DDs candy-themed b-day, trying to figure out menu and more

[dauphinette]

*please feel free to move this, I wasn't sure if I remembered this being where to post b-day related stuff or not*


So My dd's b-day is November 30, the party is candy/treat themed and I have a few issues I am struggling with. I feel like it's fine to have let her pickt the theme, even though I do restrict her sweet intake most of the time, not saying she can't have them, but not like the standard american child might with sugary cereal for bfast, dingdongs for lunch treat etc...........but I want to have some healthy things mixed in for a few reasons.
1. I don't want all my friends to be mad @ me for all the junk, lol!
2. Some of the children coming have dietary restrictions like diabetes, aspergers, allergies etc.
3. I want all of the shildren to see a mix of appealing things and get the vibe that I think they are all treats, you see what I mean?

So first question:
What kinds of things should I offer on the candy/treats bar besides candy and the cookies, brownies, cupcakes and birthday cake (that I will be making from scratch using the healthiest ingredients I can squeeze in) (DD requested the pink and purple yogurt covered pretzels which I thought was a great idea, btw)

And then I also want to feed the grownups something, well, grownup and I need some food ideas that can accomodate pescatarians/vegetarians/standard meat eaters and anything in between because it will be a diverse bunch! And this all on a budget, sinc3 after all we are moving right around this time, and cross country might I add! So crazy to have al this at one time, I tell ya!

And then also need soem ideas for the kids lunch foods, healthy, enticing and easy but also on a budget....

So thank you anyone who made it this far and thanks SO so SO so much!

[CarrieMF]

You could take healtheir food & turn it into treat like forms. IE, a toothpick through a square of cheese with a grape on either side to look like a wrapped candy. "buns" in the same of candycanes, you could dye some bread if you thought kids would eat it. Or you could bake flat bread/biscuit & stick a sucker stick in them.

[woodchick]

nak

How about fruit skewers? My girls think they're awesome you could use the Edible Arrangements website for display inspiration!

[baglady]

I once saw pineapple "lollipops" in a magazine. They were made with pineapple rings skewered with grapes or cherries in the middle and served in a vase or flowerpot filled with marbles.

Not healthy at all, but I saw a make your own favor candy bar on TV once. It was big jars filled with different candies and little bags that the guests could fill as they wished. It might make you unpopular with the parents, but it was so cute.

As far as adults go, you really can't worry about their dietary restrictions. It's a party for the kids, not the adults. I wouldn't think any adult with a restriction would come expecting to be fed to their specifications. I'm lactose intolerant and I always eat before I go to parties. I always assume they'll be dairy. I think this especially holds true if you're on a budget. I would only worry about accommodating kids, but that's just me.

[crunchy_mommy]

Love the fruit skewers idea... you could also do homemade popcorn, colorful dried fruits & nuts...

For actual food, you could do a taco/burrito buffet... have various meats/beans/veggies/etc. plus taco shells & whole wheat tortillas... maybe with a Mexican rice side dish & a pot of veggie chili. I think that would work for a variety of eating styles AND for the kids too. Or on the same idea but a bit simpler, a sandwich buffet, with deli meats/cheeses, veggie spreads (like hummus), lettuce, tomato, and a few bread or wrap options. Add an simple pasta or potato salad (I love the Moosewood potato salad which is vegan) and I'm sure everyone will be happy... don't make it more complicated than it needs to be!!

[jeanine123]

If you can find some nice cantaloupe or pineapple you could cut them into shapes.

If you don't mind deli meats you could also cut those into shapes along with the bread and cheese for make your own sandwiches.

I agree that skewered fruit and veggies would also be fun.

Are you having this party around a typical meal time? If not then I personally wouldn't worry about having a meal for the adults.

You could also take a natural fruit leather and cut that into fun shapes too.

I think the real key to making the healthier stuff as attractive as the treats is to present it in a unique way.

[lilyka]

Chicken and tuna salad can get a lot of mileage if you put it in something fun like a phillo cup (this would look like a cup cake!) or pastry puff. Also any kind of healthy sandwich cut into a fun shape. you can probably even find cookie cutters in shapes of candy or cupcakes.

mini bagels with flavored cream cheese.

edible arrangements and even just fruit trays are huge treats for kids. Fruit dipped in chocolate is a nice mix of candy and real food.

Walking salad is fun. vanilla pudding, marshmallows, chocolate chips and fruit cocktail (in fruit juice) mix it all together and put in an ice cream cone.

veggies with a "dip bar".

