Throwing a healthier children’s birthday party
Hosting a children’s birthday party can be an overwhelming and daunting task. All those kids making all that noise; it’s enough to drive every parent crazy! One of the challenging aspects of hosting a kid’s party is what to feed your little guests. The temptation (and expectation) to serve junk food and foods high in sugar can be defeated, and I have 5 handy tips to help make a healthy change to your next party.
1) Don’t over-cater.
We are all guilty of having eyes bigger than our stomachs and kids are no exception. It sounds simple, but by serving less you will reduce the amount of sugar and additives that the children consume. If you are worried about them going hungry have a large platter of fresh fruit on the table (instead of lollies or chips) that they can snack on whilst they play. There are some great ways to make your fruit snacks fun; just check out Pinterest for watermelon carvings! Having a dedicated ‘food’ time during the party stops kids from grazing (on 12 cupcakes!) and you can easily monitor what they eat. Making them stop, sit and eat will also calm them down (especially if you’re dealing with a group of rowdy boys). If there are 10 kids at the party only make 10 cupcakes but allow more of the more nutrient dense snacks (e.g. sausage rolls, mini quiches) to fill them up. Serve the savory food first and save the sweets for last, when their little tummies are nearly full.
2) Say No to party bags!
I loathe party bags. They are filled with more lollies and food colourings; just what your child needs after coming off a sugar high…NOT! Unfortunately, they seem to be an expected part of a modern party so make your party bags non-food based. Try filling your party bags with Playdoh, colouring pencils, stickers, whistles or colouring-in sheets. These can be home made and are a fun activity for the birthday child to organise before the party; even personalising them for each guest.
3) There’s no need for bubbles.
Soft drink is another huge factor in the party sugar hit. Instead of soft drink you could serve fruit juice (water it down first to make it go further) or just stick to water. If you still want to serve soft drink limit it to only during the ‘food time’ and make sure it’s not self serve.
4) How to avoid allergic reactions.
Ask. Always ask the parents if their child is allergic to something. Simply noting on the invitation ‘please advise of any food allergies when RSVP’ing’ could avoid an accidental health scare later on. If a child is highly allergic chances are they know what to avoid and may even bring their own food but they may get caught up in all the excitement and eat the wrong foods. Again, a designated ‘food time’ will allow you to keep an eye on what people are eating. If there is a child with allergies ensure that are not left out; it’s the worst feeling for a child if they are. There are lots of Gluten Free and Dairy Free options available now and it will make that child feel so special to be included.
5) Games and non-food fun.
Focusing the party guests on activities, instead of food, is a simple trick. Having the party at a park allows the children to run and play with each other. Party games, treasure hunts and movies will involve the kids in the party rather than having them sit and eat the whole time.
I hope these tips have been helpful. As a mum of three I have thrown many parties and believe that the key to success is planning, water pistols and ear plugs!
Article by Lisa McInerney from Mummy Made.It. Lisa McInerney is a mum and a Chiropractor from Victoria who has a passion for healthy, creative baking. With 3 young children she knows the value of providing the best possible nutrition to create healthy bodies and minds. Her website, www.mummymade.it, features healthier versions of your favorite desserts and treats using gluten free, paleo friendly and natural ingredients. Lisa has a fascination with using sweet potato in desserts and many of the recipes use vegetables and fruits in ways you have never imagined. Healthy can be Tasty!
