Party Food Hack: Serve individual Food Boxes or food in Ice Cube Trays for toddlers
When it comes to planning a party, food waste can be a significant concern. We've come up with a simple and practical solution: serving party food in individual boxes or ice cube trays. Not only does this allow you to control the portion size for each child, but it also eliminates the problem of excessive leftovers. After all, children are often more interested in playing and socializing than sitting down for a big meal.
12 options to put in a food box could be:
1. Cupcake
2. Packet of chips
3. Box of raisins
4. Fun fruit or fruit skewer (remove the pointy end for safety)
5. Crackers, cheese, and salami
6. Packet of individually wrapped lollies
7. Popper of juice or water (open all popper seals the night before so they can just open and drink without needing adult help)
8. Banana bread
9. Mini chocolate bar
10. Packet of cookies
11. Fruit cup
12. Costco or Aldi for unique options.
One of the best things about serving food in boxes is that guests can take home any leftovers, helping minimize food waste. Plus we have all been there on that car ride home when your little party goer sings out I’m hungry! Problem solved 🥳
For toddlers, serving food in ice cube trays can create a fun and interactive eating experience. The little cube spaces are the perfect size for bite sized snackers, minus the ice obviously.
12 options to put in a toddlers Ice cube tray:
1. Tiny teddies
2. Cheese cubes
3. Crackers
4. Mini Frankfurter pieces
5. Tomato sauce or dip
6. Mini sandwiches
7. Halved blueberries
8. Halved grapes
9. Pretzels
10. Chocolate freckles
11. Mini apple bars cut into smaller pieces
12. Age-appropriate lollies or chocolate chips
It’s a finger food mini platter moment and the tots just love it, also helps to cut down on food waste and little fingers all dipping into shared bowls.
What about the adults I hear you say:
Stress free options that worked well at my parties are deli platters from the supermarket, for about $25 to $45 (prices vary store to store).
You can easily pick up these platters on the day before or the day of the event. Some summer options could be fruit platters and sushi platters, cheese and cracker platters or the sandwich platter from Costco for winter parties.
Adults like a drink at a party so have some cute adult options, one year we did a coffee stand with diy coffee, and cute themed takeaway coffee cups. You can decide if this event your serving alcoholic beverages, when my first born turned 1 we had a champagne breakfast, but offered sparkling grape/apple juice for those not drinking. Providing cans of drink or drink dispensers for adults can help take the stress out of serving everyone drinks. I like to offer an ice cold water with some large ice that takes the entire party to melt so everyone is well hydrated. A few paper cups of water in the freezer overnight easily slip out from the paper cup and slot into a dispenser, I have made this option more fun with sliced orange and lime, or strawberry’s and mint. Also freezing things in ice cubes can just add that element of party fun! I have done orange slices, strawberries and mint, pomegranate, edible florals, and pear with raspberries.
Let us know how you go trying any of these ideas! And let us know what you do to take the stress out of your events, and how you minimise food waste. What’s your go to fave party food?