Pizza Party Planning and Age Appropriateness The chart below explains alternative ingredients for different age groups to prepare the same food item. Below the chart is handy advice for purchasing ingredients. Basic Ingredients Little Ones (2-5) Kids (6-10) Tweens & Teens (11-17) Pizza crust If all very little (2-3), would possibly buy par-baked shells  Store bought fresh pizza dough   Store bought fresh pizza dough  If you want to create a mini- cooking lesson rather than food-play, start yeast with sugar and explain to kids what is happening while they observe Kids will make dough from scratch (if time allows)  Kids will make dough from scratch but use store bought fresh pizza dough in the interest of time Cheese (2 kinds) Mozzarella Mild Cheddar   Provide shredded cheddar  Buy block of mozzarella, shred all in advance except one small piece for each child to grate using rotary grater Buy/bring shredded cheddar  Kids will shred mozzarella themselves Kids will shred all cheese themselves; buy in more cost effective bricks Sauce Buy premade Buy premade Age 10+ might make their own, or we make a more sophisticated pizza, like fresh mozzarella and basil Toppings Peppers, onions, pineapple, mushrooms, olives, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, pepperoni (are clients vegetarians or Kosher-style?) Bring assortment, but kids will mainly use cheese; purchase small quantities of vegetables, but variety from salad bar  Consider pre-cut, pre-washed produce (example, peppers) Kids will be more adventurous and use more toppings; buy more   Kids will often eat “leftover” toppings Kids can help mise en plas  with food processor or safety mandoline; ages 14+ can handle more demanding knife handling to prep/chop ingredients So, as you can see from the chart: If you buy some ingredients from the salad bar (say, spinach), you will likely pay a small amount (maybe $.50), as opposed to the price for a whole bag (approximately $2.29), which would be both too much quantity and not at all cost effective. If the birthday child has an allergy (say, dairy), you can accommodate by buying soy cheese for that child.  You can offer to make accommodations for guests with food allergies or sensitivities, or ask your host to have that child’s parent to send their child to the party with a suitable replacement.  The latter is best in cases which may be life threatening; parents often want and need to have that level of control over their child’s food. Buy a bit more than you’ll need, so you can create a sample/demonstration and have extras on hand if a child drops his/her ingredient or if a guest attends the party without providing an rsvp. Try to avoid waste.  Strive to create an impressive variety of choices when recipes call for it (i.e. pizza toppings, quesadilla fillings, etc).  You may provide some diced red onion, for example, but kids are unlikely to use it; opt for a few rings of onion from the salad bar, rather than a whole onion that will be wasted. Don’t forget that cooking, and kids cooking parties in particular, is part theater.  Keeping kids interested and involved can be as simple as incorporating steps such as starting yeast; keep this in mind as you create a shopping list. If your grocery store doesn’t carry what you need ask.  Need non-frozen pizza dough, but all they sell is the kind in the cardboard tube in the refrigerator section?  Does their carry-out area sell pizza?  Can you inquire about buying the dough they use to make those pizzas?  Grocery store managers can be infinitely helpful. It doesn’t hurt to ask.  Local restaurants and bakeries can be great resources for ingredients (for example, get dough, sauce and pizza boxes from a local pizzeria, etc.). Plan a Cooking Birthday Party General Advice: Physical Space and Advance Preparation How-to Step-by-Step Guide Shopping and Supplies Lists Age Appropriateness and Pizza Planning Chart Pizza Sauce Recipe Fun Stuff: Invitations, Goodie Bags & Party Games