do I need to serve lunch at birthday party?

[southernaccent]

We're having a party for my son in a couple of weeks and it will end around 12:30. Should I serve a real lunch or are snacks and cake okay? What would you be expecting?

[Momof3Labs]

I'm sure that the parents would appreciate it if you offer a simple, healthy lunch. I know that if my DS1 came home at 12:30 full of cake and other stuff, he wouldn't eat lunch at all.

(I assume that this is a kids' party, not an adult party.)

[starrynight]

I think any parties between 11:00am and 1pm should serve lunch, even a light one like sandwiches or something. Any party I have been to or threw myself that was before 2pm has served lunch. Usually if you have a later party 2:30-4:00 it's not expected.

[Fairy]

I'd say ya gotta do lunch with a 12:30 call. Even 1pm. If it was 2, I'd go with snacks and cake.

[sdbc]

If it really will end at 12:30, then snacks are probably fine. If it might go until 1, then lunch should be provided. Something simple--maybe even pizza bagels and veggies.
Sue, mommy to Aurora (Rory) born 5/13/04

[SnuggleBuggles]

If we were invited to a party that hit the 11-1 zone I would expect lunch.

Beth

[daniele_ut]

I have to agree with the pps. If I am invited to a party in the 11-1 time range, I definitely expect that lunch will be served. DS usually naps at 12:30, so if we left a party at that time, it would be a challenge to get him home and fed before the super crankies set in.

[C99]

I would expect lunch at that hour, especially for kids under, say 6, who are more likely to normally eat lunch before noon.

[almostamom]

We're having a bday party around the same time in a few weeks and we are serving lunch, but it's not anything fancy - pizza, mac n cheese, applesauce, etc.

[CiderLogan]

I agree -- I'd serve lunch. It can be really simple like grilled cheese sandwiches and PB&Js, or some cheese quesadillas, or pizza.

Jenny
Julia, 8/03
Clara, 5/06

[R2sweetboys]

I'd have to agree with the PPs and say yes. We just went to a Halloween party last night that was from 4-6:30(which of course,went a little later) and they didn't serve any type of dinner food. There were just chips and goodies. Let me tell ya, my boys started getting the "hungry grumpies" by the end. :P Don't get me wrong, I wasn't looking for a 5 course meal! I just felt that something like pizza would have been well-received. I would have been happy to bring something or chip in for the pizza. So anyway, I know I'm talking about a different time, but same issue. If I were you, I'd just do something basic. I know at that age, my boys might have even fallen asleep on the way home, missing lunch altogether. HTH :)

~Leslie

SAHM to...
Ryan 8/14/00
Matthew 2/14/03

[jesseandgrace]

I think your party is at a time when you have to serve something for lunch as well. Otherwise, you are basically feeding the kids cake for lunch as they will be pretty hungry by 12:30, and probably devour it. Something really simple is always fine, no need to go all out unless you want to!