Food for a Toddler's Easter Party

Toddlers are naturally curious, so planning a menu for an Easter party that's toddler-friendly requires some forethought and planning. While games and activities offer entertainment, prepare foods that minimize exposure to choking hazards and allergens to ensure that everyone can enjoy an Easter party without worrying.

  1. Precautions

    • Since children in the toddler age range are just now getting a grasp on how to properly chew and shallow, review your Easter menu for choking hazards. Don't serve crunchy foods, such as popcorn, nuts and hard candy. As Easter foods often feature eggs, for example, or peanut butter-filled chocolate, ask parents beforehand if their toddler is allergic to any foods. According to the website KidsHealth, common food allergies include milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts and fish.

    Brunch

    • Brunch is perfect for toddlers, as it's early enough to avoid interfering with nap time. Serve foods that are light and bite-sized, so that toddlers can not only bite these foods with their developing teeth, but also grasp them with their small hands. Clearly label all food to ensure parents can avoid any potential allergens. Sandwiches filled with turkey and cheese, egg salad or ham are easy to prepare and cut into bite-sized pieces. Use cookie cutters to create bunny-shaped sandwiches to celebrate Easter. Serve sliced fruit and veggies, and small crackers as side dishes. Offer juice boxes or small bottles of water for drinks, keeping track of the tops as they pose a choking hazard.

    Late Lunch

    • If the Easter celebration will be in the afternoon, prepare foods that will be filling enough for a toddler's late lunch or early dinner. Miniature pizzas provide toddlers with a classic favorite. Transform pizzas into Easter-appropriate bunny rabbits by cutting small circles and ovals from refrigerated pizza dough. Use the dough to create a bunny's face, with ovals for ears and a circle for the bunny's head. Cook the dough ahead of time. During the Easter party, let toddlers make their own pizzas, with a parents' help, as they spread sauce and toppings on the prepared dough.

    Dessert

    • Since toddlers can easily harm themselves, utensils like sharp knifes can pose a safety hazard. Opt for desserts that don't need to be cut or sliced. Bake a batch of cupcakes and frost them. Set up a small table with bowls full of Easter cupcake toppings, such as bunny-shaped edible confetti or purple and yellow sprinkles, for toddlers to use to decorate their cupcake. In addition to the cupcakes, provide soft and chewy miniature chocolate chip cookies for those who don't care for cupcakes.

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