Baby Shower 101: Food
Put more than one person in a room, leave them there long enough, and the talk will ALWAYS turn to, what else? Food! And do you think baby showers are any different? No way! Food is always a reason to get excited (and even plan!) a party. Yes, baby showers are supposed to be about the upcoming baby’s arrival, but, let’s face it, they’re also meant to satisfy the palate!
So how do you plan the food for this type of party? Just like any other. What’s the size of the group, and what are their food preferences? Depending on the answer, the food you serve at the baby shower can go from downright simple to elaborate enough for a king’s visit. A major factor to take into account is the location of the shin dig. Is it going to be at a trusted friend’s abode or at the office with co-workers and friends?
Baby Shower at The Office
The simplest and most popular way to hold a baby shower at the office is to make it potluck. That way, the costs on any one person are minimized. Just make sure that you have a Food Coordinator! That’s the person who assigns who brings what to the party to prevent duplicate dishes from being brought. Now, since the shower is held during the workday, these showers are usually limited to an hour during lunch time. This will probably limit your menu selection to items such as casseroles and salads… nothing too elaborate.
If the office shower is held afterhours, consider holding the event at a nearby restaurant. This allows guests to order their own food. A cake can be specially ordered for the occasion and served by the restaurant staff at the end of the meal.
Home Baby Showers
Are you lucky enough to be able to hold the shower at a home instead of at the office? Great! Showers held at someone’s house allow a far greater degree of control over food choices. And if you’re a host who wants to put her style and creativity on display, at-home baby showers are the perfect opportunity to indulge yourself.
These type of showers will give you the chance to serve a wider array of goodies. How about some dishes reflecting the different nationalities of the parents? In addition, having plenty of food keeps the party going longer than a party without since everyone can stay to play games and take extra picture when they know their stomachs will be satiated!
Home showers are ideal for cost-cutting without lowering the “fun” of the event. The easiest department to do some cost-trimming is the appetizer and beverage section of your menu. At restaurants, you often have to pay a premium (almost as much as an entree!) for these items, but at home, you can delight you guests with amazing beverages and finger foods without breaking the bank.
In the summertime, you can serve your parched guests cold drinks: ice cream floats or refreshing fruit slushes. These items would be almost impossible to order at a traditional restaurant, so use your location to your advantage! Want to add a little “spice” to your beverages? When it’s hot out, apple cider and hot cocoa (yes!) are out-of-the-ordinary drinks that guests are surprised to find amazingly refreshing. Easy apps are the traditional tuna sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, cheese squares, meatballs, chips and salsa, cupcakes, fruits, vegetables, mushrooms. These are all great and easy to prepare while keeping everyone’s tummies happy. And who says you have to make them yourself just because you’re holding the shower at home? You can buy many of these items straight from your local market.
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