Quick and Easy Birthday Party Snack Ideas

A birthday party just isn’t a birthday party without cake.  With no cake, where would the candles go?  But cake isn’t all there is to birthday party snacking.

Some guests may not want or be able to eat cake.  And some of the kids’ parents may want them to have something healthier in addition to, or as a substitute for, cake.  For those who do have cake, it’s nice to have other, less sugary things to go with it.  Here are some ideas for quick, easy and fun birthday party snacks.

Finger Sandwiches

Finger sandwiches are a staple for any party.  They’re easy to make, and you can make two or three different kinds to make everyone happy.  Peanut butter and jelly, bologna and cheese, and chicken salad are some of the most popular choices.

There are lots of ways to make finger sandwiches more festive.  If you have cookie cutters that go along well with the party’s theme, you could use them to cut the sandwiches into fun shapes.  You could also add a toothpick to each sandwich with an added surprise, such as a small piece of fruit or a party favor.

Kabobs

Kabobs are lots of fun, and they are really easy to make.  You don’t have to grill anything, and you can make miniature ones to suit the appetites of young guests.

Instead of using the large kabob sticks, use toothpicks to spear grapes, small berries, and cubes of fruit and cheese.  You could also cut up come cocktail weenies and add them for extra flavor if you like.  If the guests are really young, you might want to cut the sharp ends off of the toothpicks with a pair of strong scissors when you’re done.  It’s a good idea to make plenty of these, because they’re usually quite popular.

Melons

Watermelons, cantaloupes, and other melons go very well with summer birthday parties.  If you have a melon baller, you can make festive little balls out of a few different types and mix them up for an appealing snack.  If you don’t have a melon baller, just cut the melons up into slices or cubes.  They taste great either way.

Snack Mix

There are lots of snack mix recipes available online.  Most of them are very easy to make, requiring little more than mixing up a few ingredients.  This is a great project for the kids if they want to help out with the birthday snacks.

With all of the other aspects of planning a birthday party, snacks are best kept simple.  Combining standard snack foods or adding a bit of creativity to them will delight your guests while making things easier on you.  So you get the best of both worlds!

Create Stress-Free Holidays & Special Events

Many women stress over holidays and special events, such as their children’s birthday parties or family reunions.  It can be hard to find the time it takes to get ready for these events when you are already pressed for time on a normal day! Here are some tips to help you streamline this process:

* Start planning for these events early.  If your child’s birthday is in August, it is okay to start planning the celebration in June.  That way, you’ll have plenty of time to get things done and you won’t feel rushed when the day draws near.

* When you start the planning process, start with the end date and work backwards.  If the party is on the 20th, you’ll want to send the invitations out by the 2nd, so you’ll need to buy them on the 15th of the prior month to make sure you’ll have enough time to prepare them. Use this method to plan each aspect of the party.

* Most stores are packed the week before Christmas.  Avoid this shopping rush by purchasing your gifts ahead of time.  Start shopping in September and October or avoid the stores all together and shop online.

* If you are hosting a party at your house, don’t waste time cooking all the food yourself.  Instead, make it a pot luck and cook only the main entrée; ask your guests to bring a side dish or dessert to pass.  If you are going to hold a large event, you may even want to consider having it catered. This doesn’t have to be formal; this can be as simple as getting a large party sub and a few salads from the deli.

* Many times, people will have several small celebrations for one event.  For example, a mom-to-be may have a baby shower for her side of the family, another one for her husband’s side of the family, and a third one for her friends.  If possible, hold one large shower and invite everyone. This will save you lots of time.

* If you work a lot of hours and simply do not have time to plan a party, consider hiring an event planner.  They specialize in this and can take the work off your hands, freeing you up to focus on other things.

* If you don’t want to worry about cleaning up after your guests, rent a space for your party, such as a conference room in a restaurant or an outdoor area in a park. If you want to hold the party in your home, you can always schedule a maid service to come over the day after the party and take care of the clean-up.

Create Stress-Free Holidays

Many women stress over holidays and special events, such as their children’s birthday parties or family reunions.  It can be hard to find the time it takes to get ready for these events when you are already pressed for time on a normal day! Here are some tips to help you streamline this process:

* Start planning for these events early.  If your child’s birthday is in August, it is okay to start planning the celebration in June.  That way, you’ll have plenty of time to get things done and you won’t feel rushed when the day draws near.

* When you start the planning process, start with the end date and work backwards.  If the party is on the 20th, you’ll want to send the invitations out by the 2nd, so you’ll need to buy them on the 15th of the prior month to make sure you’ll have enough time to prepare them. Use this method to plan each aspect of the party.

* Most stores are packed the week before Christmas.  Avoid this shopping rush by purchasing your gifts ahead of time.  Start shopping in September and October or avoid the stores all together and shop online.

* If you are hosting a party at your house, don’t waste time cooking all the food yourself.  Instead, make it a pot luck and cook only the main entrée; ask your guests to bring a side dish or dessert to pass.  If you are going to hold a large event, you may even want to consider having it catered. This doesn’t have to be formal; this can be as simple as getting a large party sub and a few salads from the deli.

* Many times, people will have several small celebrations for one event.  For example, a mom-to-be may have a baby shower for her side of the family, another one for her husband’s side of the family, and a third one for her friends.  If possible, hold one large shower and invite everyone. This will save you lots of time.

* If you work a lot of hours and simply do not have time to plan a party, consider hiring an event planner.  They specialize in this and can take the work off your hands, freeing you up to focus on other things.

* If you don’t want to worry about cleaning up after your guests, rent a space for your party, such as a conference room in a restaurant or an outdoor area in a park. If you want to hold the party in your home, you can always schedule a maid service to come over the day after the party and take care of the clean-up.