Food for a baby shower luncheon
25 Perfect Baby Shower Food Ideas on a Budget – Instacart
Throwing a fun, memorable party to celebrate the new arrival in your life doesn’t have to break the bank. You can decorate a party or backyard and prepare a tasty menu affordably without compromising on quality—it just takes planning. If you’re stuck and don’t know where to start, these baby shower food ideas on a budget will get the ball rolling.
How to throw a baby shower on a budget
Before we get into baby shower food ideas, these are our cost-cutting tips for throwing a wonderful baby shower on a budget.
1. Don’t host at mealtimes
If you host a baby shower at mealtimes, you’ll have to serve full meals, which can be expensive. Instead, throw your baby shower between meals, so you can serve only appetizers and sweet snacks. 2 p.m. is a popular time for these events.
2. Keep a pared-down guest list
On average, guests eat around 5 pieces of food at baby showers. The more people you invite, the costlier the event will be.
3. Ask guests to bring food or drinks
If you still want a full party but can’t afford to feed everyone, ask your guests to bring over food or drinks. It will be a baby-shower-meets-potluck type of event, which can be a lot of fun.
4. Choose local, seasonal ingredients
The cheapest food for a baby shower is the one that’s local and in season. Research what fresh produce is cheapest, then come up with recipes using those ingredients.
Following a themed menu can help you pinch pennies. For example, if you’re using chicken for 1 appetizer, make sure to include it in another snack. This way, you don’t have to buy as many ingredients and end up saving money.
6. Ditch the fully stocked bar
Choose just 1 or 2 drinks to serve—preferably non-alcoholic for baby showers. No need to keep a handful of spirits and mixers on hand.
7. Make your own decorations
DIY the décor using things you already have at home. Visiting a thrift store can also help you throw a stylish baby shower for cheap.
Affordable appetizers for a baby shower
Plate up these tasty, budget-friendly appetizers for your guests.
1. Ham and cheese sliders
Ham and cheese sliders are simple, easy to make, and affordable.
2. Pulled pork buns
Pulled pork sliders are also a popular snack for baby showers. Don’t skip out on the barbecue sauce.
3. Turkey cheddar hot pinwheels
With pre-made pizza dough, deli turkey slices, and cheddar cheese, you can make this comforting finger food.
4. Tomato and broccoli mini quiches
Quiches are sophisticated but surprisingly cheap to make. For this version, use ripe sliced tomatoes and broccoli florets for the filling.
5. Hummus and roasted veg toast
Spread homemade or storebought hummus on toasted bread and top with an assortment of roasted veggies.
6. Build-your-own chili
If you’re looking for a more filling snack, chili is the way to go. Let your guests add their own toppings.
7.
Potato skins with baconHollowed-out baked potatoes, bacon, and sour cream make the perfect appetizer. It’s easy to eat and packed with flavor.
8. Summer pasta salad
For something lighter, serve individual portions of pasta salad. Toss fusilli and whatever veggies are in season in olive oil and a pinch of salt.
9. Deep-fried pickles
Pickles are a popular satisfying snack among many moms-to-be. Set out a plate of deep-fried pickles with ranch dressing on the side.
10. Babies in a blanket
Give pigs in a blanket a twist. Wrap the dough around the sausage so it looks like a swaddled baby and add chocolate sprinkles for the eyes.
11. Grape jelly wieners
Toss smokies in a grape jelly and ketchup mixture, then serve on toothpicks.
12. Barbecue meatballs
Another hearty appetizer, meatballs doused in barbecue sauce are a crowd-pleaser.
13. Tater tot casserole
Tater tot casserole is pretty inexpensive to make.
Use a blend of affordable cheeses to take this comfort food to the next level.
14. Chicken salad sandwiches
Spread chicken salad on soft white sandwich bread and serve with an olive and a toothpick on top.
15. Pesto chicken tea sandwiches
Grilled chicken and basil pesto is another great combination. Cut the sandwiches into quarters so they’re easier to eat.
