65 First Birthday Party Food Ideas And Planning Tips

You may be super excited about your baby turning one, and you want to host the best party to celebrate their first birthday. Tiny tots are your most important guests, and so your baby’s first birthday party food ideas must include exciting, colorful, and fancy options on the table. You need to do many things, including selecting a party theme, deciding on the guest list, buying gifts, and planning the food. If you are confused about the food, we can help you with the planning process by providing delicious snack and dessert ideas in this post.These creative ideas are sure to impress children and their parents alike.

In This Article

What Kind Of First Birthday Party Are You Planning?

First birthday party

Image: Shutterstock

You can come up with the food menu only when you have the basic idea of the birthday party.

  • Decide if it is going to be a small snack or high tea party, or you want to host a lavish lunch or dinner.
  • If you are planning for a simplistic evening party, then you can make a handful of items at home. Your family members or close friends could help you prepare some delectable recipes.
  • If it is going to be a big party, you may have to hire a caterer and plan a mixed menu.Make sure you find a well-known catering agency that specializes in making the best quality kid-friendly food items.

Who Are The Guests?

Having a guest list ready would make it easier to figure out the quantity and type of food to have at your baby’sfirst birthday party.

  • Will it be a small party with only family or friends?
  • Will you invite your close relatives and neighbors?
  • How many babies and toddlers would be attending the party?
  • How many teenagers or parents or adults would attend?

When you have the answers to these questions, you can plan the food ideas and serving size.

protip_icon Point to consider
Keep the guest list short and invite only those important to you and your family. An extravagant party can make it difficult for you to make arrangements and welcome all the guests, besides burning a hole in your pocket.

What Food To Include In The Menu?

Kids' party food

Image: Shutterstock

你需要考虑食物类别的基础on the guest list. If it is a large party, then you may have to categorize the menu.

  • You need to include vegetarian and non-vegetarian items to fit the needs of all the guests.
  • In case you areinvitingvegan friends, make sure you have vegan items on the menu.
  • You should also have a few types of desserts and drinks.Have colorful and delicious food items that please everyone attending the birthday party.
  • If there is a theme party, make sure that the food reflects the theme. For instance, if the party theme is “Frozen,” then try to have more blue food items and pictures of “Frozen” movie characters all around.

First Birthday Party Food Ideas

We have some mouth-watering food choices in every category to delight your guests, including the adorablechildrenand the grown-ups.

Finger food and appetizer ideas

Finger food for children

Image: Shutterstock

Appetizers or starters are the first course of a meal. They should be tempting and light to give an excellent start to the party meal.Toddlersand children fill their tummies with starters as they are fond of them.Having a variety of options would be a good idea.We have a few palatable suggestions here.

  1. Fruits on skewers or fruit salad
  2. Vegetable and chicken nuggets
  3. Baby breadsticks with cheese
  4. French fries or potato smileys or potato wedges
  5. Cookies with cream or crackers
  6. Muffins and bagels
  7. Devilled eggs
  8. Egg mini muffins
  9. Roasted or steamed vegetables and dip
  10. Small sandwiches
  11. Cheesy garlic bread
  12. Chips and dips
  13. Cheerios
  14. Puffed snacks
  15. Wafers and pretzel
  16. Mini pancakes

Alternatively, you could also try out onion rings but with a little twist. Place a smaller onion ring at the center of the large one and fill the gap with a cheese stick of our choice. Preferably, mozzarella cheese sticks would be a great option. Then fry these up and see kids relish them. Additionally, the classic hot dogs or corn dogs are there to fill up the place on your table and earn a little extra praise and love from kids.

Savory foods

The savory foods or main meal of the party should be delightfully flavorsome. The main items in the party menu should be filling and appealing to all the guests.There should be items for every guest, be it a vegan, vegetarian, non-vegetarian, or a health-conscious person.

  1. 披萨,素食和荤食
  2. Cheesy macaroni with different toppings such as chicken bites, bacon, and veggies
  3. Vegetarian and chicken burger
  4. Quesadilla
  5. Grilled cheese sandwiches
  6. BBQ sandwiches
  7. Crustless sandwiches
  8. Pasta with cheese and salad options or meatballs
  9. Vegetable noodles
  10. Taco pinwheels
  11. Casserole
  12. Small squared pizza bites
  13. Chicken tenders
  14. Chicken sliders
  15. Nachos filled with cheese
  16. Pizza rolls
  17. Cheese and garlic bread
  18. Stuffed or toasted kebabs
  19. Beef rolls with cheddar cheese
  20. Stromboli

Alternatively, you can go for roasted pork ribs with cherry barbeque sauce and serve with a bowl of herb rice. This is a star dish that fills up the stomach while also providing nutrition.

