Okay, so, it was my little one’s first birthday bash, and let me tell you, figuring out the food situation was a bit of a head-scratcher. I mean, you gotta think about the grown-ups too, right? Not just the tiny humans who might just end up wearing more food than they eat.
So, I started by brainstorming. What could I make that wouldn’t have me chained to the kitchen all day? I wanted to actually enjoy the party, not just be a blur in the background, constantly refilling trays. I decided that easy was best, and went for that.
I dove into the internet, looking for ideas. I found some good stuff, but a lot of it seemed, well, kinda fancy for a one-year-old’s party. We’re talking about babies here, not food critics. I filtered and filtered to find food that made sense.
I decided to go with a mix of things. For the main course, I had to think about the adults. Kids that age will eat just about anything. I made a big pasta salad and put out some sandwich fixings so people could make their own. I mean, who doesn’t like a good pasta salad? Plus, it’s super easy to make ahead of time. I also made a big batch of pulled pork in the slow cooker. Just tossed it in there in the morning, and by party time, it was perfect. Easy, right?
- Pasta salad (hit with the adults)
- Pulled pork (super easy, cooked all day)
- Sandwich fixings (DIY is always fun)
- Fruit and veggie tray (gotta have the healthy stuff)
For the little ones, I kept it simple. I cut up some fruit and veggies into bite-sized pieces, put out some puffs, and made sure there was plenty of yogurt. I also baked a small smash cake just for the birthday baby. It was a bit messy but very cute.
Honestly, the best part was that I wasn’t stuck in the kitchen all day. I got to hang out with my guests, watch my little one smash their face into a cake, and actually enjoy the party. And you know what? Everyone seemed happy with the food, so I call that a win. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was good, and it was easy, and that’s what mattered.
Things I learned:
- Keep it simple.
- Make-ahead dishes are your best friend.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or have others bring a dish.
- Most importantly – enjoy the day!
All in all, it was a great day. Good food, good company, and a very happy (and messy) one-year-old. If you are planning a party soon, keep the above in mind.