16. Hamburger meat empanadas
Pie crust and hamburger meat can be turned into delicious empanadas. Salsa makes for a great dipping sauce.
17. Cheese pizza bites
Make finger food pizza bites using a cupcake tin, pizza dough, pizza sauce, and shredded cheese.
Cheap desserts and treats for baby showers
What’s a party without something sweet? These cheap recipes for a baby shower will satisfy your sweet tooth without going over budget.
1. Gendered rice crispy treats
Rice crispy treats are cheap to make. They only call for margarine, marshmallows, and puffed rice.
Add red or blue food dye for a gendered twist.
2. Carrot cupcakes
Not into gender-themed desserts? You will probably love carrot cupcakes. Making your own is cheaper than getting it from the store—and surprisingly easy!
3. Fruit on a skewer
Pierce a skewer through pieces of fruit for a healthy snack. Grapes, banana, strawberry, apple—whatever is in season.
4. Caramel apples
In the fall, when apples are abundant, caramel apple slices hit the spot.
5. Waffle bites
Waffle mix is inexpensive, so why not make waffle bites? Cut a waffle into fourths and top with fruits, caramel, or chocolate.
6. Decorated sugar cookies
Take sugar cookies to the next level by decorating them. All you’ll need is icing, food dye, and a piping bag.
7. Ice cream sundaes
Sundaes are perfect for summer baby showers. Choose 1 ice cream flavor and let your guests pick their toppings—pretzels, caramel drizzle, and chocolate chips are just some of the options.
8. S’mores bar
Set up a s’mores bar for a DIY dessert. You’ll need graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows. Don’t forget skewers and a few candles.
Save time and money with a little help from a friend
You probably have a clearer picture of what you’ll serve at your budget-friendly baby shower, right? Now comes the fun part: creating invites, making a playlist, and decorating the space. What’s not so fun is doing the grocery runs—but, fortunately, you can leave that to Instacart. Order everything you need with just a few clicks and focus on the party. You may also want to check out current deals from our retailers.
Grab it now on Instacart:
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37 Crowd-Pleasing Baby Shower Food Ideas
Planning a baby shower is lots of fun, especially when it comes to brainstorming food ideas. Whether you’re looking for food ideas that match your chosen baby shower theme or you’re just looking for quick, easy, and flavorful options that everyone will love, you’ve come to the right place. Check out our 37 baby shower food ideas, including savories, sweets, and thirst-quenching drinks.
9 Tips and Ideas for Planning a Baby Shower Menu
When planning a baby shower, you can be as creative as you like with the food ideas, but it’s also important to consider some practical aspects.
As the host, you’ll have a lot to take care of, including decorating the venue, so it’s good to plan food that is quick to make and easy to serve and eat.
Here are some tips to help you think about the types of food to choose, how to serve it, and more:
Savory Baby Shower Food Ideas
Whether you plan on having only finger foods or an entire menu at the baby shower, here are some ideas for the savory food:
Baby Shower Dessert Table Food Ideas
Besides having a baby shower cake as a centerpiece, you may want to have a dessert table with an assortment of other sweet offerings. Here are some ideas for crowd-pleasing sweets and desserts:
Drinks
Beyond serving the usual wine spritzer or sparkling wine at the baby shower, consider some alcohol-free drinks, like mocktails, punch, and homemade sodas:
The Bottom Line
You’ll no doubt have lots of fun planning and serving the food for the mom-to-be’s baby shower.
If you’ve decided to prepare most of the food, round up some of the mom-to-be’s friends and family to help. Make it easier on yourself by using some store-bought elements, too. You could also make some of what’s on offer but ask each guest to bring a small plate to share.
Set up food and dessert tables so that guests can serve themselves buffet style, and stick to foods that aren’t too messy to eat while standing up and mingling.
If you have a set theme, you can tie the food into the theme by using colored frosting, or by piping lettering onto foods like “Oh, Baby!” Cookie cutters are your friend! Cut everything from brownies to sandwiches into shapes that match the theme. You can also connect the food and drinks to the theme based on the colors you choose for the straws, napkins, and cupcake liners.
