Guest Author - Angela England

There are some thoughts to keep in mind when it comes to serving food at a baby shower. The mother-to-be's allergies, preferences and dislikes are key, of course. The theme of the party can also give you some ideas for what specific food to serve. But what types of food should be served?

If you are having a small baby shower with just a few guests a formal, sit down event might be nice. Consider having a full meal served for an extra treat! However, most baby showers have just finger foods and easy to manage deserts available. Beverages are served at almost all baby shower parties and have considerations of their own.

Hor d'oeuvres, Snacks and Appetizers for a Baby Shower - The nice thing about having snacks set out as guests arrive is that they are easy to eat and very manageable. If there is not enough table space for all the guests it won't be as obvious. As people eat in a casual setting, they tend to open up and talk more, making the party a fun, sociable event.

Some suitable baby shower snacks that are easy for people to eat include, open-faced sandwiches; dips with chips, vegetables or crackers; sugared fruit or chocolate covered fruit; and deviled eggs.

Luncheons or Brunch Foods for Baby Party - If you plan to serve a bit more substantial plate of food, consider how your guests will balance a plate plus cup on their laps. The more unwieldy the food selections, the more necessary a table will be for guests to manage without feeling uncomfortable or making a mess.

Some popular light foods for an easy brunch type baby shower include sandwiches, salads, casseroles, and quiche. If the baby shower is informal guests can be encouraged to bring their own food in a potluck sharing style. One baby shower I attended, guests brought two casseroles - one to share with everyone, and the other frozen for the mother to take home and use after the baby was born.

Desserts for a Baby Shower - Delicious sweets and yummy tidbits are a vital part of any baby shower gathering of course. Just ask the expectant mother who is likely having cravings! Trendy dessert foods for a baby shower include cookies, bars, truffles, cheesecake, melon balls or sugared fruit, and other sweet foods.

Often times a large birthday cake style cake is presented at the baby shower as a "Happy Birthday" celebration for the new arrival. This is an especially nice touch for a shower that takes place after the birth of the baby.

Drinks for a Baby Shower - Beverages are a vital part for any gathering and a baby shower party is no different. To make things easier for yourself try an easy-to-make drink recipe or something that can be made in bulk, instead of having to put together individual cups.

Since the pregnant mother cannot have any alcoholic beverages, most baby shower hosts choose to serve only non-alcoholic drinks at the party. Try fruit punches, sherbet drinks and sparkling ciders (fruit juice with ginger ale or sprite added in).

Whatever food or drink you choose to serve remember to consider the ease of guests in eating and drinking during the party. Be sure to serve foods that will be easy to plan ahead and put together.

This article is part of the Baby Shower Basics ebook which includes everything you need to put together a successful baby shower.