Desserts

Children enjoying dessert

Image: Shutterstock

No party is complete without desserts. Your baby’s first birthday party should have desserts that become the talk of the party. Children and adults love trying out different kinds of sweet items, so we have covered a few delicious dessert ideas for you.

  1. Birthday cake(your baby’s favorite shape and flavor)
protip_icon Quick tip
Buy a cake that matches the theme of the birthday party. You may also bake a sugar-free and gluten-free birthday cake as a healthy option.
  1. Fruit salad or yogurt
  2. Ice cream of different flavors
  3. Jelly and custard
  4. Cupcakes
  5. Pops and candies
  6. Mini pies
  7. Ice cream cone cupcakes
  8. 冰淇淋公司ndwich
  9. Donut holes or baked donuts
  10. Mini s’mores
  11. Frozen treats or popsicles
  12. Assorted cookies
  13. Cheesecake pastries
  14. Frozen pops
  15. Honey waffles
  16. Marshmallow pops
  17. Fruit pies
  18. Macarons or ice cream sandwiches
  19. Fried ice cream

In addition to these, the good-old chocolate brownies are there to save your day and earn all the praise from kiddos surely.

Drinks and beverages

Children's party drinks

Image: Shutterstock

It’s your baby’s first birthday celebration, so make sure you are not having alcoholic drinks. There are some healthy and fruity options you can try and impress your guests. Remember, the party is more for the children than the parents.

  1. Lemonade or fruit smoothies
  2. Hot chocolate
  3. Vanilla milkshake
  4. Fruity cocktails
  5. Citrus punch
  6. Iced tea with fruit flavors
  7. Hawaiian drink
  8. Rose milk
  9. Yogurt smoothies

Tips For Planning Your Baby’s First Birthday Food Menu

The first birthday is a big deal for parents, thus planning would make your job easier. We have some general tips for you here.

  • Get child-friendly glasses, plates, and cups made of eco-friendly and high-quality food-grade material.
  • Keep fresh, high-quality, and hygienic food only. If you are ordering food, then go with the best caterer or restaurant.
  • You can ask the parents if their children have any food intolerances orfood allergies.
  • Do keep in mind your guest’s preferences, like those related to religious or other food choices.
  • Don’t keep choking hazards, including nuts, grapes, hard lollies, popcorn, or hard candies on the table.
  • Keep an eye on what the children are sipping and munching on. See that toddlers and babies are not consuming fizzy drinks or caffeinated beverages.
  • Choose a cake flavor that is liked by both children and their parents. Try to have an eggless cake so that most of the guests can relish it.
  • Make tempting and colorful foods so that children enjoy them.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much should I spend on a first birthday party?

It entirely depends on you. If you want an extravagant party with all your friends and family, you may spend around $1000 or more. If you want a quiet and intimate affair with only your near and dear ones, you can cut the expenses and spend less than $300.

2. What time should a first birthday start?

Consider your baby’s sleeping time and active hours before hosting a birthday party. Depending on that, you can throw a party in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Make sure to pick a time convenient for you and your guests.

3. Can I feed my baby cake on their first birthday?

Yes, a small piece of cake would not harm your baby. However, chop the cake into tiny bits before feeding it to your baby to avoid choking hazards. Also, if you love baking, you can make a homemade cake using healthy ingredients to introduce to your baby.

对于每一个新的父母,他们的孩子的第一个生日is one of the most awaited events. While you could be excited to organize a grand party for your little one, it would help if you plan for the event, follow a schedule, and keep things systematized. The variety of food and a delectable menu is a must-have for the party to be enjoyable and remembered. Take cues from these first birthday party food ideas to include the most delicious and exciting food items on the menu. Also, do not miss out on clicking adorablepicturesof your munchkin and the event to relish the memories later.

Infographic: First Birthday Party Food Ideas

Your little one has completed one year around the sun. So, celebrate their healthy and happy 12 months with some delicious foods. This infographic contains a list of all the delicious food options you may consider for your child’s first birthday menu.

food ideas for first birthday (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.

Download Infographic in PDF version Download Infographic
Download Infographic in PDF version

Key Pointers

  • Decide on the first birthday party theme, followed by the guest list and the menu.
  • You can plan appetizers, main course, beverages, and desserts for a large party.
  • You may have different options for your guests’ preferences for vegan, vegetarian, or non-vegetarian food.


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