Having a chocolate fondue fountain or a soda bar can create an interactive element that guests will love.
Have fun with it! Your options are endless, and you might find you really get into it once you get started.
And, always remember, no matter what food and drinks you serve, your guests — especially the guest of honor — will really appreciate your efforts and thoughtfulness.
While you’re here, check out our baby shower checklist to double-check that you’ve covered everything for the upcoming event.
What to cook for children, menu from 1 to 7 years old: 350 recipes with photos
Recipes for meals that can be prepared for a child with step by step photos. Breakfasts, lunches, dinners, afternoon snacks. Dishes like in kindergarten. Proven recipes with cooking times
Kindergarten Recipes Dinner Recipes for Kids Breakfast Recipes for Kids Soup recipes for kids Salad Recipes for Kids Recipes for baking and sweets for children side dish recipes for kids How to "hide" vegetables for kidsThinking out what to cook for a child is another quest, because food should be both tasty and healthy, and meet many more children's whims.
Here you will find many suitable recipes for children to prepare for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
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Openwork pancakes with milk will decorate the table for Maslenitsa like no other.
One of the best soup options for children is, of course, with meatballs.
An airy and infinitely delicious cake made from the simplest ingredients, easy and quick to prepare - this is a cake with sour cream and raisins.
Incredibly tender, tasty and healthy chicken liver pancakes are obtained according to this PP recipe.
Donuts according to the classic recipe are cooked on kefir and from the simplest ingredients.
Salad with carrots, apples and dried fruits - a great option for a children's menu from 2 to 6 years old.
Mannik is one of the simplest and most economical types of baking. It is the easiest to prepare.
The recipe for a cake with raisins in milk is very simple. You don't need to beat anything for him.
An excellent low-calorie no-bake dessert for the New Year is panna cotta.
The low-calorie version of the Potato cake will never replace the original.
Quince has a pleasant aroma and delicate fruity taste, and can be used to make a variety of dishes, including delicious desserts.
These fragrant yeast-free dough tarts with juicy apple filling bake very quickly.
Sweet braided yeast dough with cinnamon - soft inside, spectacular, with caramelized crispy edges.
Royal cheesecake, despite its name, is more like a sweet pie with crumbly crispy dough and a delicate cheesecake-like filling.
A wonderful recipe for meatballs for children is hedgehogs, I cook them in a pan.
Cheesecakes with cottage cheese from yeast dough - a wonderful weekend breakfast.
Funny hedgehogs with gravy will surely please your kids. Light sour cream sauce goes well with unusual meatballs.
The recipe for the most delicious cake - this, of course, sounds subjective. But yes, I have it.
This simple and delicious cheesecake recipe uses only available and inexpensive ingredients.
Curd cake with raisins bakes quite quickly in the oven and will become a lifesaver for the arrival of guests and home tea drinking.
Carrot cake according to the classic recipe is prepared quite simply. And the products for him are also simple.
Meringue is a sweet, crunchy dessert made with minimal ingredients.
This grated cottage cheese pie always pleases my family with its aroma and taste, I bake it in the oven.
Many people remember from childhood the taste of tender cake Mishka in the north. Thin shortbreads soaked in fragrant sour cream with vanilla and a light crunch of walnuts.
Thinking out what to cook for a child is another quest, because food should be both tasty and healthy, and meet many more children's whims.
Here you will find many suitable recipes for children to prepare for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
For your convenience, we have divided the recipes into categories: breakfasts for children, soups for children, side dishes for children, dinners for children, desserts for children.
There is also a category of recipes “how to hide vegetables for children in baking” – for those mothers whose children cannot stand everything healthy and prefer to eat only sweets. :)
All recipes are suitable for children's menus, tested by our authors and their children, so feel free to choose what suits you!
You will also be interested in our training “How to teach a child to eat right in 2 weeks”.
