Celebrations
Kids' Birthday Party Catering in Medellín
Medellin Elite Catering makes party food for Medellín's youngest guests and the parents who bring them. Since 2019 we have catered first birthdays, toddler parties, superhero afternoons and preteen sleepover dinners in apartments, salones sociales, party salons and gardens across the valley.
Our hosts are local and expat parents who want food the kids will actually eat, safe sizes for toddlers and something better than soggy fries for the adults. Coordinators speak English and Spanish, so a mixed group of nannies, grandparents and international families all get answers.
Children's parties are short, loud and run on the entertainer's schedule. Years of piñatas and recreacionistas have shown us that the food has to be on the table before the games end, not after.
- Itemized quotes available
- Bilingual English and Spanish coordinators
Plan your event
Our Kids' Birthday Catering
We cater kids' birthday parties from the first birthday to the thirteenth: a buffet or snack table for the kids, a separate spread for the adults, and take-home treat boxes if you want them. Parties happen at home, in the salón social of your building, in a rented party salon in Envigado or Sabaneta, or outdoors in a garden or park. Party salons with play areas are especially common in the south of the valley, which our catering in Sabaneta covers with drop-off and staffed service.
A typical Medellín kids' party follows a set rhythm. The recreacionista (the hired entertainer) runs games for an hour or so, the food comes out, everyone sings, the cake is cut, the piñata breaks, and the kids leave with their sorpresas.
We time the food to that order. Snacks are out before the games end, hot food lands while the entertainer takes a break, and the cake table is ready for photos before the singing starts.
Menus by Age Group
Portion size and texture change fast between one and twelve years old, so we plan the menu by the age of the guest list. The table shows how we size and cut the food for each group.
| Age group | Main portion | Texture and cut | Typical dishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| First birthday (under 2) | 60 to 80 g | Soft and mashable, pieces under 1 cm | Mashed potato, shredded chicken, soft rice, ripe banana |
| Toddlers 1 to 4 | 100 to 120 g | Small, soft pieces, no round shapes | Mini arroz con pollo, buttered pasta, soft fruit cups |
| Kids 5 to 10 | 150 to 180 g plus snacks | Finger food they can carry | Mini hot dogs, chicken fingers, mini pizzas, mac and cheese cups |
| Preteens 11 to 13 | 180 to 220 g | Adult textures, bigger portions | Burger sliders, taco bar, salchipapa cones |
For a first birthday the toddler food is mostly symbolic, because the babies eat little and the adults eat a lot. In that case we put most of the food into the adult spread and keep a small, carefully labeled tray for the little ones.
Party Food for Kids
Kids eat what they recognize, so our party food sticks to familiar shapes and mild flavors and saves the adventure for the adults. Every item is small enough to eat in two or three bites while running.
The savory lineup usually includes mini hot dogs, chicken fingers, deditos de queso (cheese-filled pastry sticks), mini pizzas, cheesy arepitas and small cups from our mac and cheese catering menu. We plan 8 to 10 savory pieces per child for a three-hour party, plus fruit skewers with melon, pineapple and strawberry.
For the sweet side, a popcorn and cotton candy cart is the most requested add-on, run by one of our staff so the machine stays away from small fingers and the popcorn goes only to kids over four. An ice cream cart with toppings from our ice cream catering service works well on hot afternoons in a garden or by the pool.
Food for the Grown-Ups
Parents and relatives often outnumber the kids, and they get hungry too, so we give them a separate spread. At many parties the adults make up close to half the guest list.
A simple setup is a coffee station with tinto (black Colombian coffee), aromática herbal tea and pandebono, plus a picada platter of chorizo, morcilla, chicharrón, papa criolla, arepa and guacamole. For longer evening parties we add a light buffet with grilled chicken, rice and salad, or empanadas with ají.
Keeping the adult food on its own table matters. The kids' table stays at their height and the adults' food stays out of reach, so nobody's spicy ají ends up on a toddler's plate.
Safety at Kids' Parties
Safety comes first at a kids' party, and the biggest risk is choking in children under four. We cut grapes and cherry tomatoes into quarters, slice sausages lengthwise before cutting, and leave out popcorn, whole nuts and hard candy from any food meant for toddlers.
We can make the entire kids' menu nut-free, prepared in a separate batch and labeled on every tray. Each tray carries an allergen label, and parents of children with severe allergies can ask for our allergy-friendly catering process, which includes a separate serving area and dedicated utensils.
Hot equipment stays out of the way. Chafing dishes sit on the adult table, fryers and the cotton candy machine sit behind a staffed station, and hot food is held above 60 °C while cold items stay below 5 °C, as Resolution 2674 of 2013 requires.
Take-Home Treat Bags and Sorpresas
In Colombia every kid leaves a birthday party with a sorpresa, a small bag or box of treats and a toy that the hosts hand out at the door. We take care of the food half of that tradition with individual snack boxes: a mini sandwich or a small empanada, apple slices or grapes cut for safety, a cheese stick, a brownie or a cookie, and a small bottle of juice or water.
Boxes can be packed in the party colors, labeled with each child's name for allergy control, and stacked at the exit for the end of the party, while you add the toys and candy. For parties where the meal is light, a fuller snack box replaces the buffet altogether, which suits a park picnic or a short party in a salón social with no space for a serving table.
Questions and answers
Kids' Birthday FAQs
What food is safe for a first birthday party?
Soft, small, low-salt food is safest for one-year-olds: mashed potato, shredded chicken, soft rice, steamed vegetables, ripe banana and arepa torn into small pieces. Avoid honey for babies under 12 months, whole grapes, popcorn, nuts and hard candy. We cook the toddler tray without added salt or sugar and label it so parents can find it quickly.
Can you cater a party in a park or party salon?
Yes, we cater in party salons, building social areas and parks, as long as the space allows food service. Party salons usually have tables and power, so setup takes about an hour. In public parks or residential complexes, tables, tents or amplified sound may need permission from the city or the building administración, so check before booking and we will plan a self-contained setup with coolers and insulated carriers.
Reserve your date
Plan the Party Food
Send us the date, the number of kids and adults and the venue through the quote form, and an itemized quote arrives within 24 hours. You can also write to info@medellincatering.com.
- Itemized quotes available
- Menus, staff, tableware, setup and cleanup in one quote
- Food-handler certified team and labeled allergens on every tray
- Monday to Saturday
- 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Sunday
- Closed (events still run)