Once the balloons, streamers and invitations are checked off the list, it will be time to consider food options. Food is often the source of party planning stress, but there is no need to lose hair over it. Besides, the last thing anyone wants is hair in the food. I have a suggestion that has always kept me from pulling out my hair. Best of all, the food is easy to prepare and a lot fun for the kids. Allow me to introduce you to the DIY food bar. Sounds fun, right? A food bar can fit any budget and personality. You may also find it is just as much fun for the adults as it is for the kids.
Here are some options to get you started. Before you know it, you will be able to create the perfect one your child’s party.
Main Course Bar Options
Pizza Bar: If you and your guests are pizza fans this option will be sure to please. The first step is to purchase or make several different kinds of pizza. Arrange several pizzas on your table for guests to select. Decide if you think pasta or salad will be a welcomed addition to your pizza bar.
You may venture into having guests create their own personal pizza. I suggest making small enough pizzas to make several at one time. The more you can bake at once the more guests you can serve. Then decide if you want the dough to be prebaked or prepared in advance. It may be helpful to consider your guests ages when making decisions.
Pizzas can have several different sauces, cheeses and toppings. Pizza bars are low pressure and highly customizable. Get as creative as you wish while sticking to your budget.
Taco Bar: A taco bar is great for small or large scale gatherings. It is easy to set up and economical.
Possible items to include:
*Hard and/or soft tacos
*Meat of your choice
*Cheese
*Lettuce
*Tomatoes
Condiments such as salsa, sour cream, and guacamole
Decide if you want to also serve chips, rice, or refried beans.
Dessert Bar Options
Sundae Bar: This is fun bar to set up because it is wide open to interpretation. You can keep it simple by offering vanilla ice cream, fudge toppings, whipped cream, and sprinkles. You can make it more extensive by offering more ice cream flavors and toppings. There is no right or wrong way to set this up. You also may want to give your birthday child input on picking the items. I suggest providing plenty of napkins. A trick I learned, for easy clean up, is to cover your table with a plastic tablecloth. You can scoop up the all mess at once and throw it away.
Cupcake Bar: Provide unadorned cupcakes in any flavor or flavors you wish. Next, decide if you want to have the children pipe on or spread on the frosting. The type of frosting is up to you. I suggest using a simple white frosting. Finally, the children can decorate with an assortment of sprinkles and candies. The extent of the decorating will be determined by the age of the children. You may want to decide the level of interest this activity may hold for your guests before making a large investment.
You can make building a bar as simple or complicated as you wish. I suggest allowing your time and budget to determine the type of bar your create.
I hope this inspires you to come up with something unique for your child’s next party.