We love spending time with our families at family events, but that doesn’t mean we always love organizing those events. Organizing any sort of get-together — even something as simple in theory as kid-friendly brunches — can bring logistics that leave our heads spinning and our wallets hurting. We want to make the event as memorable as possible, creating memories that will last a lifetime, but we don’t want to do it at the expense of our mental or financial health.
Moreover, I know how to create events that will be fun for the entire family. Sitting down at a long table in a gorgeous setting may be the grown-ups’ idea of a good time, but it will likely bore the tykes to tears. And that’s if they don’t give up on spending time with the family and pull out their Nintendo Switch at the table.
In this article, we’ll explore ways to organize brunch events that entertain adults and children, helping you ensure that everyone who attends has a time to remember. We’ll also highlight some creative ways to keep guests engaged and fed that keep costs low without affecting the quality of the event. Let’s get started.
Getting the meal In order
The centerpiece of any good brunch is, of course, the food you serve. You want to serve food that caters to various palettes, showcases your hosting ability, and allows everyone to partake, relax, and have a good time. However, you also work a 9-to-5 job that saps up most of your energy, the kids attending might not have outgrown their picky eater phase, and you may not necessarily be aware of everyone’s dietary restrictions.
A common go-to for the busy brunch host is to order catering and call it a day, choosing to order from a restaurant they know most of their family enjoys. While this does resolve the problem of what food will be served quickly, it doesn’t necessarily cover all the bases; it can cause more problems than it solves.
When creating a budget, carefully examine prices; for a brunch with a large number of guests, the damage this option can do to your wallet outweighs any potential benefit. Luckily, many restaurants offer cheaper catering options, so always make sure to call and check.
Cooking your brunch meal yourself can be time-intensive unless you take steps to keep it simple. Here are some ideas that you can run with to create a menu that includes everyone without exhausting you in the kitchen:
- Keep it simple: Setting a predefined number of “courses” with items that aren’t that difficult to cook. Consider, for example, offering croissants or muffins as appetizers using store-bought dough to cut down on prep time. You can also include menu items with ingredients that don’t require much cooking, like cold cuts or cubed cheeses.
- Buy in bulk: Bulk grocery store outlets offer large bags of frozen chicken, shrimp, or other proteins for relatively cheap, allowing you to save while ensuring everyone has a plate full of food.
- Assess dietary needs: Ask your guests if they have any food restrictions before prepping your menu. You can also ask them if there are any foods they don’t prefer, avoiding including them in your finished spread to ensure everyone enjoys everything.
- Cultivate a special kids’ menu: You know the drill — dino nuggets, pizzas, and grilled cheeses. Of course, if you choose a healthier menu for your pickier eaters, you can also come up with creative ways to mix vegetables and fruits with these well-known food items.
Utilizing these tips will result in a spread everyone can enjoy, allowing the family to truly share in the experience, no matter their age or dietary restrictions.
Keeping the kids busy
Of course, you must still find ways to keep everyone entertained — especially the kids. Organizing a brunch playdate is one way to keep the tykes busy while the adults talk. Treat your brunch playdate like a miniature event for the kids, cultivating a kid-friendly playlist of fun music, a special menu designed to grab and keep their interest, and activities to enjoy that are all their own. The kids can relax, play, and enjoy spending time with one another while the adults hang back and enjoy their event.
Note that you don’t necessarily have to expend much energy creating this mini-event for the kids — we aren’t talking about purchasing and building a playground here or giving them the total run of the yard. But giving them their own area to hang out in, with their little picnic blanket, music, and toys, is a great way to let the kids off their leash and have fun together without getting too crazy for your main event.
We hope this guide is a helpful resource when you’re planning your next kid-friendly brunch. Follow these tips, and you’ll create a unique event that the whole family can enjoy — all without breaking your brain or your wallet.
