Nothing more exciting than celebrating the upcoming birth of a baby. Although a baby shower has different names in different cultures, the main reason behind this ceremony is to celebrate the delivery or expected birth of a child or the transformation of a woman into a mother.
No doubt a baby shower is exciting but at the same time, it is also expensive. It’s fun to gather friends and family for a party however, it can cost a small fortune that’s why you need cheap baby shower food ideas.
It’s a fact that the baby shower food menu alone can throw your whole budget. However, uncovering a few frugal food ideas will help save money. So if you are interested in baby shower food ideas on a budget here are the 20 best items that are easy to gather and are assured to be a huge hit.
Note:- Before the baby shower just make sure to have plenty of diapers, clothes, wipes, bottles, and even bottle sterilizers. This will help you keep things under control when your baby needs them.
Baby Shower Food Menu On A Budget
These non-gender specific ideas can be modified to suit baby shower food ideas for a boy or baby shower food ideas for a girl. For your convenience, we organized these delicious cheap baby shower food ideas into simple categories.
Appetizers
1. Cheeseburger Bread
If you are planning to have a barbecue-style baby shower, grilling steaks and other meats can get expensive. However, you can try making cheeseburger bread to achieve the same effect within a budget.
Simply roll our bread dough onto a cookie sheet, spread a meat mixture on top, and roll. With seam side down, you bake it and cut it into smaller pieces.
It is a wonderful finger food option that makes a great appetizer. For added flavor, each piece can be dipped in ketchup or mustard.
2. Roll-ups
One of the best baby shower snacks is a roll-up. This is a perfect appetizer that can be cut into eight pieces and contains simple ingredients. As most women don’t expect a large meal at the baby shower, this budget-friendly appetizer undoubtedly going to be a big hit.
3. Veggie Cups
This is one of the unique and economical baby shower food that can offer high nutrition. Further, you can place dip on the bottom of the cups and layer sliced peppers, carrots, celery, or cucumbers on top. This not only prevents messes and allows everyone to relax. Additionally, Home-grown vegetables cost nothing as well.
Soups And Salads
4. Carrot And Orange Soup
Mix six simple ingredients together to make this vibrant, low-calorie, vegetarian soup. To make this budget-friendly recipe heat the butter in a large pan then add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook for 10 minutes until softened.
Add the carrots and orange zest and cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes then pour in the stock and bring to a boil. Turn down to a simmer then cook for 20-25 minutes or until the carrots are completely tender.
Use a stick blender to whizz until smooth then stir in the orange juice. Taste and season with pepper and more salt if it needs it. Serve with more pepper and a swirl of crème fraîche, if you like.
5. Spiced Cauliflower Soup
This economical baby shower food veggie soup is low in calories and ready in under an hour. To make this trim all of the florets from the cauliflower and cut into chunky pieces, keeping back 2 of the nicer florets for later. Finely chop the stem.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan and cook the chopped cauliflower florets and stem with the onion over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring regularly, until the cauliflower is deeply golden.
Tip in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, then add the curry powder and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the vegetable stock and simmer for 20 minutes until the cauliflower is starting to break down. Stir through the yogurt, then use a stick blender to whizz until completely smooth.
Use a knife to very thinly slice the 2 cauliflower florets you kept back. Gently toss them with a little seasoning and the lemon juice. Pour the soup into bowls and top with the thinly sliced cauliflower, and a grinding of black pepper, if you like.
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6. Veggie Soup
This budget-friendly soup is packed with nutritious veggies, pulses, and spices for a vegan winter warmer with less than 300 calories. To make this heat the vegetable oil in a large pan and add the onion, celery and a pinch of salt.
Put on a lid and cook gently for 10 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the garlic, preserved lemons, and red chilies, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the tomato puree and spices, and cook for a further 2 minutes before adding the chopped tomatoes, potato, chickpeas, and 1.25 liters of boiling water.
Bring to the boil, then turn down and simmer for 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Tip in the spinach, flat-leaf parsley, and a little seasoning, and stir for 1 minute until wilted. Add the lemon juice, then spoon into bowls with lemon wedges for squeezing.
7. Salad Bar Buffet
An inexpensive baby shower spread is a salad bar buffet. It is a great and healthy alternative to greasy or sweet foods. You must include protein, including cooked salmon, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, nuts, and cheese.
To avoid the need to cook the day of the shower, it is possible to prepare items that taste good at cold or room temperatures. For instance, potato salad, macaroni salad, and eggs can be prepared ahead of time.
Desserts
8. Waffle Sandwiches
Waffle sandwiches are delightful treats for baby showers. Further, the Waffle mix is inexpensive and can be left on a table with a waffle iron so that guests can prepare their own treats.
These items can be eaten alone or turned into ice cream sandwiches. Various ice cream flavors can be left out so that everyone can select a favorite.
These items can be topped with fresh fruit as well. This food adds whimsy to the celebration and brings back memories of a county fair or similar fun summer event.
9. Carrot Cake
If you are planning for a baby shower food on a budget and do not know the sex of the baby then go with delicious carrot cake making a cute theme around it.
To make the dessert unique and healthy, you can reduce the sugar by substituting pineapple for sweetness. Also, you can use low-fat cream cheese for the frosting. For added flavor, sprinkle coconut and walnuts in the batter and on top of the cake.
10. Popcorn Bags
If you are planning to host a baby shower on a tight budget or you are just popcorn lover, create a theme around it as it requires a minimal budget.
You can simply place popcorn in tiny bags and hand them out to guests as they arrive. Do not limit yourself to butter flavor. Try caramel corn, jalapeno, cheese, and sugar glazes. Make sure to decorate the bags accordingly.
11. Ice Cream Station
Having an ice cream sundae station at your baby shower is a budget-friendly way to feed your guests. It is the perfect way to excite guests with all the possible toppings.
Have bowls, cookie cones, and waffle bowls available for a single, double, or triple scoop sundae. Chocolate and vanilla are standards, but you should get creative with some of the best flavors on grocery store shelves.
No matter the offerings, do not forget the fixings. An ice cream station is not complete without sprinkles, caramel, nuts, cookies, hot fudge, fruit, and whipped cream.
12. Cupcakes
Most baby showers have fancy cakes that are very expensive, especially when they are purchased at bakeries. Although these items look nice, you can bake something similar at home.
At home, you can easily bake up various flavors, which saves a lot of money. With colorful frosting and festive cupcake liners, these desserts can be transformed into an exquisite centerpiece.
13. Fruit Finger
Nothing is more simple or cheap than serving fruit in your baby shower. Strawberries, melons, apples, grapes, and any other fruit can be cut into pieces and stacked onto toothpicks.
The mini masterpieces resemble large kabobs always popular at summer barbecues and picnics. These tiny treats can be placed on a tray and served with a chocolate or cream cheese dip.
Baby Shower Drinks
14. Mocktails
As a non-alcoholic event, a baby shower is a perfect place for mocktails. Not adding liquor drastically lowers the price of the beverages. If the party is celebrating the birth of a baby boy, a blueberry mojito mocktail is ideal.
With a cup of pureed blueberries, a few mint leaves, sugar, lime juice, and club soda, the entire guest list will be treated to a refreshing drink.
