If you are throwing a baby shower party for your friends and family, one of the biggest challenges is the cost of food. In case you are on a budget, then you must be wondering how to provide cheap party food that your guests will love.
In this article, we are going to look at some of the cheap party food ideas you can use. We will also look at practical tips to help you save on food costs. The following are some simple party food ideas on the budget.
Cook Soup
Everybody loves soup. It is very cheap to cook soup that your guests will enjoy savoring. You can make your soup well in advance by using a slow cooker. Soup is also effortless to serve as you won’t need to invest in expensive kitchen utensils or appliances. If you have a soup pot, bowls, and spoon, then you are good to go. You can try out unique easy to make recipes such as cheddar potato soup, or chili soup. Your guests will love the tats of these menus.
Meat Sandwiches
Another tremendously cheap menu is loose meat sandwiches. Your guests will love the taste of the meat sandwiches. The sandwiches are also very affordable and easy to make. You will have several options to choose from when it comes to meat sandwiches. Some of the famous sandwiches that are considered crowd-pleasers include pork and chicken meat. You can also find cooking ground beef or put out puns.
Ensure you prepare enough sandwich toppings to serve to your guests. You can also make a salad and other side dishes that will serve with your meat sandwiches.
Baked Potatoes
Your guests will also love the taste of baked potatoes. With these meals, you will need to prepare an assortment of toppings to serve with. If you are low on budget, you can request some guests to come with their toppings. Some of the popular toppings that go well with baked potatoes include diced onions, chili, sour cream, or cheese.
Serve Pasta
You may also consider serving pasta to your party guests. Remember to serve the meal with a few sauces and a variety of toppings. You can also consider making a meal that goes well with pasta. Some of the ideal dish to serve with pasta is chicken breast. If you are low on budget, then ask guests to come with their favorite toppings. Pasta is ever cheap to cook. However, you will have to foot the extra cost of the toppings. The key to cutting costs is to serve large amounts of pasta with little toppings. Your guest will love this meal.
Homemade Pizza
Now, who doesn’t love the taste of well-cooked pizza? Making pizza comes with low costs. The main cost is in the meal’s flour and yeast. If you want to reduce the cost, then consider reducing the size of the pizza. Remember, these meals need to be prepared well in advance. You can also make some toppings such as sauce or cheese. Consider asking your guests to come with their own to cut the cost.
Serve Vegetables with Dip
This is a very inexpensive meal to serve. The meal needs the following ingredients: mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, carrots, and cucumbers. The meal should be served with a homemade dip. This meal is effortless to make. You will also spend little on the ingredients. Consider cutting the vegetables at home. Precut veggies tend to be more expensive.
Serve Cheap Brunch Food
If you are hosting your party before noon, then you may consider serving popular brunch food made up of fruit salads, egg dish, bread, breakfast meats, and quiches. You can also serve pancakes or waffles to your early morning guests. Other options to include in the menu include sausage links or bacon, baked French toast, and warm maple syrup. If you want a substitute for breakfast meats, then consider serving your guests ham or sausage. These meals are easy and cheap to prepare.
Serve Bread with Soup or Tea
You can also serve a variety of bread at your baby shower brunch. Bread can be served with hot teas or hot soup. You can also serve quick bread, such as muffins and biscuits. The bread can also be served with jellies and jams. These arrays of food are not only easy to make but are also very delicious.
Serve Affordable Midday Meals
If you are holding your party at midday, then you have a variety of menu to choose from. Midday baby shower party menu features lighter, more exceptional foods, which may include miniature quiches or sandwiches. Other options include peanut butter, pimento cheese, or ham sandwiches. Your guests will also savor Melba toast, crusty bread, or hot spinach.
Your midday menu should also have a variety of fruits that act as accompaniment. Such fruits include watermelon, oranges, pineapples, apples, bananas. You can also serve kiwi, raspberries, or blueberries. Strawberries, grapes, and peaches are other delicious options to choose from. Your guests will also love can also make salads using a mixture of the fruit variety.
Serve Deviled Eggs
This is one of the cheapest and easiest to make party meals. All you need is a collection of eggs and a few other ingredients. You will prepare this meal by hard boiling them for a few minutes. Once they are ready, you then slice the egg into two half and remove the yolks. You will then put the yolk in a blender and add other ingredients such as chili and sliced tomatoes. Blend the mixture, and once it is ready, you put them back into the sliced eggs.
Serve Little Smokies
Little smokies are typically slow-cooked mini sausages. They are not only cheap but are also very easy to make. With this meal, you will need a few ingredients and fewer appliances. Coat the sausages with sauce or other toppings before you slow cook them on a low heat source for a few hours.
Baby Shower Planning Tips to Save Money on Food and Drinks
- Make fewer dishes
If you are low on budget, then consider making fewer dishes. Baby shower parties last for a short time, and you need to avoid wasting money by preparing too much food that will result in leftovers. If a particular recipe interests you, consider editing it to fit your budget.
When making the recipe, consider the duration of the party and how much each of your guests will eat. When going to the store, carry a set menu and shopping list. Avoid impulse purchases that will result in wastage of funds. You should also check the ingredients you already have at home when you are making a shopping list.
- Avoid premade foods
Premade foods will cost you more. They also come with fancy packages that may cost some extra bucks. You can save a lot of money by cutting your vegetables at home. If you must buy premade foods, then use your packing material. The transparent store-bought plastics will cost more.
- Save on beverages
Avoid buying beverages on six-packs. Instead, you need to purchase large liter bottled beverages. There is a lot of wastage that comes with beverages in cans. With bottled drinks, the guests will only pour the exact amount they want.
You should also avoid expensive bottled liquor. Instead, go for premade cocktails and wine. Consider making homemade juices as well.
- Host a dessert contest
You can also save a lot of money by hosting a dessert contest at your party. Your friends can come with their favorite homemade desserts to the party. You will then arrange for a confectionary contest. Let the guests vote on the best dessert. Arrange for an affordable price for the winner.
- Hold your party in the afternoon
Hosting a party in the afternoon will save you a lot of food costs. An afternoon party is less costly than an evening one. Evening parties will force you to serve full course dinner meals, which are expensive to prepare. You will also have to make arrangements for elaborate entertainment for your evening guests.
The afternoon meals are lighter and less cheap. You can serve finger foods and homemade drinks.
- Host a Bring Your Meat Party
This is another excellent idea to save your party food expenses. Your guests will bring their favorite meat to the party. You will only spend on accompaniments and drinks. A BYOM party is not only cheaper, but your guests will enjoy the food since they are the ones who brought them.
- Buy in bulk
If you are hosting a party for many people, then you can save a lot of funds by buying food supplies in bulk. Bulk purchases come with discounts that will cut down your food budget.
Conclusion
The choice of food for your baby shower will depend on several things. You should choose an affordable menu that your party will love to savor. The tips we have provided today will give you useful information that will help you cut down the food budget for your party.