Paleo Birthday party help

[lilles]

My DD birthday is coming up and a lot of the guests and their children are on the Paleo diet. We are not. I would like to have a few Paleo friendly foods served so there is something for everyone. I hate it when little kids cannot eat at a party while they watch other kids eat. I will not be serving or handing out any candy at all but of course we will have cake, etc plus other not so paleo friendly food. Any ideas?

[joenali]

A meat cake.

[shelbyann]

Meat/veggie skewers. As long as you watch the sugar in the sauce/marinade they should be mostly Paleo-compliant.
Chicken satay with almond butter sauce.
Meatballs in a low-sugar sauce (marinara/tomato, curry, etc...)
Cut up veggies and fruit.
Crab cakes (I make these all of the time and they are delicious: nomnompaleo.com/post/3635746431/paleo-krabby-patties).
A big salad with lots of fruit and nuts. (Maybe leave the dressing on the side or just use oil and vinegar whisked together.)
Buffalo wings. (Bake them skin-on, then toss with a mixture of Frank's Red Hot and butter or coconut oil)
Fresh guacamole with baby carrots and sliced cucumbers for dipping.
Sweet potato wedges.
Shrimp cocktail.

I think as long as you make *some* effort to have choices that are veggie/meat/fruit/nut based, your friends who are Paleo will be just fine. I'm sure they aren't expecting a whole spread catered to them. It's very thoughtful that you're going out of your way to accommodate them at all!

[wambam]

^^ Everything said above.

Maybe also a small treat? PaleOMG has tons and tons of treats.

These cookies are amazing. I would probably choose them over "regular" cookies: www.ohhopscotch.com/2012/07/sunday-snack-paleo-chocolate-chip.html

ETA: If they're anything like me, they're not expecting you to cater to them at all and will probably bring their own food. 

[Brit]

I think it is really nice of you to be thoughtful of your Paleo guests. Shelby had some great ideas.

I'm just curious about the Paleo kids... Are their parents that strict with them about Paleo that the kids can't eat normal birthday party crap when they are at a friend's house? My mom was all 'no artifical anything, all natural, no processed whatever' but that all went out the window at a birthday party or if I went to a friend's house.

[Deleted]

May 21, 2013 8:31:16 GMT -5 Brit said:

I think it is really nice of you to be thoughtful of your Paleo guests. Shelby had some great ideas.

I'm just curious about the Paleo kids... Are their parents that strict with them about Paleo that the kids can't eat normal birthday party crap when they are at a friend's house? My mom was all 'no artifical anything, all natural, no processed whatever' but that all went out the window at a birthday party or if I went to a friend's house.

That is what I am wondering too. I have a friend who isn't paleo, but doesn't let her almost 4 yo DD have any sugary foods or fast food (no juice, cookies, cakes, etc.) and I wonder how that will play out once she is school aged and going to other kid's parties. OP, I would have a veggie tray and other vegetarian options and call it a day. Paleo is such a specific diet that your friends probably don't "expect" that you will have a completely paleo friendly party. I'll keep my comments to myself about having small children abide by such stringent diet restrictions...

[wambam]

May 21, 2013 8:31:16 GMT -5 Brit said:

I think it is really nice of you to be thoughtful of your Paleo guests. Shelby had some great ideas.

I'm just curious about the Paleo kids... Are their parents that strict with them about Paleo that the kids can't eat normal birthday party crap when they are at a friend's house? My mom was all 'no artifical anything, all natural, no processed whatever' but that all went out the window at a birthday party or if I went to a friend's house.

I don't have kids, but when I do, it will depend. If my kid gets my wheat allergy and dairy intolerance, I will be super strict with them. If not, I'll loosen up for birthday parties, within reason.

[Brit]

May 21, 2013 8:47:17 GMT -5 wambam said:

May 21, 2013 8:31:16 GMT -5 Brit said:

I think it is really nice of you to be thoughtful of your Paleo guests. Shelby had some great ideas.

