What food do you serve at a baby shower
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:
Instacart
Instacart is the leading grocery technology company in North America, partnering with more than 1000 national, regional and local retail banners to deliver from more than 75,000 stores across more than 13,000 cities in North America.
To read more Instacart posts, you can browse the company blog or search by keyword using the search bar at the top of the page.
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.
10 Summer Kid's Party Recipes
Summer is the perfect season for organizing cute and noisy kids' parties, preferably outdoors. If you are planning a fun pastime for your kids, be sure to think about how you will feed the whole mischievous mob, because a lot of children's energy will be spent during games.
Skip store-bought snacks and convenience foods in favor of something a little more custom, homemade and delicious. Such dishes are not only budgetary and quick to prepare, but also healthy. Even the simplest, but interestingly designed and presented edible options will interest and attract any child.
1. Fruit skewers
You probably know how difficult it is to get your offspring to eat fruit every day, especially in season, so you can prepare bright, colorful skewers for a children's picnic.
Cut strawberries, oranges, pineapples or any other fruit into large cubes and thread them onto small skewers.
2. Mini Sandwiches
Small sandwiches are perfect for small hands. Make tiny hamburger variations or canapé variations. From this, you can even organize a game by laying out the components for mini-sandwiches on different dishes and inviting the kids to create their own sandwich.
3. Dip-bar
Try to organize a children's dip-bar by placing a variety of sauces (dips) in bowls on the table, where the children will dip chicken fingers, cheese, bread or vegetable sticks. This choice is usually very captivating for kids.
4. Roasted marshmallows
Invite the children to roast marshmallows (marshmallows) strung on the tip of a skewer over an open fire, of course with adult supervision and with their help. You need to keep it for a short time, until a golden brown color forms, when the marshmallow itself caramelizes and slightly melts inside.
Place a toasted marshmallow between two crackers and add a piece of chocolate.
5. Ice cream sandwiches
What would a summer party or picnic be without ice cream? Try to create your own, unusual version of such a treat. To do this, bake flat cookies, and then take them apart in pairs and carefully lay a thick layer of ice cream between each pair. Now it remains to place such sandwiches in the refrigerator for several hours.
6. Cheese crackers
Most children love both cheese and crackers. The appetizer is very easy to prepare: just put a thin piece of cheese between two crackers and heat a little (for example, in a microwave or oven) so that the cheese is slightly melted.
7. Yogurt ice cream
And this is a fairly simple idea for a tasty and healthy dessert. Divide vanilla, fruit, or berry yogurt into small paper cups, place a wooden stick in the center of each cup, and freeze the yogurt until firm. To prepare such a treat, you can also use special plastic ice cream molds.
8. Mini-pizzas
A lot of kids have a very positive attitude towards pizza. Make them serving miniature versions of this dish by spreading chopped tomatoes and grated cheese on mini round breads or mini pitas, then roast them in the oven. By the way, with the filling you can quite dream up.
9. Caramel apples
Thread small apples or apple slices onto skewers and dip them into the sugar and milk caramel. Let the apples harden, and then roll in chocolate chips or coconut flakes.
10. Holiday fondant
Melt the white chocolate and mix it slightly casually with the vanilla icing, finely crushed cookies and nuts, then pour the whole mixture into a mold and leave overnight until completely set, and in the morning or just before the holiday, cut into small squares. Simple and very effective!
Text: Marina Pavlova|Flytothesky.ru
Share this post with your friends!
Birthday Food Ideas
Hosting a birthday party is a very important job.
From choosing a theme to sending out invitations, there is still a lot to be done. Getting the right food to fit the crowd is one of the most important parts of party planning. To make sure your holiday meal is a hit, we've rounded up some birthday meal ideas that kids and adults alike are sure to love.
Jump to a specific section to answer your question
- Easy Meal Ideas for Kids' Birthdays
- Adult Birthday Food Ideas
Easy Kids Birthday Meal Ideas
Kids can be picky about what food they eat, so choosing food for a birthday party can be difficult. Before deciding what you want to serve, be sure to ask if anyone has allergies. You can include it in the invitation or ask the parents of the children individually.
