Baby Shower Food: Try 10 Baby Shower Food Ideas with Tips for Preparation

POV: You are the elder sister or the best buddy to your homegirl who’s expecting.  

Aren’t you excited to be an aunt? Surely, you are. Well, if that boundless joy made you arrange a baby shower party, you’ll need the best baby shower food recommendations you can get.  

While we can share food ideas and be done with it, we thought through the importance of doing it right. By doing it right, we mean thinking through the preferences of the mom-to-be and other guests.  

We are way past traditions where only women were the guests, and I get it. That’s why here are some tips to help you prepare baby shower food the right way.  

So, keep reading.  

Essential Tips for Baby Shower Food Preparation

Prepping baby shower food isn’t easy, especially if you have a small group of guests over and barely have anyone to help you out.  

No one’s stopping you from experimenting with the food items, and you can get as creative as you can. But don’t overexert yourself in the process.  

Here are a few tips to help you prep the best baby shower food.  

Be Mindful of the Size & Style of the Event 

Do you want to go glamorous and grand or stay clean and casual? How many guests are you having over? It’s important to consider these questions when preparing baby shower food.  

Think of whether your guests will eat on their lap or eat while standing. Do you have a more formal setting in mind, or do you want to make it inclusive and casual?  

All these queries help you understand the style and size of the baby shower event. Accordingly, you can go ahead and prep your baby shower food menu.  

Mindful Food Choices 

Before you send out the baby shower invitation wording, consider asking your invitees if they have any food preferences. This is relevant if you are inviting people with any specific food allergies or preferences.  

Also, pregnant women are supposed to steer clear of undercooked or processed meat. So, you might as well keep them off the baby shower food menu.  

Keep Varieties of Food 

The previous step was to cross some foods off the list. When you know the food you mustn’t prepare, you know exactly what to prepare.  

Diversify food options within the limited menu you have already created. You can create variables based on food preferences. In fact, creating short items and delicious full-plate meal courses are also great options to try.  

Food Safety is the First Priority 

what kind of food do you serve at a baby shower? The safe kind. You don’t want any of the guests to leave with an upset stomach. Make sure that the food you are preparing is thoroughly cooked. If necessary, reheat the food at a safe temperature so that they can eat fresh and warm stuff.  

Labeling Your Food  

I get it; we all want an inclusive environment where your guests can eat the way they want. So, it’s better to have a buffet system menu at the ready. Wait, it’s not done yet. Label the food so that your guests can eat according to their preferences.  

Take a look at your menu and the things you’ve prepared. Do you have gluten-free baby shower food? See if you have something like dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, and eggless options. 

Proper Tableware 

Whether it’s disposable plates or porcelain dishes, make sure to serve the food on good-quality plates. Especially if you are spending money on disposable plates, purchase sturdy and good-quality ones. Low-quality plates can cause the food to soak through paper/plastic.  

Also, make sure that the table has proper tablecloths that make the food look presentable as well.  

Go for Mess-Free Food  

Whether eating on a plate or a napkin, the food should be manageable enough for your guests while they are digging in. You don’t want huge pieces of beef curry overtaking the plate.  

The same applies to desserts. Prepare baby shower food that your guests can eat while carefreely talking to others.  

10 Baby Shower Food Ideas

If you are wondering what food to serve at a baby shower, then don’t worry. We have listed some appetizers and healthy, allergy-free food options you can serve to the mom-to-be and other guests.  

Baby Shower Food: Snacks & Appetizers  

This event marks the impending birth of someone the whole family is going to fall in love with. So, it helps to prepare food that’s quick on the mouth and helps keep small talk going. Here are some must-have appetizers for baby shower food – 

1. Cheese Plate

You can introduce this party favorite to your baby shower food menu. Cheese plates are loved and cherished by many, and you can try both soft and hard cheese options. As long as you have plenty of crackers like rye, whole-wheat, and gluten-free, you’re good to go.  

2. Crudité platter

Here’s a quick appetizer your vegetarian guests would love. A Crudité platter is a plate with different types of vegetables sliced or cut into pieces. It’s a healthy baby shower food option if you are going for clean and hassle-free platters for the starter.  

3. Olives and pickles

No, not stereotyping the preference of a would-be mom. However, olives and pickles are great options for the baby shower starter option. You can also have pickled onions if you are planning to compliment a meat platter.  

4. Bacon Wrapped Dates

Here’s a catering classic that’s easy on your guess’ mouth. You just have to wrap dates in bacon and skewer each one using a toothpick. Once done, broil till they are nice and crispy.  

5. Veggie Sushi

Since raw fish is off the menu, you can try this fun item. Veg sushi is a thing, and you can enjoy the adventure of making it. You can use cucumber, potato, or avocado as the filling. In fact, you can ditch rice for quinoa. Don’t trust me? Try this at home.  

Baby Shower Food: Allergy-Friendly Options

Appetizers are fun. But are they allergy-free? Here are some food options to try out if you are thoughtful about your guests’ food choices.  

1. Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks

Mozzarella Sticks are great for starters. These crunchy delicacies (of course, gluten-free) can amaze your guests. Also, this is a mess-free food option. For extra crunch, you can make these using an air fryer.  

2. Vegan Cucumber Tofu Rolls

Want to offer non-dairy and meat-free options to your guests? Try this dish. Vegan cucumber tofu rolls are just a great option because they are filled with lots of protein.  

3. Falafel Bites

A recipe inspired by a Middle Eastern gluten-free recipe; Falafel bites are dairy-free as well. In addition, this adds charm to your menu for guests who are allergic to shellfish, eggs, and other common non-veg food.  

4. Meatballs

You can also serve gluten-free meatballs to your guess. All you need is ground meat and gluten-free breadcrumbs. Make sure to season it well with herbs and spices. 

5. Stuffed Mushrooms

You can have large mushroom caps and stuff them with gluten-free breadcrumbs, herbs, cream cheese, and garlic. Now bake them till they are brown and garnish them using fresh parsley.  

Key Points to Avoid When Preparing Baby Shower Food

Be very cautious about this part of preparing baby shower food for your guests –  

Unpasteurized dairy 

If you are keeping cheese or similar dairy-based options, steer clear from ingredients like blue cheese. These are made from unpasteurized milk and can be bad for health.   

Raw fish or shellfish 

Raw fish or shellfish are must-avoid food options for baby showers. Food like ceviche, raw fish, or sushi are must-avoids for a mom-to-be. Foods that are high in mercury are a must-avoid.  

Undercooked Meat 

If you are having meat, ensure they are thoroughly cooked. Otherwise, it can cause foodborne illness.  

Raw Eggs 

Again, you cannot have raw eggs and desserts like tiramisu that use eggs. Homemade eggnog containing raw eggs is also an option.  

Spicy Food 

Tasty doesn’t always have to be spicy.  Make sure to have options that can accommodate everyone’s palate. Be very mindful about the amount of spice you use for every dish.  

Excessive Sugar 

If you are planning desserts as an option, make sure to use sugar at a balanced level. Prioritize making it a healthy option rather than making a sweeter one.  

Not Considering Dietary Restrictions 

The mom-to-be, who happens to be your invitee, is supposedly under dietary restrictions. It’s best to adhere to their preferences and what keeps them healthy.  

Poor Food Presentation 

You can go with the simplest baby shower food but create the best arrangement out of it.  So, make sure that your food is neatly arranged on the platter.

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