I’m often asked about party food and ideas for healthier party foods for kids. Often the options available at parties can be quite high in sugar and salt, which aren’t recommended in high amounts for little ones.
Parties can be a great opportunity to add lots of variety and colour to the table and add a little something for everyone – kids and adults!
Of course, it’s absolutely fine not to worry about the food on offer at parties and you don’t HAVE to make everything from scratch! If you want to keep it super simple or get everything ready-made, that is absolutely fine and you shouldn’t feel any pressure. In terms of the nutrition – remember it’s only one day and it’s a small part of their overall intake. These ideas are simply for those that DO enjoy putting on a little spread and are looking for some inspiration.
Also remember, that parties can be overwhelming for little ones and it can be quite normal for them not to eat very much at all! There’s often SO much going on, plenty of distractions and they’re likely simply not that focused on their appetite!
Here are some of my top picks for bringing out at parties and celebrations which are often more nutrient rich and lower sugar/salt options:
Sandwiches
A classic party food, and a really easy option to offer a little variety and something for everyone.
Some easy sandwich fillings to try:
- Tuna & sweetcorn (or swap for other tinned fish – e.g. mackerel or salmon)
- Cucumber & cream cheese
- Peanut butter & banana
- Cheese & tomato
- Pesto & mozzarella
- Hummus & red pepper
- Nut butter & jam – I have a fab raspberry chia seed jam recipe in my book, How To Feed Your Toddler
- Marmite & cheese
- Egg & avocado
If you’re feeling fancy, you can use cutters to make fun shapes out of the sandwiches, too!
“Chips” and dips
Homemade tortilla chips are actually surprisingly easy and you can add plenty of different flavours to experiment a little. You can even use cutters to make a variety of shapes to add a little more fun! Make easy dips like a tomato salsa or guacamole for extra colour, flavour and nutrition!
Try this super simple homemade chips and dips recipe.
Pitta pizzas
Pizza is a favourite party food and pitta pizzas are a really easy way to make them yourself, without having to roll any dough! You could even make a fun activity out of getting the kids to help make the pizzas by choosing their own toppings or decorating the pizza how they like!
Veggie Sticks and Dips
Another super simple favourite. All you need to do is chop up a load of different veggies and add them to a big plate with your favourite dip (or dips) in the middle! Dips can be great for getting little ones to try new veg, as it adds some novelty and extra flavour too!
Scones
I absolutely love scones and so do my kids. They’re such a fab party food too and kids often love the novelty of adding cream & jam. I have a great baby-friendly scone recipe and a savoury scone recipe too, if you need more savoury options!
Fruit Skewers
Serving foods in a slightly different and fun way can be all you need when it comes to party food. Making little ‘fruit kebabs’ is one of my favourite ways of offering fruit at a party as it adds plenty of colour and the kids tend to love holding and nibbling the fruit in this way. For younger kids you might want to blunt the ends or scrape the foods off the stick before serving first.
Frozen yoghurt bark
This is such a simple and delicious option for something sweet and it’s made with just a few simple ingredients! Try this recipe (it’s Christmas themed but can be easily adapted for Summer themes too).
Banana Bread
Everyone’s favourite way to use up ripe bananas and a favourite for kids and adults. This simple banana bread recipe uses only dates & bananas to sweeten, so it’s lower in added sugars and adds a little fibre than other versions!
Muffins
I love a muffin recipe and I love how versatile they can be for adding lots of different flavour combinations.
Here are some of my favourite muffin recipes to try
- Peanut butter & banana muffins
- Veggie breakfast muffins
- Oatie blueberry muffins
- Cheddar & spinach muffins – from my book How to Wean Your Baby
- Pizza muffins – from my book How to Feed Your Family
Fruit Tarts
These can look really impressive and colourful, and are also really simple to make. I’ve got a really easy recipe in my book How to Feed Your Toddler. You can use any of your favourite fruit, and get your little ones involved with decorating the top with their favourites!
Lower sugar cakes
Of course, birthday cakes are a must for birthday parties, and I’m so often asked for lower sugar options. This lower sugar sponge cake recipe is ideal for a classic birthday cake option, and I also love making less conventional options like a fruit stack cake or a pancake stack! Check out my healthier birthday cake recipes here.
Ice lollies
Ice creams and ice lollies are always a winner at parties – particularly when the sun decides to make an appearance! These pineapple, lime and coconut ice lollies are delicious and super refreshing, or try these 3 recipes for healthier ice lollies for kids.
For more ideas on foods for celebrations, I have lots more recipes in each of my books: How to Wean Your Baby, How to Feed Your Toddler and How to Feed Your Family.