If there is a party theme, some parts of the menu may reflect that theme, such as a cake. However, the following food ideas can work for any party, no matter the theme. The main thing is to be creative and interactive, especially for children.
Interactive Food Ideas
Not only can food be for eating, but it can also be used as a party activity. Having food that is also interactive is a good idea for children's birthday parties. Kids love to be entertained and what better way than to be entertained while they help cook!
Pizza Cookies are a quick and easy way to get interactive food. Buying puff pastry is a quick way to make delicious pizza dough. Lay out the sauce and various toppings such as cheese, pepperoni and olives. You can even ask the birthday boy or girl what they want for the topping and buy it. Then ask the children to top the biscuit dough with whatever they choose. Finally, put in the oven and prepare the biscuit dough according to the instructions.
If you don't want to wait for the oven, you can always make your own taco bar. This is the same concept of interaction, only without the oven. Prepare all the protein ahead of time and then reheat it right before you plan to eat to save time.
Top with toppings such as cheese, lettuce, salsa, and guacamole. Kids can top their soft or hard shell tacos with whatever they choose.
These two ideas are not only simple, they save time and money! Cooking with kids is also a fun way to give yourself a break from all the madness that is a birthday party.
Healthy snack ideas for kids
Trying to include healthy snacks on birthdays can be a difficult task. Keeping the snacks creative and fun, however, will grab kids' attention in a positive way.
Making fruit skewers is a healthy way to give the kids some sweet treats during the party. Place strawberries or pineapple on a wooden skewer and arrange on a festive tray. You can choose any fruit that is your favorite or goes best with the theme. If you want to turn skewers into dessert, consider dipping them in dark chocolate!
If your kids love vegetables more than fruits, ants on a log are the perfect snack. Before doing this, make sure no one at the party is allergic to peanut butter.
Spread peanut butter on celery sticks and stick raisins into it. This will look like there are ants on the log and is especially good for a Bug-themed party.
Fun Drink Ideas for Kids
Birthdays are a special occasion, and what better way to celebrate than to make kids feel like freaky adults? Making Shirley Temples is the perfect way to do it! You can also drink sparkling cider in flute-like glasses if you want a more sophisticated party. If you don't want kids to drink soda, have an assortment of juices in cute cups like Mason jars. Include fun straws to add extra personality to your drinks. They can be striped or even curly depending on the occasion.
Dessert Ideas
Last but not least, this is every child's favorite part of a birthday: dessert! If you want another interactive food idea, buy simple sugar cookies or make cupcakes without frosting. Then make a glaze of different colors and sprinkle it with powdered sugar. Children can decorate their dessert however they want.
Adult Birthday Food Ideas
Many times people think they need to spend time and money organizing birthday parties for adults. Luckily, there are ways you can prepare delicious and affordable food for your next party.
Fun finger food for adults
Finger food isn't just for kids. Parties with adults can also have small snacks, and they can be quirky but affordable.
Melon wrapped in prosciutto is the perfect appetizer if you're going for something a little more sophisticated. To do this, buy a melon and cut it into small cubes. Wrap the prosciutto pieces around the melon and stick toothpicks into them. If you're looking for another healthy and easy-to-make snack, slice a cucumber into slices and top with cream cheese and smoked salmon. It's a very quick fix and looks nice on a plate.
Place any finger food you make on a decorated plastic plate. Consider putting a holiday napkin or napkin on your plate to make it more decorative.
If you're looking for something a little more casual, put your hummus or artichoke in a pretty glass bowl. Surround with pita chips or chopped vegetables for dipping.
Drink Party Ideas for Adults
Making party drinks doesn't have to be a hassle. Ask a close friend to play "bartender" for the day, and also replenish your pantry with the usual alcohol and juices. If you want something even simpler, put an assortment of beers in the fridge and ask guests to help out.
For partygoers who don't drink, grind mint and add lemon lime soda to make a virgin mojito. This is easy to fix and can be done in bulk. Once prepared, you can place the mixture in a large pitcher or beverage dispenser.
Adults' Dessert Ideas
If you want to give the adults at your party more choice in what they eat, serve chocolate fondue! Melt several types of chocolate and put in separate bowls. You can have a dish with an assortment of fruits on it. You can also have a dish with lots of sweets such as cookies.
