Green party for first birthday

[Piratelady2525]

So my DS is turning one soon, and so far we are trying to plan a really green party.  We are having it outside at my parent's house, where there is alot of land to run around on, two mini donkeys to feed and pet, and a playhouse to play in.  I plan on making a healthier carrot cake for him to demolish, which everyone expects to see.  I have also requested that people not get him toys, but maybe books or simple things, like wooden blocks or the like (I know my mother plans to get him a soccer ball).  I need some ideas for food for the party that is simple but fairly healthy, and that would please even the less crunchy family members that are coming.  We dont want to spend much, and we want to stay as eco-friendly for this as we can (tho going green and staying inexpensive do not always go together).  Suggestions ladies?

[jimblejamble]

For Jude's party we had...

Black bean burgers with ketchup, mustard, pickles, tomato, and romaine lettuce to top them with
A veggie platter with cherry tomatoes, broccoli, peas, cucumber, olives, and carrots and dip
Chips & guacamole
Date cake
Water to drink
Homemade popsicles. I just blended fruit and poured them into dixie-type cups. I did blueberry with rice milk, banana with peanut butter and a swirl of chocolate sauce, and strawberry/banana.

[cparkly]

I like you ideas very much. It sounds like a wonderful time.

We brought DS to the fabric store and had him help pick out fabric for a reusable "Happy Birthday" bunting, a festive bib, and table clothes. He picked sheer rainbow fabric, cat fabric, and musical note fabric. Such a funny and festive variety!

We served some of my DS's favorite foods; fruit salad, meatballs, grilled chicken kebobs, quinoa salad. I made a little maple syrup sweetened carrot cake with whipped cream "frosting" that he had all to himself and traditional carrot cake/ cream cheese frosted cupcakes. I decorated the cake and cupcakes with mint leaves and violets. 

I made a crown of leaves and brightly dyed feathers. Instead of presents we asked that everyone write a letter to DS for him to open on his 10th birthday and we made a "time capsule", complete with his hand and footprints in clay. We read "On The Day You Were Born" and played music and danced. Then, we spent a quiet evening, after his naptime, at the beach.

Last year (DS's 2nd birthday), we reused the bunting and table clothes. He did not want to wear the crown or bib from his 1st birthday. But, he did want to help make a new crown. We made a zucchini, black cherry chocolate cake that I cut out like a vintage pick-up truck and decorated with cream cheese frosting and berries. We served the same food because it was what he wanted, again.

Later that week we brought him on his first real camping trip by the ocean and had a blast.

[Piratelady2525]

Oh I love both of yalls ideas!  Im definitely leaning towards black bean burgers, and I also love the crown idea!  I think DS would love it, since he likes to wear hats.  Thank you so much!