Baby Shower 101: Food
People. Parties. What third item always appear with them? Why food, of course! And of course, baby showers are no exception to that rule. Yes, though showers are meant to celebrate the baby that’s coming, just as with any other event, they’re also meant to be a feast for the mouth!
Depending on the size and preferences of the party, the food served at a baby shower can range from the simple to the elaborate. A major consideration is the type of baby shower - is it at someone’s home or is it for a co-worker in the office?
Baby Shower Location: 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.
However, if you decide to hold the baby shower after regular business hours, instead of holding it on company grounds, consider going to a nearby restaurant instead. This permits the guests to order their own food, something much appreciated. For the cake, either have someone bring it or arrange for the restaurant to take care of preparing and serving it.
Baby Showers at a Home
If you’re going to be holding the baby shower at someone’s home instead, congratulations! Showers held at a home allow for more precise coordination of the menu being served. If the hostess wants to add a little flair to her get-together, this additional degree of autonomy over the food choices gives her is also an opportunity to show off her style and sophistication.
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.
For appetizers, triangle-cut chicken sandwiches, small cheese squares, stuffed mushrooms, sweet and sour meatballs, chips, mini cupcakes, and in-season fruits are easy-to-prepare ideas that are always a big hit. In fact, if you’re short on time, many of these items can be purchased from your local grocery.
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