Do You Have to Serve Lunch at a Birthday Party?

To me starting between 11 and 12:30 implies lunch, 4 to 6 implies dinner, starting at 7 and ending the next day implies you are nuts!

When I get an invite for 1-3pm I understand that there will not be a meal, simply because its after lunch (generally 11-1 and before dinner (after 4pm). I would just put on the invite "cake and ice cream will be served" and forget about "snacks". Good luck and have fun!!!

absolutely not. If you are not planning it at a meal time then no "food" is nessesary. light snacks and cake are fine.

No, you do not have to do that. If it was from 11:30-1, it may be expected. But if you put on your invitations something like "Please join us from 1-3 for cake and ice cream", then that is exactly what is expected. In the meantime, I ENJOY food at parties, so I serve it, so maybe that's where your husband is coming from. But no, it's not expected if you just word what they should expect.

I see no reason to provide a full meal. The time of day is after lunch and before dinner so to my way of thinking....ice cream and cake sounds great to me!!! I think too many people feel like they have to make a "production" out of their childrens party...the kids are just interested in getting together to play...they don't care about all of the other extras

Just put "cake and ice cream will be served" so that people know to not expect lunch and will feed their kids a real meal before the party.

I think that sounds just fine! My experience with kids' birthday parties is that the kids don't eat the food anyway, just the cake and snacks. If I were you, I would make a note on the invitations that it will be cake and icecream since it will be from 1-3. That way parents will know to feed their kids lunch beforehand.

Here's the thing, it's your party and you can serve whatever you want. I do.
If it was me I would think snacks and cake will be perfectly fine! Occasionally we have done barbequed hot dogs or burgers for an afternoon b-day party in the summer... but really, it's totally up to you.
Also how much do 4 year olds eat in a two hour period? Lunch and cake? I don't think so...
Have fun!

Some people eat lunch at 1 p.m., so, I think that if you want the party to begin at that time, you may want to indicate on the invitation, "cake and ice cream, and kid-friendly snacks to be provided." I think all of those late eaters would appreciate knowing this information ahead of time.

I know this sounds crazy, but I personally think it is tacky to have a party and not serve food. A friend of mine does this, and I have to admit I don't want to go to her son's parties anymore. To me it feels insulting. I'm good enough to give your kid a present but not good enough to break bread with.

If you're serving at 1:00 then yes, you should be providing lunch. If you have the party at 2:00 then you can stick to snack foods and cake. Assuming you're not sending invitations last minute, the time 2:00-4:00 won't be a problem. If it's a problem for you, like if you have kids in the house that still nap around that time, then you have the party when it's convenient for YOU and don't worry about anticipating when it will be convenient for your guests. If it's not convenient then they'll RSVP "not attending."

But yes, 1:00-3:00 should have some simple lunch choices. You could serve sandwich halves or even sandwich quarters (turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, PB&J if no one is allergic, tuna) or pizza.

I'd put on the invite snacks, cake and ice cream. That lets parents know what to expect. The time is fine. The kids will not go home hungry. :)

If you have it at 1:00, that usually implies that you will not be serving lunch, and people only expect you to serve cake and ice cream. However, if you want to make sure the kids been fed beforehand, you could make it at 1:30, and then people will definitely get the hint.

Sorry, but 1:00 would imply lunch for the kids. If you just want to give snacks, then you should do it at a snack time. Unless your snacks are healthy lunch like food, then you should not just give snacks. I would be bummed if my kids went to a party and they did not offer any real food, but just snacks and dessert. I know it is a pain now with all the crazy party stuff now (I too remember when we were little, but even then, if we had it at a meal time, food was served - like Pizza. Just now party favors and crazy birthday entertainment).

"Real Food" offsets the big Cake and Ice Cream meltdown. I'd have cheese and crackers, nuts and some other proteins available. Even some PBJs or cheese+lunchmeat sandwiches, cut into quarters and served that way.

My son is very sensitive to sugar, and getting some nutritious food in his stomach is always important to me. (We actually don't go to many parties, and this is one of the biggest reasons. His "2 hours of happy" is not comparable to my "3 hours of sad-sack, tired, sugared-out meltdown Kiddo." and all the work it entails.) So, I think it's good to put out plenty of nutritious choices, then do cake and ice cream on those slightly-full tummies. Chances are, they'll be playing too much to eat much anyway.

You can serve whatever you want -although I would move it a little later if I only wanted to do light snacks, cake and ice cream. It's not considered rude though! You can even say on the invitation, "Please join us for cake and ice cream..." -and that implies that they're not going to be having lunch.

If you have it at 1 you should put that snacks and cake will be served. Whenever I get a 1:00 invitation I never know what to do...i always give them a light snack so they will be good either way. If it is at 1:30 I would not assume lunch though so if you move it a half hour you will be fine.

Nope- I don't think you need to serve lunch. Just put on the invitation or evite that kid snacks, cake and ice cream will be served. That way the guests know to feed their children something healthy if they choose before coming. Many parents will actually appreciate this as they can make sure their kid gets full on a good meal before eating all the fun sugary stuff. Your husband may be suggesting the food because parents may be staying???? (I am assuming). He may think they will want the food. That is why I suggest that you put "kid snacks" instead of just snacks so the parents know to feed themselves too. Have a great party!

How about fruit kabobs and lunch meat/cheese roll-ups, plus goldfish crackers or pretzels, before the cake and ice cream. As a parent, I would serve my kiddo lunch before your party, but if you get a couple of kids who haven't eaten yet you'll all have a better time if there's a little something filling available before the sugar rush.

