Food for 1St B-day

A.- We just had my son's 2nd bday party and we got a party tray of soft pretzels from the Philadelphia Soft Pretzel Factory and it was a huge hit with the kids and adults. We got the all salt ones because at other parties, there were sesame ones, etc and they are always leftover. Have fun!

How about breadsticks and salad. Those both go well with pizza, and can be eaten by any vegetarians or people on diets.

Hi A. and Happy First Birthday to Lily!! Sounds like it'll be a fun day. Being a health conscious mom myself, I opt for hummus and pita chips, a veggie tray, and fruit. Have a great celebration!

How about a fruit salad or a veggy tray, both go well with pizza..

If you are going to have the party at lunch time or around lunch time I would order the pizza. But if it's after lunch then snacks will be fine.

Hi A.,

We did pizza, salad, and cake for my sons first b-day.
It worked out great - no one really cared about the food anyway. They all wanted to see my son eat his first cake!
I'm sure people will love and appreciate anything you do that day. Have fun!

it sounds like it will be funfor your daughter. If you are having adults don't forget something for them also. Some type of salad.Perhaps a pasta salad that is not mayo based seeing this is outdoors. I would go with a fruit tray and veggies. You'd be suprised how many kids will eat that if there is not that much chips around. I would also make sure you have small bottles of water for the kids. I but those rather than juice boxes. My kids don't like them anyways which I perfer. Maybe a snack mix rather than chips. Pretzels, goldfish, raisens, throw in a few marshmallows and the kids will love it. Oh don't forget a sharpie pen if you do water bottles so you can mark the kids name on them. That way they wont be drinking from someone elses. Have a great day.
L.

Hi A.,
The last three birthday parties I have been to (one of which was at a park) had pizza, juice boxes and cupcakes/cake for the kids. It was perfect. The kids don't really eat anyway and what parent doesn't like pizza? I think I ate more pizza than my 3 kids combined.
Good luck! And have fun.

I think just pizza will be fine. If you want to add something else, I'd just do something snacky like chips as your husband suggested. Or, if you'd rather, a veggie tray. My daughter will be one on June 29. I'll probably just have pizza and cake or just cake depending on what time I decide to have the party.

Hi A.,
All kids LOVE pizza!and chips. even the parent. i dont know if you are having guests who are out of town but if you have plenty of pizza i think you will be fine. if you want you could also have small individual bags of chips at each persons spot this makes it a little more fun and decorative.
you also have to watch what you serve small children. cheese curls are great but in the past i have found them to be a real choking hazzard for some reason. the juice boxes or pouches are a fun thing too instead of cups for the kids. your going to have cake or cupcakes i am sure so i think you will be fine.think about the money people spend at CHUCK E Ckeese. ONLY pizza. it sound fine.Pizza parties are GREAT for everyone.Just be careful the cheese isnt too hot its harder for kids to chew. Have a GReat Time.

Pizza's a good idea, along with the salads and fruit items as previously mentioned. Our daughter's 1st b-day party was in wintertime in our house, and we did a mixture of hot foods (chicken, rice pilaf, and lasagne along w/ salad, rolls). Just keep it simple, especially dealing with kids/families! REMEMBER: weather permitting, you'll be outside, so ANYTHING that can be served that you can easily throw out, the better off you'll be...less food to take home, and less mess to clean up! Another thought...maybe ask family members to bring something (fruit salad, macaroni/potato salad, soda/iced tea, etc.)? That could help your budget while giving your guests variety.

Have fun, and Happy Birthday Lily!

I don't think that you need an alternative to pizza, but it might be nice to add some fruit salad and maybe a veggie tray. Adding some healthy options may balance it out.

Have a fun party!!

We just went to a team pizza party and I brought cut up watermelon - which was gone in two minutes flat- great to have around on hot days. A fruit tray - and a vegetable tray would be nice - snacky types of food. I guess the birthday cake will be dessert! Hope this helps.

Fruit....grapes....strawberries....bananas....I remember a family memeber doing something real yummy years ago when I was younger.

