Menu for a one-year-old's birthday party

Your baby's first birthday is indeed a special milestone! Here are some ideas to help you plan the food and drinks menu for the first birthday party. These options are sure to be a hit, while also being convenient and hassle-free for you as the host.

Planning a menu for your baby's first birthday party

The party menu you plan depends on the kind of celebration you have in mind. Here are a few things you may want to consider.

What kind of birthday party will it be?
Is it a small tea party, high tea or a big lunch or dinner? Small party menus can be easily handled at home. If you are planning a big lunch or dinner, you could plan a mix of home-cooked food items and takeaways.

You could also consider hiring a caterer or home chef to manage the party menu, or set up live counters for fresh, hot, customised food. If you'd like to have a larger gathering, you could consider hosting the party at an exclusive party venue where catering is included.

Who is on the guest list for your baby's first birthday party?
First birthdays are usually a big celebration -- bringing family and friends together. Your menu, serving size and quantity of food will depend on the age group and number of guests.

What kind of party food to serve?
Chances are you will be feeding more adults and older children at a first birthday party.

For babies, you’ll want to have age-appropriate solids and finger foods. Your little guests will probably eat very little food, so aim for a variety of tastes, textures and colours rather than lots of it. Definitely include some of your baby's favourite foods as well.

To keep things simple, choose options that work well for all age groups. You'll also need to consider food preferences such as eggless, vegetarian, vegan, or onion and garlic-free foods. Also, consider the weather and season. Some options may not work as well during certain seasons.

Starters and finger foods for your one-year-old's birthday party

• baked potato smileys or potato alphabets (available in stores)
• baked sweet potato cubes
• French fries or potato wedges
• fresh fruit -- use soft fruits such as watermelon (tarbooj), musk melon (kharbhuja), banana (kela), mango (aam), sapodilla (cheeku)
• baby breadsticks
• steamed carrot sticks
• cucumber sticks
• cheesy vegetable nuggets
• boiled potato chaat
• biscuits and cookies (without nuts)
• iced chocolate cookies
• mini muffins
• fruit canapés
• garlic bread topped with cheese
• cottage cheese (paneer) or tofu tikkas
• potato, onion or mixed vegetable pakoras
• corn nuggets
• chicken nuggets
• mini chicken-mince samosas

For more options take a look at these finger food recipes.

Savoury party food for a first birthday party

• an assortment of bite-sized vegetarian and non-vegetarian sandwiches (you can cut them into interesting shapes)
• mini aloo tikkis with tomato chutney or ketchup
• mini bread rolls with potato/paneer, mashed vegetable filling
• mixed vegetable, paneer or chicken or tofu cutlets
• mini pizzas with a topping of finely chopped onions, tomato, capsicum, cheese
• mini idlis, vadas or uttapams with chutney
• pao bhaji
• macaroni and cheese
• mixed vegetable bake
• veg or non-veg pasta
• stuffed vegetable or mince (keema) kulchas
• aloo-puri
• chhola bhatura
• mini burgers

• veg or non-veg chowmein

For more ideas see our snack recipes for toddlers.

First birthday party desserts

• Birthday cake. Some parents also like to have a separate, small 'smash' cake for their little one to enjoy.
• rasgulla or gulab jamuns
• suji halwa, rawa kesari, gajar halwa, moong dal halwa or beetroot halwa
• fruit yoghurt
• rice, suji, sabudaana or vermicelli kheer
• small cups of shrikhand or mishti doi
• custard and jelly served in individual cups
• ice cream served in individual cups or cones
• fruit cream (with bite-sized soft fruit only)

Ensure there are no nuts or toppings that could be a choking hazard. Also don’t offer foods prepared with artificial sweeteners as they are not recommended for young children.

Why not try these nutritious and healthy dessert recipes for babies.

