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!
Scared to plan the food at the shower? Don't be! It's simple. It's just like any other party, in this regard. Figure out who's going to be there, what their preferences are, and where it's going to be. Once you've got these logistics down, making food choices is simple. You know your friends and their eating habits well, I'm sure, so the biggest question mark is probably the location. Is the shower going to be held at a home or at the office, something that's occurring more and more often?
Baby Shower Location: The Office
To make this type of baby shower work food-wise, I recommend stick to the time-honored tradition of a potluck! That way, food costs are borne by everyone in a relatively equal fashion. Make sure you have one point of contact for the menu, however, whose duty it is to make sure that no two dishes served are the same. Since you're going to be having this during the workday, it's limited to the lunch hour, and this will limit your menu accordingly. Nothing too elaborate. Stick to items like deli trays, sandwiches, drinks, and salads.
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 Shower Location: 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.
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.
