How to Improve Nutrition at Birthday Parties
How healthy is a children’s birthday party?
Not very, is probably your automatic answer, and you’d be right. But there are a few steps you can take to improve it slightly.
We had a birthday party last night for my 9-year-old s
on, and it was only afterwards that I wondered how I could have improved the nutritional value of the meal. At the time, I was just pleased to have fed them all after a hard play session, and with a sleepover still to come …
This is what I offered them, together with some ideas that, with hindsight, I could have used.
What I gave them: Pizza
I served them thin crust margharita pizza, as it seemed like the one they were most likely to eat. I was right - I couldn’t get it out of the oven and cut up fast enough. Looking at the label, though, it was 12% protein, 13% fat and 27% carbohydrate.
How could I have done better?
I could have added some vegetables to the pizza, but this might have meant that they didn’t eat it. In fact, though, this was one of the healthier options on the table.
What I gave them: Hot Cocktail Sausages
These were reasonably high quality pork party sausages, and were gluten-free. Not because of any of the guests needed to be gluten-free, but because that’s what I had in the house. (My gluten-free daughter had decided to stay over at a friends to avoid the party - wish I could have done the same.) But they were 30% fat, 12% protein and 4% carbohydrate.
How could I have done better?
It might have been possible to find lower fat sausages. But I did what I could by cooking them in the oven, rather than frying them.
What I gave them: Mini Sausage Rolls
These were ready-made frozen party sausage rolls in puff pastry. They were 6% protein, 24% fat and 33% carbohydrate.
How could I have done better?
Not easy. Perhaps I could have made them from scratch, so that they would have had fewer preservatives etc. But perhaps it would have been better just not to serve them at all …
What I gave them: Crisps/Chips
I bought a standard multipack of a variety of flavors. These were 6% protein, 50% carbohydrate and 33% fat.
How could I have done better?
I could have bought low-fat or baked versions of the same thing, or offered popcorn instead. Thing is, I know that the standard high-fat version is what they wanted.
What I gave them: Cheesestrings
Oh dear. 28% protein, no carbohydrate and 24% fat. Nobody ate these anyway.
How could I have done better?
Cubing a variety of better quality cheeses might have been better.
What I gave them: Cakes (mini swiss rolls, flapjacks and millionaire’s shortbread, and a shop-bought chocolate birthday cake)
OK, so I was very short on time, and was enjoying the luxury of not having to cook everything gluten-free. But still, these were all bought in ready-made, and I am now officially a Bad Mother (as if I was a Good Mother before …)
How could I have done better?
I’d have been happier with the nutritional value if I’d made all these myself, which I could have done. At least I’d have known what the ingredients were.
What I gave them: Chocolate Fountain with Apple Slices and Marshmallows
OK, my only excuse is that they are 9-year-old boys. Apple slices are the only contribution to a healthy diet here - and if you’ve ever used a chocolate fountain, you will know that the chocolate is made runny by the addition of a lot of extra cooking oil.
How could I have done better?
Not offer one! But realistically, I could have offered more fruit for dipping - orange segments, grapes and strawberries, all of which I have done in the past.
Missed opportunity
I could have offered cherry tomatoes and sticks of cucumber, carrot, celery and red/orange/yellow pepper. These usually go down well, but I just forgot.
I could have increased the fruit and vegetable intake, and reduced the fat a bit. On the other hand, all the food was eaten (I deliberately didn’t offer sandwiches, because in my experience they get left) and everyone enjoyed themselves.
Was I right to lie awake later, thinking I could and should have done better? What would you have offered a party of small boys?
Some suggestions:
- baked potatoes with a variety of toppings - these would have been easy
- corn on the cob - this would have been popular
- a proper meal, such as lasagna, that I could have prepared in advance
What else? If you’ve found the perfect solution to party for a bunch of hungry children, please comment and share it here! You might just be helping somebody out with a great idea.
Photo: SXC
As a kid, I loved it when they had strawberries and chunks of pineapple and melon at birthday parties. If these were available, I could have cared less about chips!