Joe Differentiators
Let's face it, as much as we love our kids, birthdays can be stressful. There's the never-ending list of things to do - from sending out invitations, to planning games and activities, to dealing with tantrums on the big day.
But what about the food? You want something that's not going to take hours to prepare, but you also want something that the kids enjoy eating. And you definitely don't want something that's going to be a nightmare to clean up once they've left.
Here are some no-mess, no-stress birthday party dishes menu ideas that will have both the kids and adults asking for seconds.
Let's Begin With The Starters Or Entrees
If you're looking for something a little more substantial than chips and dip, how about mini quesadillas or grilled cheese sandwiches? You can even get the kids to help you make them! Just cut the quesadillas into bite-sized pieces or use cookie cutters to make fun shapes out of the grilled cheese. Serve with a small side of salsa or tomato soup for dipping and you're good to go.
Pizza is always a popular choice among kids, so why not try something a little different and make your own mini pizzas? You can either use a pre-made dough or make your own. Simply top with your favorite sauce and toppings and bake in a pre-heated oven for some yummy pizzas.
Here are some more birthday party food menu options for you to try -
- French fries, potato smileys, potato wedges or potato alphabets - can be bought from supermarket and fried at home
- Homemade momos, samosas, kachoris or cutlets
- Mini aloo tikkis
- Home baked choco chip cookies
- Various flavors of popcorn (they may eat only the cheese flavor)
- Gobi 65
- Mini burgers
- Mini sandwiches
- Veg or chicken nuggets
- Vegetable pakoras
- Steamed corn with butter and pepper
- Candy floss
- Vegetable or chicken puffs
- Mini corn samosas
Drinks To Go With The Starters
Kids tend to drink a lot of water or other beverages along with their food. When it comes to beverages for the kids at a birthday party, there are plenty of options to choose from. You can go for water, juice, or soda, but be prepared for a deluge of demand from the kiddos as soon as they start eating. Here are some juice and beverage options that you can choose from to go along with your birthday party food menu list -
- Fresh fruit juices
- Home-made lemonade
- Milkshakes or smoothies
- Small sized tetra packs of fruit juices in different flavors
- Flavored milk (available in tetra packs from most super markets)
- Instant mix juices like Rasna or Tang
- Soda/carbonated drinks (but most parents don't allow their kids to drink them so check with them first)
- Juice boxes
- Juice pouches
Now For The Main Course
The main course is usually the part of the meal that most kids push to the side. They're already full from the starters, and they're just not that interested in what's on their plate. However, you still have to serve the adults, so you need to come up with something that's both filling and tasty. Here are a few ideas you can generally find on a birthday party food menu -
- A good option is to serve a simple pasta dish or a build-your-own-pizza bar
- Or go with a traditional meal consisting of roti or naan with two different curries
- Flavored rice with raitha and curry
- Biriyani or pulao with mirchi ka salan
- Sambhar Rice & Curd Rice combo with crispy fried potato curry
- Kathi roll or stuffed paneer roll with a spicy chutney
No matter what you choose to serve, be sure to have plenty of backups on hand. The last thing you want is to run out of food in the middle of the party. It's always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to food. You can always send the leftovers home with the guests, but you can't make more if you run out.
You can't forget the kids completely, so plan something simple like pizza or pasta for them. Be mindful of the quantity as most kids will skip the main course. Most of them will be full from gorging on starters. So, a good rule of thumb is to make one adult serving for every two children.
Now The Quintessential Desserts
Who doesn't love desserts? Both the kids and adults are going to eagerly look forward to desserts so plan the quantities accordingly. You cannot plan a birthday party dishes menu without desserts. There is the birthday cake already, so ensure something that goes well with that. When it comes to desserts, there are plenty of options to choose from, but most parents don't allow their kids to have too much. Here are a few that you can serve:
- Ice cream, in a few different flavors, with different toppings (the kids can build their own sundaes)
- Waffles with ice cream and syrup
- Mini jelly cups with real fruit pieces
- Gulab Jamun, Rasagolla, Rasmalai, Kheer, Gajar Ka Halwa, or other Indian sweets
- Mini fruit custard bowls
- Donuts
- Hot chocolate fudge
Conclusion
When it comes to hosting a birthday party for kids, Indian parents take so much care and attention to feed their guests. But catering to an army of kids is a different story. With proper planning and preparation, you can pull it through efficiently though.
Also, there are plenty of things to consider. You need to think about the food, the decorations, the games, and the goody bags. Have a game plan ready so that you can execute it without any hitches. Make sure that you have enough food and drinks to go around and that you have a variety of options to choose from. Keep the kids' tastes in mind when planning the menu and you're sure to have a successful event.
We at Captain Joe understand the tastes and preferences of kids and have a great selection of birthday party dishes menu for kids. Whether you want us to deliver the food in time for the party or you want us to take up in-house catering, we are game. Our experienced team will take care of everything from start to finish so that you enjoy your kid's big day. Call us today!
