Food and Menu Suggestions for a Baby Shower

Most baby showers offer some food. You will usually come up with a menu based on a couple of factors including time of day and length the baby shower, the location, and the budget.

Another important thing to consider is how the mother-to-be feels. For example, you wouldn't want to serve alcohol at a baby shower because the mother-to-be can't drink. You would want to serve food items that she loves. So if fruit punch is a favorite for her, be sure to add it to the menu.

Baby Shower Not at Meal Times

If you avoid meal times (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), food can be a light, snack affair with cake. As you get closer to meal times, more food would be expected. Two o'clock in the afternoon is a fairly common time for baby showers. At this time of day, a menu might include:

• Fruit salad
• Vegetable tray with dip
• Drinks
• Punch
• Mini sandwiches or hot hors d'œuvres
• Cake or dessert

Sample Menu for a Brunch Baby Shower

If you're planning to have a baby shower that is near brunch time, around 10-11 a.m., here are some things you might consider serving:

• Mini omelets
• Juices: apple, orange, cranberry
• Muffins (mini always works well and with a variety of flavors: blueberry, orange cranberry, etc.)
• Biscuits
• Bagels with cream cheese
• Fruit salad
• Casseroles (french toast, potato hash brown, etc.)

Sample Menu for a Lunch Baby Shower

A lunch shower is probably the second most common type of baby shower. The lunchtime frame provides some flexibility, particularly between hot and cold food menu items. Here are some fun things that you can serve:

• Finger sandwiches (pimento, turkey, Benedictine, ham, chicken salad, etc.)
• Fresh vegetables with dips
• Apples with caramel sauce for dipping
• Cupcakes (these feel less formal but are enjoyable and portable)
• Soup

Sample Menu for a Dinner Baby Shower

A dinner menu can be a bit more complicated, which is why it is one of the least popular times to throw a shower held in a home, except couples showers. Many times a dinnertime baby shower is catered or held in a restaurant. If choosing to host it yourself, you will probably want a theme to your meal to help you select and minimize the type of foods offered. Examples include a BBQ, baked potato bar, Mexican, chili, burgers, etc.

If you had a BBQ based dinner, you might offer:

• Multiple kinds of BBQ (chicken, pork, etc.)
• Bread or buns to eat the BBQ
• Fried pickles (pregnancy favorite)
• Cornbread muffins

If you had a baked potato bar, it might include:

• Plain and sweet potatoes
• Butter
• Shredded cheese
• Veggies
• Salsa
• Sour cream

No matter when you hold your baby shower, food will help to set the mood. More casual food helps set a relaxed tone, whereas a formal, sit down meal, sets the tone for a more formal style baby shower. There is no right or wrong answer, just what works for you or the family. Remember, this is supposed to be a celebration and there is more than one way to celebrate.