Baby Shower Food Ideas

Baby showers are joyous occasions, where a mommy-to-be's best friends (and sometimes their spouses) shower her with love, and of course, gifts. Baby showers are usually given by one of the the expectant mother's relatives or best friends. All the preparations should be made by the hostess and people she recruits to help. The recipient of the baby shower shouldn't have to do anything other than be loved. She should definitely have some input on the type of baby shower atmosphere, if she so wishes, because she is the guest of honor. This includes the food selection.

There are a few things to be avoided, in respect for the mother-to-be. Definitely make sure that the party is free of caffeinated beverages, such a coffee, tea, and sodas. If you wish to have these things, make sure they are caffeine free. The guests may be jonesing for caffeine, but their guest of honor should not be consuming it. Water is a healthy beverage choice. Having chocolate should not be on your list.

What can you have?

For starters, there should be some healthy items. Fresh vegetables with ranch dip are usually good, healthy party foods. For something a little heartier, triangle halves or fourths of a variety of sandwiches, would be a big hit. Your possibilities are unlimited-- turkey and cheddar, ham and swiss, egg salad, chicken salad, etc. Just make sure there are plenty-- they'll go quickly! For a more salty party food, skip the chips, and go with something a little healthier, like pretzels. If the mommy and her friends have a taste for pickled items, try making a pickled and marinated antipasto platter. Marinated artichoke hearts, different types of olives, and pickles (especially baby gherkins,) are good choices for this Italian-style appetizer platter. If you want to stick with a very baby theme, serving little smoked sausages in barbecue sauce, as well as pigs in a blanket, and other tiny foods, is a good idea.

Of course, everyone enjoys something sweet at a baby shower. Again, avoid using chocolate. A very generic idea would to be making or purchasing a cliched baby shower cake. If you want to make the sweets a little more personal for the mom-to-be, making cupcakes with pastel colors is a good idea. If you can find baby shower-themed cake sprinkles (baby chicks and lambs, pacifiers, bottles,) those are always a hit. If you want to turn it into a baby shower activity, you can have a "decorate your own cupcake" table.

These are just a few ideas that would go over well at a baby shower for the special expectant mother in your life, but by all means, are not limited. Take into account, your mommy's cravings, as well as favorite foods. Be creative and have fun cooking up some good ideas for the baby shower you give.