Suggestions for a Healthy Menu for a Children’s Birthday Party

When planning a children’s birthday party, the first thought might be “oh well, it only comes around once a year”, then head off to the supermarket to stock up on lollies, cakes, chips, and little red sausages.

However, your child’s birthday party might only come around once a year, but multiply that by 25-30 children in the class, plus family and friends children’s birthday parties, and theoretically your child could easily go to 2 or more birthday parties in a weekend!! That equates to a lot of sugar and wall climbing!

Be honest now, how many of us limit our child’s intake of junk food to birthday parties only. So let’s explore the possibility of providing a choice of healthy, nutritious and interesting food for your child’s next birthday party.

Find out if any of your guests have food allergies as this could determine your menu. If not, then I suggest always serve the savory food first, then just when the children have decided that this is it for the party food and eaten everything in sight, then bring out the sweet foods. And by sweet food, I’m talking fruit and low sugar treats.

A healthy sample menu might look like this:

Savory – Vege sticks and homemade dip

homemade sausage rolls and sauce

a variety of filled wraps rolled up and cut into pinwheels

crackers and dip

club sandwiches crusts off, cut into small squares with child-friendly fillings

homemade pizza, try a gluten free base and low-fat cheese and lots of vegies.

Sweet – the ever popular fruit skewers

a fruit platter

homemade popsicles made with yoghurt and delicious fruits like mango and strawberries

homemade banana ice-cream in cones

choc fruit balls and apricot balls,

sugar-free brownies

Follow all this with the traditional birthday cake and a goodies bag to take home, everyone’s happy, and your children’s birthday party has been a huge success.