaper and less stressful.

[traceface]

The party sounds well thought out oatmeal. The parents will just be happy that you went beyond pizza and cake and thought of them too. how did you figure out how many pizzas you needed to order for that many people?

Also just had to say - may your great homeade sauteed artichokes not be destined for the same women who tried to make you pay for their wine & meat when you went out on your birthday! :LOL

Are the 2 yr olds from that playgroup invited?

[oatmeal]

yes traceface, and every last one of them is coming - with their hubands! It's totally those moms who are stressing me out the most. There is one other couple who are also making me feel inadequate i nthe food department - they are dear friends of mine -butthey came to her first b-day party where I made finger sandwiches and pasta salad to go with the cake and they didn't eat anything -like they were avoiding eating - which made me feel like they hated what I had to offer...

I have to say hte one mommy who was in charge of the dinner from hell offered to take dd the morning ih ave to getthe party ready - which I thought was very nice of her. She still isn't friends with me anymore like it was in the beginning - but she's been very civilized. I almost feel like calling her and asking how many dishes she had at her sons 2 year old party just to find out and put my mind at ease.

We can't have alcohol in the public park BTW - it's not legal -- plus I don't want parents drinking and driving with their babies in the car... but i get what you mean lorijds...

I really appreaciate everyone's input. It should be great as lon as the ducks decide to be there tht morning and the rain stays away!

Thanks to all of you for voting and for the feeback - I really appreciate it.

[EFmom]

You know, I don't think the adults didn't eat because they didn't like the food. I think sometimes they just feel funny eating a lot of food at kids' parties. I've been to many parties where that happens.

I think if you have a bunch of family there or close friends, and they start to dig in, others follow. But if nobody gets started on the food, people are hesitant to be the one to start pigging out. KWIM? It's like how sometimes it's hard to find somebody to be the first in line to the buffet, but that doesn't mean they hate the food.