I'm just curious about the Paleo kids... Are their parents that strict with them about Paleo that the kids can't eat normal birthday party crap when they are at a friend's house? My mom was all 'no artifical anything, all natural, no processed whatever' but that all went out the window at a birthday party or if I went to a friend's house.

I don't have kids, but when I do, it will depend. If my kid gets my wheat allergy and dairy intolerance, I will be super strict with them. If not, I'll loosen up for birthday parties, within reason.

Obviously an allergy/intolerance is a totally understandable reason to make a kid adhere to a specific diet. I guess I was just presuming that most of the Paleo families were Paleo by choice, not by necessity.

[lilles]

May 21, 2013 8:31:16 GMT -5 Brit said:

I think it is really nice of you to be thoughtful of your Paleo guests. Shelby had some great ideas.

I'm just curious about the Paleo kids... Are their parents that strict with them about Paleo that the kids can't eat normal birthday party crap when they are at a friend's house? My mom was all 'no artifical anything, all natural, no processed whatever' but that all went out the window at a birthday party or if I went to a friend's house.

Yes, the parents are very strict with their Paleo kids and they are not allowed to eat any normal birthday party food or anything that is not Paleo. That is why I want to make sure that there is something for them.

[mcc]

May 21, 2013 8:56:44 GMT -5 lilles said:

May 21, 2013 8:31:16 GMT -5 Brit said:

I think it is really nice of you to be thoughtful of your Paleo guests. Shelby had some great ideas.

I'm just curious about the Paleo kids... Are their parents that strict with them about Paleo that the kids can't eat normal birthday party crap when they are at a friend's house? My mom was all 'no artifical anything, all natural, no processed whatever' but that all went out the window at a birthday party or if I went to a friend's house.

Yes, the parents are very strict with their Paleo kids and they are not allowed to eat any normal birthday party food or anything that is not Paleo. That is why I want to make sure that there is something for them.

I commend you for being friends with these people. That's the only nice thing I have to say

[naldridge]

Maybe grill a few hamburgers and cut them into little pieces that the kids can grab?
Rolled up lunchmeat
little finger-friendly sausages or hot dogs
fruits/veggies (use a cookie cutter to make them fun shaped)
mixed nuts (not at the expense of other kids' allergies though...)

Or maybe ask the parents what their kids would like - they may come back and offer to bring their own treats to share.

[wambam]

May 21, 2013 8:56:19 GMT -5 Brit said:

May 21, 2013 8:47:17 GMT -5 wambam said:

I don't have kids, but when I do, it will depend. If my kid gets my wheat allergy and dairy intolerance, I will be super strict with them. If not, I'll loosen up for birthday parties, within reason.

Obviously an allergy/intolerance is a totally understandable reason to make a kid adhere to a specific diet. I guess I was just presuming that most of the Paleo families were Paleo by choice, not by necessity.

I would say we are a paleo family by 75% necessity, 25% by choice. I could eat legumes and other grains other than wheat, but I just choose not to. I think it's a more nutrient-dense way to eat and therefore my kids will eat that way. How strictly will depend on their particular needs. 

[starryfish]

May 21, 2013 8:56:44 GMT -5 lilles said:

May 21, 2013 8:31:16 GMT -5 Brit said:

I think it is really nice of you to be thoughtful of your Paleo guests. Shelby had some great ideas.

I'm just curious about the Paleo kids... Are their parents that strict with them about Paleo that the kids can't eat normal birthday party crap when they are at a friend's house? My mom was all 'no artifical anything, all natural, no processed whatever' but that all went out the window at a birthday party or if I went to a friend's house.

Yes, the parents are very strict with their Paleo kids and they are not allowed to eat any normal birthday party food or anything that is not Paleo. That is why I want to make sure that there is something for them.

check out www.paleomg.com She has AWESOME paleo treats on her website and easy to make!