Actually, presentation is a big deal. Maybe wrap some carrot sticks or whatever in cellophane and tie ends like candy. or cut veggies into fun shapes. a set of small metal cookie cutters is what I use.

veggie or fruit kabobs are always a hit.

Meat and cheese could easily be cut into shapes the right size for crackers.

[ollyoxenfree]

When I saw the title, I honestly thought this was the Holiday Helper thread, lol!

Love some of the suggestions though, and I agree with making the healthy stuff as attractive as the candy.

For the unhealthy stuff:

Ambrosia salad (that cavity-inducing stuff with the mini marshmallows and coconut and pineapple) would suit.

Fairy bread would also suit.

[Mackenzie]

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree

When I saw the title, I honestly thought this was the Holiday Helper thread, lol!

Love some of the suggestions though, and I agree with making the healthy stuff as attractive as the candy.

For the unhealthy stuff:

Ambrosia salad (that cavity-inducing stuff with the mini marshmallows and coconut and pineapple) would suit.

Fairy bread would also suit.

Me too... I had to look and see who posted it...

[ErinYay]

You could also do a lot of big, fake candy decorations if you're feeling particularly crafty. Round foam wrapped in personalized candy wrappers or pretty fabric and hung from windows or ceilings would be really cute, and low in sugar! Perhaps also do little homemade rock candy kits for favors- though how much other parents would appreciate you giving their kids little jars of colored sugar water probably will vary!

[JudiAU]

I thought this was the holiday helper thread too... hee hee

I'd go with silly fruit on skewers, cheese in pretty patterns (like mosaics), english muffin pizza, and tofu pudding. I'd personally rethink including a birthday cake with all that sugar. The sweet treats (brownies, cupcakes) are more than enough goodies without yet another treat on top. As a parent/guest, that would put me over the edge.

[LaughingHyena]

My intimidate thought is to make some kind of sweets at the party and let the children take them home. Something like chocolate truffles that they make into balls and roll in different toppings. Rolling marzipan into shapes is another no cook activity that my kids have enjoyed.

It does sound like you have quite a range of dietary restrictions to cope with though.

I think it's fun to name foods too, my kids love bunnies best crunching carrots so much more than plain old carrot sticks.

[Smidge]

If you want sweets that will satisfy any diet, I highly suggest www.yummyearth.com

I agree with the pp's too

[dauphinette]

Originally Posted by JudiAU

I thought this was the holiday helper thread too... hee hee

I'd go with silly fruit on skewers, cheese in pretty patterns (like mosaics), english muffin pizza, and tofu pudding. I'd personally rethink including a birthday cake with all that sugar. The sweet treats (brownies, cupcakes) are more than enough goodies without yet another treat on top. As a parent/guest, that would put me over the edge.

I know, it really does seem like a lot, I just don't know if my mommy-brain can let go of the idea of the cake...............tough one.

[dauphinette]

I very much appreciate all of the ideas.

So what I am thinking as of right now is:

Fruit cut into fun shapes, (loved the pineapple lollipops idea!) and also veggies to dip which is fun for all ages and then I'm thinking I will make sandwiches for the kids that are both pbj and then meat an cheese and veggie cucumber and cut them into fun shapes and then for the adults I will get two french bread loaves and make a veggie sandwich and a meat sandwich with some yogurt pretzels and a potato salad to round it all out.
Thanks again and if anybody wants to add anything else feel free!

[woodchick]

I just remembered that I had seen this cake on a blog...

CandyLand Cake

[rhiOrion]

So, totally not healthy- but how about a decorate your own treat bar?

You can take your cookies and brownies and set out some different colored icings, sprinkles, etc, and let them decorate their own.

How about spinach brownies or black bean brownies?

Apple fruit leather wrapped around cheese. mmmm. that might be more for the adults, though

[crunchy_mommy]

Sounds great!!

Originally Posted by dauphinette

I know, it really does seem like a lot, I just don't know if my mommy-brain can let go of the idea of the cake...............tough one.

You could do a cupcake or brownie cake... like this: http://www.cupcakecakestand.net/wp-c...2722755c81.jpg (or just display them on stacked wrapped boxes so you don't have to get a special stand).

Or skip the small cupcakes & do a giant one for the cake: http://www-static.weddingbee.com/wp-...antcupcake.jpg