Or heck, get a large cheese pizza and slice it into small squares. Easy and done!

I also just put on the invite cake and drinks will be served. I don't even do ice cream. If the party is not during a normal meal time then you should not have to serve meal type foods.

it's all in the timing....mid-afternoon can be just cake & ice cream!

Your party....you set the rules.

I planed a party (only 3 invited guests though) and we had it starting at 1 and going till 3. I listed "cake and ice cream will be served" so parents knew I wasn't doing lunch.

J.

I served cake, ice cream, and soda, I did not do goody bags, and a good time was had by all.

How about having the party from 10 - 12? Just put out easy snacks: goldfish crackers, fruit, juice boxes etc...

No it most certainly does not mean you HAVE to serve food. Just find a fun way to say what to expect on the invites.

if you do it 1-3 say on the invite "cake will be served". 2-4 makes it more clear that it isn't a meal.

I usually try to judge by the time of the party what the intent of the host is. It would be better if you spelled it out in the invitation that cake and ice cream will be served. That way nothing is left to the imagination. The snacks can just be an added bonus, but the parents should feed their children ahead of time.

I don't think you need to serve lunch. I would not expect it at a 1:00 party. Last year, my son's party was from 10 - 12 and I put something like "light snacks and cake will be served" on the invitation. It made it clear that we wouldn't have lunch. This year, the party is 10:30 - 12:30, because it's at a special venue, but I still won't have lunch. I know the timing is a little difficult not to serve lunch, but I've talked to the people we invited and everyone is ok with it.

K.
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I was brought up that food is always served at a birthday party. I've only been to one that did not and we were starving...had to leave the party. So if you choose not to provide food I would specify that on the invitation. ex: join us for a light snack, cake and ice cream. That way it is clear and everyone can be prepared.

No, you don't need food other than some snacks (because though kids say they love cake, some of them have one bite and then are done) and the cake. If I took a child to a party starting at 1 I would assume it wasn't a lunch event; kids this young often eat lunch earlier than that. Put on the invite that snacks and cake will be served and you'll be fine.

I would say if you do 1-3, try to have some finger foods. Wal Mart makes a wonderful tray of finger sandwiches. You really don't want hungry crabby kids wired on sugary snacks in your house, right? Also, the parents would probably appreciate it, for them and for their kids. I would not expect the food to be there, but I should would appreciate it as a mom. If the parents are traveling any amount of time to get there, they may not have to feed the family lunch. And I know how our crazy lives usually go. Trying to get 3 kids ready and out of the house to make a 1pm birthday party is a challenge!

If you are not wanting to spend the extra money or go to the extra trouble, have the party from 2-4. That is the time I see most of the parties occur and that is not too late.

If you have snack foods like finger sandwiches, worst case scenario is that you have leftovers for your own family. But, I bet they get eaten =)

Have fun!

Hi Laur, Snacks, cake and icecream are fine. Thats all I served at parties when my kids were little, when they go older we did the pizza thing. Your idea is perfect. J.

Serving just cake and ice cream is perfectly acceptable, especially at the time you've scheduled the party. I do think it's a good idea to offer a few snacks also.

We just had our daughters 4 year party from 2-3:30 and I didn't want to serve lunch either (my husband did) so we made a large bowl of mixed fruit and a cracker, cheese and peperoni platter. It was quick, easy and can be prepared the day before. The adults and kids both seem to enjoy before the cake and ice cream were served.

No, you don't. Have it at an odd time in between meals and just serve cake and ice cream.

do exactly what JB below says!! And have a great time!

No. You don't have to serve lunch. Just put on the invite "cake & ice cream" will be served. Then they will know there is no lunch and will know whether to eat before they come or not.

I think that 1-3 might be too close to lunch to not serve a meal however if you intend not to serve a meal you should write "cake served" or "snacks and cake served" on the invite so people know what they are getting themselves into. My hubby's cousin was doing a party at a jumpy place from 1030 am to 1pm and the intended on only serving snacks by indicating on the invite. They did but towards the end of the party they had pizza. I thought it was odd they contradicted themselves but they did hold the party during a meal time so a meal is appropriate. Even just moving the party to 130 would be ok.

You do not need to serve lunch. If it really bothers your husband, just make some sandwiches. The parties we went to recently (my son is almost 5) had sandwiches (ham, turkey, pbj), some veggies, some fruit and some chips. Easy stuff. If you want to have something, do something easy (and cheap). No need to spend a fortune or do too much work.

Have fun!

I know I am late on this but I woulld not expect lunch at a party that starts at 1. Also consider having the party from 10am until 12 noon. We always do and it works great. Party is over before lunch and we get the rest of our day.

The only thing you may want to think of is the distance people are coming from. If everyone is close, mention it on the invite and you are solid. I have a lot of folks who come from 45 minutes away or so, that might be a strain to have to feed the kids before noon and then make a drive. If anyone is coming from a distance I say provide lunch or do the 2-4 time slot. Have fun :D

Just include in your invite, snacks, cake and ice cream. There is no hard and fast rule, everyone will have different opinions. My kids eat lunch between 11:30-12, so I would probably feed them before hand. Again, just be clear in your invite.

Hello, If you don't want to serve lunch, mention on the invitation that snacks, cake and ice-cream will be provided. That takes care of anyone not knowing whether to feed their child lunch. 1:00 shouldn't be too early.
Good luck.
K. K.