What to cook for a child for lunch
Recipes 11/24/2020 Anna Lipovskaya
Photo: pinterest.ruAll parents know how often children do not want to be distracted from their affairs to have lunch. But for a growing body, a regimen and proper healthy nutrition are very important. Therefore, we have prepared a selection of 20 delicious and quick recipes for what to cook for a child for lunch, so that he definitely does not miss it!
1. Chicken noodle soup
Photo: blotos.ru We tell you how to make the simplest noodle broth really tasty and fragrant for a child.
You will need: 1 chicken, 2 onions, 1 carrot, 1 bay leaf, 2 cloves, peppercorns, 150 g noodles, 30 ml olive oil.
Preparation: Boil the chicken over high heat until boiling, remove the foam and lower the temperature. Add the onion and spices there, and boil for an hour and a half on low heat without a lid so that the broth is reduced. Fry the second onion and diced carrots and add to the soup. Shred the chicken, add the noodles and boil until tender.
2. Buckwheat soup with potato dumplings
Photo: twilight-saga.ruYou can add some mushrooms, but only champignons.
You will need: 300 g chicken, 0.5 cup buckwheat, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 2.5 liters of water, 2 potatoes, 1 egg, 3 tbsp. flour, spices.
Preparation: Cut the chicken into pieces and boil, add buckwheat and spices. Separately, boil the potatoes, mash in a puree, mix with the egg, flour and spices into a thick dough.
Form the dumplings, put them in the soup, and when they float, add the onion and carrot roast and boil for another 4 minutes.
3. Dietary fish with vegetables
Photo: cool-blog.ruWho said that only soups are suitable for lunch for a child?
You will need: 400 g hake (pollock or other fish), 1 carrot, half an onion, 1 marrow, 1 tomato, spices.
Preparation: Clean the fish, cut into large pieces and boil in salted water for 7 minutes. Stew the onions and carrots with a little water, put the boned fish on them, and on top - half rings of zucchini. Beat the tomato in a blender with spices and pour on top. Stew the fish under a lid over low heat for about half an hour.
4. Tomato soup with meatballs
Photo: sovkusom.ruThis is a “triple” soup, because it contains both tomato sauce, puree, and whole tomatoes.
You will need: 500 g chicken, 3 tomatoes, 1 carrot, 2 onions, 70 ml tomato sauce, 3 tbsp.
olive oil, 2 green onions, herbs, spices, 2.5 liters of broth.
Preparation: Pass the chicken fillet through a meat grinder, add 1 grated onion and spices to taste, remove the minced meat under the film in the refrigerator. Chop and fry onions with carrots, chop greens and green onions. Chop 1 tomato and blend the rest with a blender.
Add tomato sauce and tomato puree to the stew, simmer for 10 minutes. Form meatballs and put in a boiling broth, and after 5 minutes add the tomato fry there. Season the soup and boil for another 7 minutes, add fresh tomatoes, leave for another 5 minutes, and then sprinkle with herbs.
5. Lean pork with tomatoes
Photo: ona-znaet.ruChoose the leanest part of pork if you are preparing dinner for a child.
You will need: 300 g pork, 3 tomatoes, 1 onion, 200 g cheese, herbs, 200 g yogurt, spices.
Preparation: Rinse the pork, cut into slices, beat, season and put in a mold.
Sprinkle chopped onions on top, pour yogurt, put tomato slices, sprinkle with herbs and grated cheese. Bake in the oven for about half an hour at 180 degrees.
6. Lentil soup
Photo: wall.alphacoders.comLentil soup is very healthy, so if the child likes it, it's real luck!
You will need: 300 g of lentils, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 stalk of celery, 2 liters of broth, 50 ml of olive oil, spices, yogurt.
Preparation: Chop the vegetables and lightly fry in olive oil right in the pan. Add spices and dry lentils there, fry for another 3 minutes and fill with water. Boil the soup until the lentils are ready, beat with a blender and serve with yogurt.
7. Chicken soup with melted cheese
Photo: recept-borscha.ruMelted cheese makes baby's soup tender, beautiful and pleasant.