Take one large watermelon. Cut off top, either an oval lid or a starburst pattern. Pull off top, it's not that hard, and hollow out the inside leaving a little pink around the inside. Cut up what you pull out into pieces. Add grapes, strawberries, bluberries....any kind of fruit you want, mix it all together and put it back in the watermelon. Replace lid and refrigerate to get cold. Have a serving spoon ready and there you go! Should stay cold for a long time inside the watermelon!

My friend had her daughter's first bday this Jan (inside) she did pizzas, chips, and a couple different salads. (She had around 50 guests). All the pizza went, so did the chips. There was some left over salad, but not a lot. I think pizza, chips & fruit salad should be enough (unless you are having a lot of guests).
Someone once told me that they put fruit salad into ice cream cake cones (the ones with the flat bottom) & then transports them in muffin trays. Its more work than a normal fruit salad, but its really cute. Also, if you plan to serve the fruit as a dessert you can stick it in the freezer (after its cut up) for a few hours before you go. Then if it has to sit outside for a while, it should be thawed, but still cold when its time to eat.
Happy first bday Lily & enjoy. (We have to plan my son's 1st for Aug).

I agree with you- you especially need to have snacks for the kids as well bc many of them won't eat pizza. I would have goldfish or other crackers/pretzels, and some fruit- either a fruit salad or watermelon or big bowls of grapes. For the parents, maybe just an additional simple green salad if you don't want to go overboard. I have been to a few birthday parties during lunch hours where there were limited food choices and people were starving. I left bad for the parents because it was obvious people were frustrated.

add some fruit maybe like a watermellon? or grapes

A.,
I think you are right. I would add chips, pretzels, nuts, etc as snacks and a big fruit salad. Or since it will ,most likely be hot out, why not pick up a big sandwich ring from your local deli? Don't forget LOTS of cold drinks and ice! All of that should be fine for a picnic atmosphere. With the cake you'll have plenty. Of course, I am from an Italian family, so our motto is always "better to have too much than not enough"!

For my sons b-days in the park we do a buffet line. I have a few people make something to bring. Pasta, potatoes, sandwich rings, chicken, fruit salad, and any other picnic foods. A few of my friends recipes have become very popular throughout the yrs.

My son's birthday is also June 22. We are having pizza and I will probably have chicken nuggets as an alternate choice for the kids. We are also having fruit salad, pasta salad and maybe a veggie tray. There will be chips, pretzels, and cheese curls, though I try to pick items like whole grain pretzels, Sun Chips, etc. Enjoy your daughter's first birthday!

My youngest son is turning 1 on July 2. We are having a party and small dinner. We are asking guests to bring a covered dish, that way everyone has a little something they like to eat. Maybe that would work for you? Just a thought!

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Being a health conscious mom, I would rather add some melons and fruits that are now in season than chips. Also, pretzels versus chips which are a little healthier.

Good luck!
A.

If there are going to be alot of kids you could also order chicken fingers or nuggets with the pizzas. My daughter is also Lily and will be 1 on July 8th. When I was pregnant everyone told me that Lily was a popular name but you are the first that I've encountered. Have a fun party.

If you have simple options for pizza toppings you probably cover most folks. If you feel like you want a little something extra, what about some fresh fruit or a veggie plate? They are easy and fun for guests to munch. You can do them yourself or buy them premade. If it's a hot day, cool fresh fruit would help guests cool off and stay hydrated.

Everyone has good ideas. Just think of stuff that will not good bad in the heat. And everything will be fine. And depending what time of day u are having it, will depend on how much u need to have there. Have fun. And hope that it is a nice day.

I would include a veggie tray and a fruit tray. It helps on a hot summer day to have a nice piece of watermelon or cool carrots to help satisfy an appetite without making you way thirstier.

Happy Birthday!

How about packing some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or soft pretzels?

I'd say still keep it simple. Its your daughters birthday nad you want to be able to enjoy her day with out having to tend to the food too much. I say a simple tossed salad with some dressings to choose form to pur on would be a great extra. Your probably having cake too I presume so that and a drink should be enough. Hope you have a good time!