Recently, we wrote quite a detailed post on how to throw an additive-free birthday party. If you haven’t read it yet, you can check that out here.

This episode complements that blog post by explaining, in-depth, our five simple steps to create an amazing additive and preservative-free birthday party.

We’ve got it down pat now, throwing additive free birthday parties, for our kids, totally stress-free and the bonus is that the kids really love it!

Three of the best things we have noticed by having additive free parties are:

  • Little to no fighting, or rough play,
  • No tantrums,
  • Kids are calmer, more relaxed,

By following the steps we’ve outlined below, you can throw an additive (and stress) free birthday party.

Get organised

You don’t want to prepare the day, or night, before the party especially if you want to make it additive free. Serving an additive-free menu means you will most likely have to bake. It can be easy, don’t let this put you off. There are so many simple things you can cook/bake that does not require you to be a MasterChef.

However, if this is not something you are confident with you can get food from organic restaurants or cafes but this can be really expensive.

Do your list and write down what you are going to cook

Luckily, we have a plethora of recipes that you can cook days in advance.

For example, you can prepare:

  • Barbecue meats
  • Sausage rolls (homemade)
  • Pulled pork + salad wraps
  • Chicken wings
  • Chicken skewers
  • Pumpkin Dips
  • Cinnamon doughnuts (use the tea cake recipe from our Sweet Heaven Cook Book

birthday cake

How to decorate an additive-free cake

Think outside the square when it comes to cake decorations. You don’t have to use petroleum-based food colours to achieve a bright, colourful cake.

Here are some options to consider next time you are cake decorating:

  • Use brightly coloured toys to decorate the top of a kids cake,
  • Flowers are beautiful for cakes (see Tracey’s cake for her daughters 16th birthday party),
  • Use natural food colours and 100’s & 1000’s to get a great effect,
  • Make an ice cream cake with different layers.

Prepare the loot bags

Kids love taking a loot bag home, sometimes it is even the highlight of the party. However, to keep the theme of additive free, we often use things other than lollies to fill our bags.

Here are some brilliant ideas:

  • Stickers
  • Pens and pencils
  • Socks and soap (for sleepover parties)
  • Nail polishes
  • Small Toys
  • Notebooks
  • Scarf and decorated bags
  • Play Dough
  • Balloons

All the “other” food

Aside from the cake and the hot food, what else are you going to eat?

Below is a list of some of our favourite things to put on the party table.

  • Chocolate Bliss Ball (from our Bliss Ball Heaven Book)
  • Fruit sticks and dips
  • Additive-free chips
  • Plain rice biscuits
  • Pizza
  • Homemade jellies

You can see, throwing an additive-free birthday party means you have to prepare but it doesn’t have to be so hard. Keep things simple and don’t stress it!

Always remember to have fun, that is exactly what parties should be, totally fun and no stress.

Take care

Tracey and Jo

xx