You will need: 500 g chicken, 200 g melted cheese, 0.5 cup vermicelli, 4 potatoes, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 bunch of herbs, 2 tbsp.
butter.
Preparation: Cut the chicken into pieces and boil until tender. Fry the chopped onion with grated carrots and cut the potatoes into cubes. Add vegetables to the meat, and after 6 minutes add the grated processed cheese. After another 5 minutes, add the vermicelli and boil for 5 minutes. Add chopped herbs before serving.
8. Spicy Carrot Puree Soup
Photo: sunshineguerrilla.comCarrot soup with savory spices – and your child will surely be delighted with the variety of tastes.
You will need: 300 g carrots, 1 red onion, 2 cm ginger, 0.5 tsp. coriander, 300 ml of broth.
Preparation: Coarsely chop the onion and carrot and fry them for about 6 minutes with grated ginger. Put them in a saucepan, cover with water and boil for 20 minutes after boiling. Add spices, drain some broth for consistency and beat the soup with a blender.
9. Carrot-potato casserole
Photo: pinterest.
com Add sour cream or thick yogurt for tenderness.
You will need: 2 carrots, 3 potatoes, 200 g chicken, 30 g butter, 2 tbsp. sour cream, 100 g cheese.
Preparation: Boil the chicken, potatoes and carrots until tender, and chop everything into random pieces. Lubricate the form with oil, lay out in layers, pour sour cream on top and pour cheese. Bake for 20 minutes at 180 degrees.
10. Cabbage soup
Photo: aproduct22.ruSimple composition, unobtrusive taste and creamy notes - the perfect recipe for what to cook for a child for lunch.
You will need: 300 g white cabbage, 300 g cauliflower, 150 g carrots, 150 g onions, 100 g rice, 100 ml 20% cream, 2.5 l broth, spices.
Preparation: Finely chop the onion and carrots and fry lightly, add chopped cabbage and simmer for a couple of minutes. Pour in the broth, add spices there and boil for 15 minutes after boiling. Add rice to the soup, after 7 minutes - chopped cauliflower, and after another 7 - cream.
11. Chicken soup with cheese balls
Photo: kolsanovafit.ruSoup with meatballs or crackers is understandable. What about cheese balls for kids?
You will need: 400 g chicken, 400 g potatoes, 1 carrot, 1 onion, 2.5 liters of water, spices, herbs, 100 g cheese, 1 egg, 50 g butter, 120 g flour.
Preparation: Cut the chicken into pieces and boil, meanwhile grate the cheese and chop the herbs. Mix cheese, egg, butter, flour, some herbs and spices into a soft dough and leave it in the refrigerator for half an hour. Add potato cubes to the broth, and after 5 minutes, fry onions and carrots. Lastly, roll the cheese dough into balls and add to the soup, boil for another 10 minutes over low heat.
12. Milk-rice soup
Photo: vilkin.proA good variety for a child when they are tired of vegetable and meat soups.
You will need: 80 g of rice, 200 ml of milk, a pinch of cinnamon, salt and sugar.
Preparation: Rinse the rice several times until clear water flows from it and boil until half cooked. Throw it in a colander and put it in a pot of boiling milk. Add spices and cook until rice is cooked. By the way, this soup can be served even cold.
13. Corn soup with meatballs
Photo: shkolazhizni.ruUse finely ground corn grits to make the soup hearty and rich.
You will need: 250 g minced meat, 1 tbsp. bran, spices, 0.5 tbsp. starch, 1 carrot, 1.5 onions, 3 potatoes, 1 bell pepper, 1 tomato, 80 g corn grits, 3 tbsp. oil, 1.3 liters of water.
Preparation: Mix minced meat with bran, starch and spices, make small meatballs and put them in the freezer for a while. Fry chopped onions, carrots and peppers for 3 minutes, add potatoes and fry for another 5 minutes. Add corn grits to vegetables, simmer for 4 minutes, cover with water and boil for about 13 minutes after boiling. Add spices and meatballs, and cook the soup until they are ready.
