I'm sick of this stupid kid's party trend - my boy always comes home starving

"I’d pick up the gift I bought the party kid, turn on my heel and march straight back out."

Eleanor Katelaris

2 min read

June 3, 2024 - 1:26PM

Primary School

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Have you noticed a growing trend at kids' parties where hosts have stopped providing food for guests?

Well, one mum online said she's experienced this not once but multiple times.

Fed up, she's taken to Mumsnet after picking up her starving eight-year-old from yet another one of his friend's foodless parties.

But not everyone in the comments saw it as an issue, claiming that she should just be happy her little one was invited and had fun.

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Image: IStock

Yet another no-food party

The concerned mum took to the forum and recounted: "Am I being unreasonable to think the recent move towards not providing party food at kids' parties is a bit odd?

"Just picked up my son from yet another party where no food was provided (and no, it’s not a cost thing, not in this case anyway) - just a doughnut."

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She continued, "The kids don’t care, I’m sure, but I wasn’t planning on doing a ‘dinner’ tonight, so I had to come home and produce something from nothing because he was hungry."

She then provided a message to fellow party-planning parents: "If you aren’t providing food, then at least tell us in advance so we know!"

"Cheapskates"

The post garnered a range of reactions, many of which echoed the original poster's concerns.

"Worst children's party ever!" exclaimed one commenter. "I'm confused. In fact, what kind of party – adults, teens, OR children's – doesn't have food for God's sake?!"

"This is not a thing I've ever come across?? To experience it multiple times is incredibly unusual, what kind of parties are they?" another bewildered user questioned.

"Not a party then, more a play date with a bigger group of kids," one commenter observed.

"I would never throw a party without food! This should not be a thing," declared another disapproving reader.

"If you just picked him up, the party was held over kids' typical dinner time, so they definitely should have specified that no food would be provided. Cheapskates," one user accused.

"Get that they fear allergies and all that but oh no, not for me," one parent admitted.

"Some snacks but not a spread is normal. Why would you expect your child to have a dinner provided, not just some sweets and the cake?" asked one user, defending the minimalist approach.

"I have been to ones that do a 'tea' of drink/cake type thing but only if they are 2pm-4pm or something," another noted.

"Jesus Christ, the party purists are on form tonight. OP, your kid enjoyed some fun at a party and got a doughnut. Fling him some fish fingers and beans, and don't worry about it. I couldn't care less about this if it was my child," concluded one commenter.