9 secrets to successful kids party food (without blowing the budget!)

Planning the food can be one of the most stressful parts of throwing a kids' party. How do you keep on budget and serve things everyone will love, while avoiding a 'leftovers mountain'? Follow our clever party hacks for stress-free – and low cost – kids party food ...

At home you've only got your own fussy eaters to deal with. Throw in a group of their friends, and your child's birthday party tea can be an (expensive!) recipe for stress.

For your one-stop party food shop, it's got to be Aldi. Their Super Weekly Offers where different items are discounted every week, will see you pick up more for less. And you can offer the mini party guests healthy treats too, with the budget supermarket's Super 6 fruit and veg.

Try these clever hacks for even more bargain tips for kids party food.

1 Set a budget

The first and most important step is to work out a budget for the food and stick to it. Veg sticks, cut fruit and sandwiches are all good, budget-friendly options. (Get inspired with our article with dozens of ideas for kids party food.) Spread the cost by adding longer-life items to your shop a few weeks ahead, then buy the fresh stuff a few days beforehand.

Heading to Aldi means you'll instantly make savings. The budget supermarket has recently been given a prestigious Which? Recommended Provider status for consistently low prices and value for money.

Bargain!

2 Ask about allergies

Avoid surprise dietary requirements on the day by including a line on the invitations asking parents to let you know if their child has any allergies or food preferences. Make it easy by including your mobile number so they can text you the RSVP along with any allergy info.

It's generally a good idea to avoid nuts (including peanut butter and chocolate-hazelnut spread) at kids' parties in case of nut allergies. Hummus contains sesame, so be aware in case any guests have sesame allergies, too.

Parents of kids with severe allergies may feel more comfortable bringing along their own food.

3 Make the day before

Be realistic about how much of the party tea you can make on the day (factor in time for balloon blowing, carting everything to the venue and dealing with an over-excited birthday boy/girl, too!).

How to keep sandwiches fresh: Make the sandwiches the night before and add a layer of damp kitchen-roll to the tray before cling-filming them, to stop them drying out.

How to keep carrots and celery sticks fresh: Prep veg sticks the day before and wrap them in damp kitchen roll before storing in the fridge in air-tight containers.

4 Small is beautiful

Apply the small-is-beautiful rule to your party food by making everything bite-sized. Kids are magically drawn towards small things (think about how much they love the little party bag gifts!). And children who are unsure about trying something new are more likely to nibble on something little.

Think small sandwich triangles, cut fruit and veggies, and paper cones filled with healthy snacks like Mamia Rice Cakes.

Head to Aldi's chilled aisle for mini cocktail sausages and other little savoury party treats to stock up on tiny bites.

5 Eat the rainbow

Serve up a colourful spread that will have the kids racing to the table. In addition to putting out bowls of carrot sticks, cucumber batons and cut-up cherry tomatoes, add simple dips like hummus or a tomato salsa.

Don't be afraid to mix sweet and savoury, either.

Bowls of blueberries, cut strawberries and quartered grapes (the Child Accident Prevention Trust advises that grapes should be cut in half lengthways, and ideally quartered) might encourage fussy eaters to get stuck in before eating the sarnies and other savoury bits.

6 Don't forget the cake!

The highlight of a party tea is of course the birthday cake! But this can make a big dent in your budget.

Make it an easy part of the plan by heading to Aldi to check out their range of birthday cakes for kids. They're super tasty AND a total bargain!

In fact, is it even a party unless there's a certain Cuthbert cake?! It's just £4.99 and serves 12 kids.

7 Sneak in some extra veg

When they're happily chomping away, little will those unsuspecting kids know that they're actually getting some of their five-a-day: buy basic pizzas and add extra veggie toppings, or make your own and finely grate carrots and courgettes into passata for the sauce.

And if you're doing hot food, swap in sweet potato wedges instead of regular chips. Aldi's Super 6 fruit and veg means you can pick up cheaper veggies so this will also keep your party food cost down too.

8 Try DIY

Older kids will love an interactive party tea.

Get them to top their own pizza slices by serving slices of Margherita pizza alongside platters of pepperoni or sliced veg. And cupcake decorating can double as a craft activity (two birds, one stone!). Put out chopped blueberries and raspberries as well as sprinkles and dark chocolate chips.

9 Make healthier sweet treats

Here are a few clever tricks to make sweet treats the kids will love without overloading them on sugar.

• Serve popcorn in paper cones, dusted with a little cinnamon.
• Make flapjacks with mashed banana to bind instead of loads of butter.
• Make colourful fruit kebabs by loading chunks of pineapple, strawberries and orange slices onto skewers.

For more tips and ideas, check out our birthday planning guides by age:

1-year-old birthday • 2-year-old birthday • 3-year-old birthday • 4-year-old birthday • 5-year-old birthday • 6-year-old birthday • 7-year-old birthday • 8-year-old birthday • 9-year-old birthday • 10-year-old birthday • 11-year-old birthday • 12-year-old birthday • 13-year-old birthday • 14-year-old birthday