Hosting a pool party can quickly make you popular among peers, but it comes with its headaches. In between arranging fun activities and sending out invites, many tend to overlook one crucial element: a good snack.
It’s been long established that you don’t actually need to wait an hour after eating before diving into a pool. In fact, swimming works up a tremendous appetite, making a well-thought-out menu key to successful pool party planning.
So the next time you draw up a pool party checklist, don’t forget to account for hungry guests. Use this guide to get started.
Five Delicious Ideas For Planning a Pool Party Menu
If you’re hosting a pool party for the first time, you should know that your menu must fulfill three criteria: it should be fun, easy to serve, and not cause a mess. In our experience, the meals that perfectly meet these requirements include:
Grilled Skewers (Meat & Veggie Options)
Who doesn’t love a poolside BBQ party? Grilled skewers are a classic outdoor food and for good reason — they can be eaten with a single hand, don’t require plates or cutlery, and are exceptionally delicious and versatile.
At your party, you can choose to go the classic route and serve juicy burgers, or opt for a healthier menu with grilled shrimp and chicken. Don’t underestimate the potential of vegan-friendly options, either — grilled mushrooms or zucchini can be a big hit.
Fresh Fruit Platters
There’s something really satisfying about biting into a cold, juicy fruit under the summer sun. It’s no wonder then that pool parties and fruit platters often go hand-in-hand.
A spread of watermelon, pineapple, grapes, strawberries, and more can add a splash of color to your party — as well as be a convenient snack. Guests can grab small bites on the go or while hanging out in the shallow end, while ensuring their hands never get greasy.
As a bonus, fruits are extremely hydrating, which guests will be thankful for after a few hours splashing about.
Mini Sandwiches or Sliders
Almost every culture in the world has a version of the sandwich, mainly because it has to be one of the most convenient ways to eat. They’re also easy to make and versatile enough to appeal to a wide range of palettes.
A turkey and cheese slider could be a tasty and healthy snack, while a pulled pork bun can satiate even the most ardent meat lover. Sandwiches can be prepped in bulk and won’t fall apart when eaten. Perfect for a pool party set up.
Chips, Dips, and Finger Foods
Chips and finger foods are probably among the most essential things you need for a pool party. All you need to do is lay out a table with guacamole, salsa, tzatziki, or any other dip. On a corresponding table, place a plate of chips, pretzels, and similar snacks — and that’s it, job done.
It’s an extremely low-effort option and one that’s tempting once you start struggling with the other aspects of planning a pool party.
Frozen Food & Drinks
Another popular option for the kids, as well as the adults, is frozen goodies.
Think about it — who wouldn’t want a popsicle while laying on a float under the blistering sun? You could also consider having a freezer ready with cold fruits and ice cream sandwiches, or set up a frozen cocktail station.
Consider offering lemonade-based drinks, wine, and fruit spritzers, and, of course, the holy grail of frozen cocktails — the margarita.
Key Considerations When Planning a Pool Party Menu
It’s a universally accepted fact that you don’t need to serve an entire sit-down dinner at a pool party. Still, that leaves us with thousands of options. To narrow things down and learn how to host a pool party the right way, it’s worth asking some questions.
For instance, what is your pool party set up? Are there enough tables spread out to accommodate certain dishes? Can small plates of food be sent on floats? Or would you prefer everyone assembled in a dedicated corner to reduce the eventual clean-up?
Finding answers early on can help you decide what to serve and should be a crucial part of a pool party planning checklist. Here are three more essential considerations:
Will You Have Enough Food?
Unless you have years of pool party planning experience under your belt, you’re likely to struggle with portion sizing. It’s always hard to estimate how much people will eat, without either underdelivering or going way out of budget.
Fortunately, there are several comprehensive online guides that help calculate catering portions. These resources can help you break down how much food you need per person, based on the type of dish, time of day, and appetite levels.
Sure, it’s not an exact science, but consulting these guides can go a long way in managing budget and working through your pool party planning checklist.
Do Your Guests Have Dietary Restrictions?
When hosting a pool party or planning catering at any event venue in Los Angeles, really, you must account for dietary preferences. More people than ever before are aware of their allergies and intolerances, and not having enough options can be disastrous.
To make things easier, ask guests to RSVP with their dietary restrictions.
The hard part, however, is researching food you can serve within that framework. This is why even experienced party planners choose to work with a professional service that offers premium catering in Los Angeles.
Full-Service Catering vs Traditional Catering: Which is Best?
When deep in pool party planning, there’s nothing better for your wallet or piece of mind than working with the experts. Still, there’s one question that you need to answer when looking for caterers: full-service vs traditional catering, which is better?
The answer is simple.
If you’re planning a big event or want to take a hands-off approach to planning a pool party, the benefits of full-service catering outweigh the traditional approach. It allows you to relax while someone else handles setup, service, and cleanup.
How to Plan a Pool Party in Los Angeles Like a Pro
The Los Angeles summer is the perfect time for pool party planning, as well as a small window to capture, so stop wasting time. Become the perfect host by working with the professionals at Vivaldi Venues. Apart from offering premium banquet hall in Glendale, we’re expert party planners. We also provide catering services.
Get in touch today to see how we can help with your pool party checklist.