Throw your kids the best birthday party ever, but make the preparation easy & simple. Party Food is no exception, and there are alot of simple, classic and delicious Party Foods you can choose for your kids party menu and not get stuck in the kitchen, completely stressed out. We have pulled together some of the most loved foods which kids love to eat at a party which include some classics as well as some good nutritional options that will have your guests fed, happy and ready to party. You can prepare a lot of these items the day before to help ease party day stress. Pop your menu down on our Ultimate Party Planner to keep you organised and keep track of your to do items.

Don’t forget to add some easy favourites like chips, crackers & dips and lollies, and there you have created a beautiful menu for your party that is super easy to organise, prepare and serve.

FOOD THAT CAN BE PREPARED IN ADVANCE

The ultimate way to reduce party day stress is by having as much as you can prepared the day or so before, so when it comes to party day you can spend time with guests, are not stuck in the kitchen and not stressing out. We have collated a list of food you can prepared in advanced and are party favourites for kids

1. Fruit Platter

Always a crowd favourite for both small & big kids. Prepare an array of seasonal fruit and cut and pop onto a platter. Some favourites which you can’t go wrong with are watermelon, rockmelon, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, mandarins and oranges, but you can really choose anything that your little people love, is in season, and can be served for the kids to easily grab, eat and play. Our tip is steer clear of apples, pears and bananas as they do turn brown when cut, and while they are still totally fine to eat, your little guests will most likely avoid them.

Preparation Tip: Can be prepared the day before. Simply  wash, dry well, peel and cut all fruit, then pop in an airtight container in the fridge overnight. In the morning, all you need to do is serve onto the platter – super easy!

2. Fruit Sticks

Fruit sticks are such a fun way to present fruit and an easy way for littlies to eat.

Preparation Tip: Can be prepared the day before. Simply wash, dry well, peel and cut all fruit, then pop onto skewers. Cover them with a plastic wrap or in an airtight container to maintain freshness and store in the fridge overnight.

3. Vegetable Platter

You would be amazed how many kids go for vegetables at a party! I have witnessed many a times my own kids bee lining for the vegetables at party tables even though they refuse to eat it at home! It is something about parties, maybe the feeling of doing what others are doing [emoji]. Make it simple and easy with some favourites such as baby qukes, cherry tomatoes, celery & carrot sticks. Add some kids friendly dips such as hummus or tzatiki on the side and add some grown up dips like a roasted capsicum for your adult guests to also enjoy.

Preparation Tip: Can be prepared the day before. Wash baby qukes and cherry tomatoes and dry well and pop into an airtight container. Cut celery & carrots and pop in cold water in another container. Place both containers into the fridge to store overnight. In the morning, take them out, dry them off  and place them on a platter with dips.

4. Fairy Bread

Hands down this has to be the most popular party food in Australia! It is an Australian kid party table icon! It is super easy to make and is certainly a kid favourite.

Instructions to make:

1. Lay bread out on the platter
2. Butter each slice (with lightly softened butter so it is easy to spread)
3. Sprinkle generously with 100s & 1000s
4. Press 2 slices together, sprinkle side in and press together so sprinkles stick to the butter
5. Cut them into triangles
6. Peel slices apart, add additional sprinkles if some areas look sparse
7. Serve on platter, sprinkle side up

Preparation Tip: Can be prepared the day before. Complete Step 1-5 and then pop into an airtight container to refrigerate overnight. In the morning, take out of the fridge, complete step 6 and serve on a platter an hour or two before the party to get to room temperature.

5. Honey Joys & Chocolate Crackles

Have one, have both…... but is it even a kids party in Australia if at least one of these are not served??!! These are such a classic Aussie party favourite and super easy to make. 

Try this Honey Joys recipe here, you will agree it is super simple to prepared

This Chocolate Crackles will get your little guests tick of approval and be devoured by all, and again a super easy recipe to create in advance.

Preparation Tip: Can be prepared a day or 2 before. Once made store them in an airtight container in a cool are, then just pop onto a stand to serve.

6. Sandwiches

A super easy option for kids grab and eat at a party. Some great filling options which you can mix n match and can all be prepared the day before is ham, chicken & mayonnaise, tuna & mayonnaise, egg & mayonnaise, cheese, grated carrot, cucumber ribbons and vegemite.