14. Carrot cake with almonds
Photo: receptfromchef.ruThe cake is very simple, quick and tasty, and children love it too.
You will need: 2 carrots, 300 g almonds, 200 g sugar, 4 eggs, 50 g flour, 3 tbsp. zest, a pinch of cinnamon, 1 tsp baking powder.
Preparation: Coarsely grate the carrots and chop the almonds in a blender. Beat the yolks with sugar, add flour, baking powder, cinnamon and zest, and then combine the mass with carrots and almonds. Separately, beat the whites, gently mix into the dough, transfer to a mold and bake for 50 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees.
15. Pasta casserole
Photo: vkusnoisrael.comTake only high-quality durum wheat pasta - and it will also be useful.
You will need: 250 g pasta, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 0.5 cup grated tomatoes, 250 g cottage cheese, 2 eggs, 250 g cheese, spices.
Preparation: Boil the pasta until tender and cover with oil.
Mix tomatoes with cottage cheese, grated cheese, eggs and spices. Add pasta there, put it in a mold and bake for 40 minutes at 180 degrees.
16. Chicken puree soup for children
Photo: zen.yandex.ruAn interesting recipe for a simple chicken soup with broccoli and spinach for lunch for a child!
You will need: 100 g cauliflower, 200 g broccoli, 100 g spinach, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 1 chicken fillet, greens, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 3 potatoes, spices.
Preparation: Fry chopped onions with carrots, add spices, cover with water and lay out chicken and potatoes. Boil for 10 minutes, add broccoli and cauliflower florets, spinach and herbs. Boil for another 10 minutes and grind everything with a blender.
17. Mushroom soup with barley
Photo: pinterest.ruDo you think a child who eats soup with barley is fantastic? Then try our recipe!
You will need: 300 g mushrooms, 60 g barley, 3 potatoes, half a carrot, half a bell pepper, half an onion, 1.
5 liters of water, spices.
Preparation: Pour barley with water for half an hour, rinse and boil until tender. Prepare a frying of chopped onions and grated carrots, add chopped pepper there. Put the mushrooms in a saucepan, cover with water and boil for 5 minutes after boiling. Drain mushrooms, cover with clean water, add potatoes and boil for 10 minutes. Add vegetables and spices, boil a little and let the soup brew under the lid for 10 minutes.
18. Veal with yogurt and vegetables
Photo: mysweebe.ruDelicate, healthy and dietary dish that is very easy to cook for a child for lunch.
You will need: 600 g veal, 1 stalk leek, 1 carrot, 1 stalk celery, 20 g green onions, 200 ml yogurt, 20 g butter, 1 tbsp. flour, spices.
Preparation: Grind the veal and boil for about half an hour. Then add chopped celery, leeks and carrots, spices there, and after another half an hour, strain the broth. Lightly fry the flour in butter, pour in 500 ml of broth, yogurt and stew.
Put the meat with vegetables in the sauce and sprinkle with green onions.
19. Chicken soup with peas and egg
Photo: proviantmaster.ruYou can take frozen or canned peas.
You will need: 2 chicken thighs, 3 potatoes, 1 carrot, 1 onion, 2 eggs, 250 g peas, spices, herbs.
Preparation: Pour 2 liters of water over the thighs, bring to a boil and boil for 40 minutes, then remove and grind the meat. Fry chopped onions and grated carrots. Put potato cubes in the broth, after 15 minutes - vegetables and peas, then - chicken, and 3 minutes before the end of cooking - grated boiled eggs.
20. Chicken cutlets for children
Photo: skolko-stoit.ruIf you want them to be even softer and juicier, take turkey fillet.
You will need: 500 g chicken fillet, 2 processed cheeses, half a bunch of green onions, half a bunch of herbs, 1 egg, 2 tbsp. sour cream, breadcrumbs.
Preparation: Pass chicken and melted cheese through a meat grinder, add chopped onion with herbs, egg and sour cream.
