Food & Drink

• The food and drink are special features of the party for many children.  Ensure you have plenty of food and lots of variety, offering both special treats and healthy alternatives.
• To ensure children do not fill up on too many sweet foods and drinks, it is a good idea to have colourful fruit platters on the tables when the children arrive so that if they are hungry they can start on these.
• Along with the favourite chips, cheezels and fairy bread, try to include more substantial food such as sandwiches, marinated chicken wings or chicken ribs, homemade sausage rolls, chips, hamburgers and some cheese and fruit (skewered fruit rockets are always a hit).  Arrange them cleverly and the children may not even notice!
• Consider the time of day that you are having the party and the appropriate food for that time.  Is your party at lunchtime or is it just an afternoon tea party?
• Make sure the food is served at a reasonable time; you don't want a room of starving children!  You also don't want children to gorge themselves and then feel sick!
• A fun idea is to tailor the food to your theme.  For girls you can have everything that is pink – cupcakes, marshmallows, biscuits, lollies, jelly, and meringues.
• Provide lots of drinks for active kids, including sugar free alternatives.  Not all children like (or are allowed) soft drinks.  Pop top water or juices are a great alternative-they can even be themed to your party decor!
  
• Another great idea is to write each child's name on a sticky label and stick it to their cup/bottle. That way you save on cups and each child can keep their same cup for the duration of the party.
• Different drink ideas may include; water, lemonade (try making it yourself), cordial, spiders (soft drink and ice cream), fruit punch or juice and milkshakes.
• Serve ice in fun different shaped ice cubes.
• Have everything ready and warm so you are not slaving in the kitchen and missing all the fun or serve food that can be prepared earlier and served cold.