Preparation Tip: Can be prepared the day before.

i) For sandwiches with wet fillings such as mayonnaise and tomatoes, prepare the fillings and keep in an airtight container in the fridge so not to have soggy sandwiches. In the morning, spread onto bread, cut up the sandwich and serve on a platter or stand.  

ii) For sandwiches with fillings what aren’t wet such as vegemite, cheese, ham you can prepare the day before cut them into quarters and store them in an airtight container in the fridge overnight. Take them out of the fridge an hour or so before the party to get to room temp ready for serving.

7. Cheese Twists 

A fun option which kids love. Here is a quick and easy recipe we love to create at home on the weekends:

1. Place one sheet of puff pastry on a bench with dusted flour
2. Sprinkle a generous amount of cheese of choice, we like parmesan and tasty
3. Place second sheet of puff pastry on top and roll them together
4. Sprinkle with cheese on top and press into the pastry
5. Cut into 2cm strips and twist
6. Brush with egg wash
7. Pop into a preheated oven at 200 deg Celsius for 20mins (or air fryer 200deg C for approx 10mins) until brown and crispy and turn halfway through.
8. Take out and cool down.

Preparation Tip: Can be prepared a day or 2 before. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. Serve in a cup or deep bowl, they are delicious as is or with some dip.

FOOD EASILY PREPARED MORNING OF THE PARTY

I personally love providing one or two hot food options at kids parties, but I try to choose food which are easy to prepare and serve. I use pre-made store bought options it just makes it for a smoother easier party prep process and kids love them. Sure some of these may not be the most nutritionally best option, but hey it’s a party and I make sure to add some platters of fruit & veg to balance it out and help with the mum guilt! What I love about doing this, is they can all be chucked in the oven or air fryer at the same time and serve with some sauce on the side.

If you did want to make hot foods from scratch you can always prepare them well in advanced, freeze them uncooked and take them out the morning of to defrost, put some egg wash on the pastry if needed and pop in the oven to cook in time for the party. This will work particularly well for sausage rolls, mini pies or chicken nuggets if you have your own preferred recipe. 

1. Mini Sushi

Get your local Sushi place to prepare a platter for you or even order a platter from your local supermarkets these days. It is such a simple, delicious well loved addition to kids party tables. A few great filling options for kids are cucumber, avocado, grated carrot, tuna and chicken. Try this delicious sushi recipe if you want to create them yourself 

Preparation Tip: We recommend NOT making these in advance. Sushi is best made and served the same day. My preference is to outsource and get a local sushi place to create a platter for me so I don’t have the added stress of making these on the day of the party.

2. Cocktail Sausages

This is such an easy dish to prepare and easy for littlies to eat also. Serve them as is, with a toothpick in them for kids to easily pick up or with bread cut in half and sauce to make a simple sausage sandwich.

Preparation Tip: I prefer cooking them just before the party starts in an oven or air fryer because they are so easy to cook and hands off. Just don’t forget to pop on a timer to remind you to take them out!

3. Sausage Rolls

Get these straight from the freezer section at your local supermarket or if you did want to fancy it up, you can always find some in a local deli, butcher or even in your local supermarket deli section. I again love the Gourmet Sausage Rolls from Simon Johnson which you can find in Woolworths.

Preparation Tip:  Pop them in the oven at the same time as your other hot foods with a timer on and they will be done in no time ready to be served straight to guests nice and warm.

4. Party Pies (Mini Meat Pies)

Just like sausage rolls, buy these from your local supermarket or from a deli or butcher for something a bit fancier. Simon Johnson is our go to for fancier party pies otherwise supermarket freezer options are great too!

Preparation Tip:  Pop them in the oven at the same time as your other hot foods with a timer on and they will be done in no time ready to be served straight to guests nice and warm.

5. Chicken Nuggets

Another one to just go store bought for ease. There are so many to choose from you can’t go wrong – tempura, crumbed, dino nuggets the list is endless and your little humans will love them

Preparation Tip:  Pop them in the oven at the same time as your other hot foods with a timer on and they will be done in no time ready to be served straight to guests nice and warm.

There you have it, an easy, delicious menu which your little party guests will love. We would love to know if there are any favourites you love to make for your little people, leave a comment below.