3 Year Old Birthday Party - Allen,TX

Fruit, cheese, crackers, mini bagels & cream cheese, something to cut the sugar overload will be appreciated by the parents. Especially since some of the children will refuse to eat lunch after the cake and ice cream :)

Yep, have some simple snacks. Not "meals" but snacks.... and at least water. Kids get thirsty and need hydration.
Just buy pre-made stuff.

I always serve a meal. If you don't plan to do so, I would say, "Join us for cake and ice cream". That way parents can serve them a healthy breakfast.

Your party is around lunch time, and involves small kids, plus it might run over depending on how things go. So, yes, I do think you need to serve some actual food. I don't think parents are going to want their kids to load up on sugar that early and not have anything of value to eat. We always serve food, because that's how we do things.

If you want to avoid serving food, make the party an afternoon party, from 1-3 or 2-4, or specify that it's an "ice cream & cake" party, only.

I think if your party is at lunch time, then your guests will expect a lunch. Something as simple as some sandwiches (i.e. PB&J) and some fruit and drinks will do the trick.

No need for meals, but when kids are involved some snack foods are in order. while your time frame is past breakfast and before lunch, it is during 'snack time'. So some snacks would be a good idea.

No need for a meal. A very few snacks (cheese, crackers) will be fine. Do not go overboard. I would actually say don't do it at all but some parents will wish there were a protein (cheese) to sop up the sugar. I can't see a kid downing vast amounts of cake in the a.m. and most will either eat just cake or just frosting!

Don't stress. Have fun. Noon is the departure time and no parent should expect you to serve a full-on meal at a party during those hours.

We always have food. Middle Eastern Hospitality and excess rule the day in our house. In addition to a cheese and cracker plate, we have fruit, nuts, dips, pizza, and clear beverages (seltzer, ginger ale, white grape juice, apple juice and white wine). Birthday cake, cupcakes and suckers.

I get cranky if I haven't eaten, so I try to make sure that my guests aren't similarly indisposed.

If you think its too early for pizza, try having some ham and cheese or turkey and cheese pinwheels. Those are nice, not too messy and somewhat brunch like. quiche is another idea for your time of day. So are bacon and egg burritos if you want to DIY.

Good luck to you and yours.
F. B.

Snacks are always a good thing to have on hand at a party.
No matter what the time it is held.
Reason being, people get hungry no matter what.
It must be like Pavlov's dog. We think party, we get hungry.

Just have some snack foods/appetizers on hand:
-carrot stick (even get the mini ones so no slicing), celery sticks, cherry
tomatoes & Ranch dressing
-tortilla chips & salsa
-a diff kind of chip & dip
-plate of cookies
-maybe even some salami, crackers & cheese
-goldfish crackers
-bowl of fruit snack packages for the kids
-bottled water, juice boxes for the kids, sodas for the parent

Never underestimate that the kids will be hungry no matter what time it is. I had my daughters birthday party 6:30-8:30 right after a friends birthday that was 4-6 and they served pizza. So I just did a fruit tray and a cracker & cheese tray. The kids mowed down the fruit tray. I really don't think they needed any more than that, they also had ice cream & cake.

So I think doing a fruit and/or cracker tray might be a nice addition.

my favorite thing to do is get the cracker/cheese meat combo trays or making thoses types of things for parties that way its not too much effort and cheap