Drinks to serve at a first birthday party

For drinks, keep enough filtered or packaged water, milk and diluted fruit juice around for the kids. Here are some more options that work well:

• fruit smoothies
• flavoured/fruit milkshakes (chocolate/strawberry/mango/vanilla)
• sweet lassi
• butter milk (chaach)
• lemonade
• coconut water
• fruit punch
• hot chocolate or cocoa (for winter parties)

For more options try these juices and shakes recipes.

Note: Keep tea, coffee, cold coffee, aerated drinks and energy drinks off the kids menu. Some contain ingredients, including caffeine, which are unsuitable for babies, toddlers and young children. Learn about the best and worst drinks for kids.

Best foods for grown-ups at a first birthday party

For parties not scheduled over a meal, you can offer the foods mentioned above.

For lunch or dinner parties, serve something that you can prepare in advance (or order) and set it out buffet-style so your guests can help themselves. Some popular options that work well for grown-ups and kids alike include:

• soup and salad combos
• crudité platters
• vegetarian or non-vegetarian fried rice
• vegetarian or non-vegetarian biryani
• non-vegetarian curries or gravies
• chaat and street food items from a live counter
• dal makhani, chhola or rajma curry
• cottage cheese (paneer) dishes (palak paneer, paneer masala, matar paneer and so on)
• south Indian vegetarian or non-vegetarian stew with appam
• tandoori roti, stuffed kulchas, naan or paranthas
• a selection of Chinese main course dishes.

For adults, you could offer a range of aerated drinks, tea, coffee and mocktails in addition to drinks you offer young ones.

First birthday party food: things to keep in mind

Planning in advance will make things simpler and save any last-minute surprises. Here are some things to keep in mind, as well as foods to avoid.

• Play it safe and avoid the foods that children most commonly choke on. These include nuts or dry fruit (peanuts, almonds, raisins and so on), popcorn, small hard candies, and small fruits like grapes or cherries. Hard fruits and vegetables, such as raw carrots or apples, can be cooked until they're soft and served in long strips to reduce the choking risk. Stringy, melted cheese that's not cut up can also be a choking hazard.
• Chewing gum and sticky sweets and treats – such as jujube jelly, gummy candies, cotton candy, peanut chikky, revdi and marshmallows can get lodged in a child's throat. 
• It's a good idea to call parents in advance and ask about any food allergies or intolerances. Also, check in if any drinks or desserts are to be avoided for certain children. Along with food preferences, also keep any religious considerations in mind.
• Many people prefer to keep birthday menus vegetarian, especially if they have a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian guests. If you're including both veg and non-veg foods, check ahead and make a note. Little ones may not be able to communicate their food preferences.
• While chips and namkeens are popular at many children's parties, you may want to check with parents before serving any of these items. Some parents may have a strict "no fried, no spicy or no junk food policy" for their child.
• Keep the season and weather in mind when planning your party menu. Many prefer to avoid chilled foods, frozen desserts and cold drinks during the rainy season or winter.
• When selecting the cake choose a flavour that would work for children and adults alike. You may want to pick an eggless and nut-free version to cater to the tastes of all your guests.
• If you're considering a smash cake for your little one, you could also include cupcakes for little ones her age. They might enjoy smashing their cupcakes, too. No doubt it will be messy, but it's a lot of fun and perfect for those precious first birthday photos!
• Keep some bread, butter, cheese spread and jam handy if you need to rustle up some extra sandwiches quickly.

• Ensure the food is fresh and hygienically prepared, especially if you use a caterer or order food from a restaurant. It's best to go with a caterer or food outlet known for its quality and service.

• If you decide to experiment with some new food items or cuisines for the party, ensure you've tried them before. Some guests may be open to trying new foods, so always have some

   tried and tested favourites on the menu as well.

   
• Plan the food quantity based on the headcount. Check in advance how many caregivers or nannies will accompany your little guests. Also, plan for extra food in case a sibling joins the fun. This will help ensure that everyone is happy and well-fed.

• Opt for child-friendly cups, glasses, and plates that are durable and won't break easily. You could use eco-friendly, disposable dishes.

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