Food Idea's for 1St Birthday

Hey N.,

We just had a party for my son in June with about 40 people and we ended up doing subway platters. What a great idea and it saved us so much time!!! My girlfriend also did this for her son's party with about 75 people! It was so convenient and they take care of all the toppings. Along side of those we bought several bags of chips and had a few salads. Hope that helps!! Have fun planning!

L.

You could serve finger foods. Crackers, cheese and meat, meat balls, salads, maybe finger sandwhiches.

For my son's first birthday we did a "taco bar." Taco meat, chips, lettuce, shells (hard and soft), melted cheese, refried beans, you know the works. It was really easy and actually wasn't that expensive. People could do what they wanted to with it. Taco salad, nachos, soft/hard taco, bean burrito...it went over really well. I actually think I might do it again this year! Instead of having to bring in 10 different food items, this makes it easy for people to eat many different things but without going crazy making a bunch of food or going over budget.

N.

Whatever you do decide, make sure there is kid friendly food. I recently went to a 1st birthday and there was nothing for my 2 year old to eat!! It was more "adult" food. So have things like finger jello, or popcorn balls, or veggie tray with dip. Things that are made in a crock are easier to do, or things you could make the night before. Sam's club has an awesome sandwich ring they sell for $20 and I believe it serves 30 people..you might to check them out, or even Gorden food serve.

I just had a big party of 60 for the 4th of July. we had stuffed cabbage; sloppy joes (this goes well with big parties); mostaccoli; scalloped potatoes; tossed salad; bread/rolls. fruit salad; potateo salad and desserts. Just to let you know that the stuffed cabbage did not go that well but the other stuff went well and I would add chicken from either kroger/meijer or wish Bone....easy to do with some of the salads

I just did a party of 30 this past weekend and had hamburger/hotdogs/kielbasa; potatoe and spagheti salad; pickles; fruit and chips. The only thing about hot dogs is dont grill them boil them and keep them warm in the chaffing pans. Otherwise this was easy and they were fine.
Here is a few ideas;
Chicken; mostaccoli; salad; rolls; vegetable tray; fruit salad; kiebalsa; green beans.

whatever you decide will be great.

For my daughter's first birthday last year, we did frozen lasagnas from Costco and I made a sandwich tray (bought lunch meat and cheese, again from Costco, and just laid them out on a try with a few loaves of bread, mustard, and mayo). This year, I'm trying to go easier and will be ordering a party pizza (30 large, square pieces per pizza at $19.99 each) and a tray of grinders/subs (~30 sandwiches for $19.99) from Uncle Andy's on Woodward and 12 mile in Berkley (not sure where you live but they have great pizza - I think they also have a location in Farmington - just got to http://www.uncleandyspizza.com). I'm also going to make an easy salad to go with it and call it day. I also got her birthday cake this year and last from Costco - they make a very tastey sheet cake and will decorate it for you for $14.99, I think. I believe they say it serves 40. For her first birthday, I bought a "smash cake" (the small 6 inch cake just for my daughter that she could go nuts and make a mess) from Holiday Market in Royal Oak for $6.99. It was a very cute cake and at a reasonable price. They make very cool, larger cakes too but I was trying to save money and therefore went with the Costco cake for everyone else.

Hi N.!
I did Subway party trays for my daughter's first birthday. They run about $30 for 3 feet (the subs are very wide, not your typical foot long so you could cut about 1-2 inch sandwiches and get about 18 sandwiches per sub). Subway will provide you with toppings (tomato, pickle, black olives, onion, lettuce) and packets of mayo and mustard. Another suggestion would be to go to Gordon's and do a taco bar. They have packaged, already seasoned taco meat and huge cans of nacho cheese as well as other stuff for tacos. Good luck with the party!

N., 90 people sounds overwhelming to me, but that said go with party trays from a local sandwich place, Costco, etc. or the pizza route. With that many people having something pre-made helps lots (you don't spend all your time in the kitchen - hopefully).
When we have family over for birthdays (they usually number around 20) I go with subs, sandwich wraps, pizzas and that sort of thing. I have done hot dogs and hamburgers, but seemed to spend most of my time cooking when I did.
In fact we have even done pot luck from time to time to help out.
Good luck!

I would make it simple. I made homemade lasagna for my son's first birthday and oh my gosh A LOT of work. I'd say hot dogs/hamburgers or even subs.

Gordon Food Service has great prices or Costco.

M.

We've also done sloppy joes and a taco bar. My daughter's b-day is in March so we've also done chili and served hot dogs (keeping them warm in the crock pot). That way people could have chili, hot dogs or chili dogs. It was a big hit.

Hot dogs and sides are always good and easy too.

Get a couple of platters from Kroger. They have one with sandwich meats and cheese. All you'd have to provide is a couple different kinds of bread. It's lunchtime, have a sandwich. Get a fruit platter too.
Lemonade's good, or the fruit flavored waters. KoolAid.

90 people wow! I would say serve food that's easy - especially if you're the one you has to prepare most of it.

Have fun at the party!

I don't know your budget or style, but Kroger fried (or baked) chicken is good and pretty reasonable if you get the card discount. I just had 40 people over yesterday for a 50th B'Day. I had family bring some things so I didn't have to do all the cooking. I made pulled pork in a crock pot, too. I have a 7 qt crock pot so I could make a lot. I think I made 19 lbs (3 roasts) in 3 sessions earlier in the week, then combined them for the party. I had easily 2x's what I needed with the chicken and other things. It got rave reviews! Sloppy Joes go over well, too. Don't forget Gorgon's and Costco. The cake from Costco was really good.

How about Walking Taco's? They are fun for all ages!
Buy a couple of cases of small bags of Fretos (or Doretos)
Than on the table put out warming dishes of Meat, Refried beans,Rice, Etc.
And bowls of Chopped onion, Black olives, Chopped Tomatoes,Etc
Anything you can think of that guests may enjoy on a taco.
Then you put the bags at the beginning of the line with Directions how to make them.
Walking Taco's...
Take a bag of chips, open, and scrunch them, reopen and add all your favorite stuff!! Then just eat out of the bag with a fork. Enjoy!

For my son's first b-day we did sloppy joes, potato salad, baked beans and chips. We didn't have nearly as many people but it was easy and turned out great. My MIL always does Itallian Beef that she buys from the grocery store it's more expensive but really yummy! If all else fails do deli trays your guests will be appreciative of anything!

N.,
I always like to do meatballs in some kind of sauce in the crock pot for a big get together. Just get a big bag of frozen premade meatballs at Gordons Food Service and put them in the crock pot, then just choose your sauce Cream of mushroom soup, BBQ sauce, or sweet and sour sauce are all good.
Another thing I had a recent graduation party that was so good and seemed so easy was they purchased frozen eggrolls from Gordons Food Service and filled up an electric roaster with them, and just let them heat thru. They were so good!
You could also do potato salad, macaroni salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, or even baked beans. A platter of different cubed cheese and crackers or different kinds of chips.
Hope this helps, good luck with your party!

PIZZA.. Loved by 99% of people and soo easy :)