Organizing and hosting a kid’s birthday party is tricky enough. However, when you are a vegan family that is catering to a mostly non-vegan group, things can get a whole lot more complicated for a vegan birthday party.
At the same time, you owe it to your child to throw them the best birthday bash that you can manage.
Believe it or not, there is a way to organize a great party while still adhering to your morals and beliefs.
The only thing that you need is a little guidance on how to manage this balancing act. Fortunately, you can find these – and more – below.
**If you are looking on how to throw a party for your awesome adult self, then—> click HERE.
Figuring Out the Food
As you can imagine, one of the trickiest aspects of throwing a kid’s birthday bash is the food.
After all, it can be the highlight of the party for most kids. So, how can you keep the masses happy while also ensuring that every morsel is entirely vegan?
Well, here’s what you need to consider:
Healthy vs. Indulgent Food
Perhaps the first thing that you will have to decide on is whether you want to offer healthy treats or something slightly more indulgent.
It is easy to find facts to support both sides of the argument.
On the one hand, having fresh fruits and veggies at the party means that you are less likely to have to deal with sugar crashes later on.
At the same time, allowing your little one and his or her friends to munch on sweets and chips this one time won’t do too much harm either.
You will probably find that having a mix of the two will be the best option for you.
So, while kids will have access to treats that they love, they won’t make themselves sick on junk food either. It’s a win-win situation.
Store-Bought Food
What most people don’t realize is that there are quite many sweets, snacks, and food which happen to be “accidentally” vegan.
So, while manufacturers may not have set out to make them vegan, they turned out that way. Of course, this is excellent news for you.
This includes various potato chips, crackers, cookies, and even Jolly Ranchers.
So, make sure to always read the ingredient list before dismissing a particular kind of food. With a little bit of research, you may discover that it is vegan.
It isn’t just junk food that can be accidentally vegan, though. There are also various seasonings, mixes, toppings, and more.
These can be used to add some flavor to whatever it is that you may be cooking up at home.
Making Your Own
Now, you will probably be making some of the dishes, appetizers, or snacks at home. When doing so, make sure to think about the crowd you are catering to.
There is a good chance that most of them are omnivores and are unfamiliar with certain vegan foods.
Your children’s birthday isn’t the place to try and convert anyone. Due to this, it is best to stick with dishes and snacks that people are familiar with.
This way, they will be less hesitant to try them. So, focus on vegan mini pizzas, burritos, nuggets, cookies, and fruit kebabs.
When making popular dishes, you will need to use certain vegan substitutes.
Before you do, though, it is best to ask parents if their kids have specific allergies.
The most common allergens include peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and wheat. So, you may need to avoid these when cooking.
The Cake
The good news for you is that there are now plenty of vegan bakers to choose from.
So, if you are looking for a delicious vegan cake complete with your child’s preferred design, this should be easy enough to find.
In case the baker doesn’t only handle vegan cakes, though, you may want to provide them with a list of instructions regarding what can and can’t be used in the cake.
If you want to bake your own, once again you will find that there are numerous recipes available to you.
Most of these are pretty simple and require essential ingredients. What’s more, you and your kids can have lots of fun decorating them in whichever way you want.
Getting a Non-Vegan to Taste Test
These days, there are lots of vegan options like sausage puffs, burgers, and hot dogs to choose from.
Of course, these are made with meat substitutes. Now, while you and your family members may like them, it can be tricky to know whether non-vegans will feel the same.
To determine this, ask an omnivore friend to do a taste test for you. This way, you will be able to get an outside opinion on whether or not these items pass muster.
Consider an Animal-Friendly Location
Did you know that there are numerous animal shelters and sanctuaries that encourage birthday parties and celebrations?
You may live close to one without realizing it, so call up these places to see if this is an option for you.
If it is, you may have found the perfect setting for your little one’s party!
What’s great about such a venue is that it helps kids (and their parents) interact with rescued animals, many who are in desperate need of homes.
Thus, you are creating a connection where none may have existed before.
If you are lucky, you may end up encouraging a few families to go back and adopt an animal of their own!
At the very least, it can be an eye-opening experience for many.
In turn, they may begin to think about their treatment of animals a little carefully.
Even if the attendees don’t adopt, they may consider future donations or other kinds of support.
Opt for Sustainable Decorations
Now, you may automatically check that all your party decorations are vegan.
However, did you stop to ponder whether they are sustainable? When you think about it, streamers, balloons, and other typical decorations are all one-use items.
Then, they wind up in a landfill somewhere!
As a vegan, you have a responsibility to animals and the planet, as a whole. This means that it is just as crucial for you to plan a green party.
So, when you do go shopping, consider decorations that are made from fabric, wood, or paper.
If you can’t find these in regular stores, you can take your search online instead.
If you would like to get a little creative, consider using flowers and plants as decorations, too.
These will add pops of color, and you can even give them away to guests to take home!
In addition to the decorations, also use plates, cups, and utensils that are either biodegradable or can be used many times.
Stay away from single-use, plastic options. Remember, every effort that you make counts so don’t opt for the easy way out.
Go Green with Goodie Bags
Then, there are the goodie bags to think about. Some parents choose to fill up these bags with cheaper, plastic toys that no one will ever really play with.
As a result, they get thrown away, making your investment a total waste. This is why you should try and up your goodie bag game.
To start with, consider fabric bags that have been made from upcycled materials.
If you can’t find these, there are plenty of tutorials on how you can make them yourself. This can be another fun family project.
When it comes to filling the bags up, think about what kids are going to use. Consider small puzzles, books, and other gifts that will be put to use.
Or, have an arts and crafts project during the party and let the kids take home the fruits of their labor.
Ask for Vegan Presents
It is crucial to keep in mind that there may be some parents that don’t know your little one is vegan.
Thus, they may end up buying something made from animal-derived products.
To prevent this from happening, you will need to make the first move.
You can either mention vegan presents on the invitation or send out an email separately.
Since some aren’t fully aware of what vegan is, they may need some help. List out some of the things that are considered vegan and non-vegan.
This will help parents to pinpoint which items are acceptable.
Planning a vegan children’s birthday party doesn’t have to be daunting.
It is more about creating a careful balance between your cruelty-free lifestyle and accommodating your guests.
Once you figure out how to maneuver this line, you will be fine.
You will be able to show your child and his or her friends that being vegan can be lots of fun.
So, if no one goes vegan, you may be able to improve their impression of what being a vegan is all about.
So, in reality, you can do quite a bit of good by throwing a great vegan birthday bash!
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