Feeding a gaggle of girls for your own or your friend’s pre-baby celebration? What a great opportunity to serve up a decadent spread! If the gender of the baby is known, go crazy with pink or blue (or do a mix of the two). And make the most of mini morsels – ‘baby-sized’ bites that are easy to eat while you gossip and play silly games.

• Tip: don’t forget to avoid those foods that are a no-no for pregnant women – seeing it’s her special day, don’t serve up dishes that contain soft cheeses, deli meats, smoked salmon, raw egg, oysters, sushi, soft-serve ice-cream or pate.
• Here’s a suggested baby shower menu that’ll satisfy your pregnant friend’s cravings as well as fill her guests’ tummies nicely!

• Sweet bites

  Mini cupcakes: Ice in pale blue, pink or white and top with sugar-ice decorations (such as in the shape of a rattle, pram etc). Serve them on a cake stand as a centrepiece for the occasion.
• Mini fairy meringues: Guests will love these light and fluffy sugary puffs in soft pastels. Easy to pre-make the day before, which is a planning bonus.
• Mini fruit sticks: Pregnant women should eat plenty of fresh, healthy food, so create bite-size fruit ‘kebab’ sticks. Thread toothpicks with balls of watermelon or rockmelon, halved strawberries, whole blueberries and other colourful mini pieces of fruit. Use baby-themed fancy toothpicks for fun.
• Mini personalised chocolate bars: Here’s an easy one – just grab a stack of your favourite chocolate bars, then cover each in a cute, personalised wrapper with a baby theme. There’s even a spot to print (or write) a message on each, such as ‘Will it be Benjamin or Chloe?!’ You can easily DIY this idea using baby-themed wrapping paper too.
• Mini cookie favours: Get hold of some baby-themed cookie cutters (think rocking horse, teddy bear, baby’s bottle) and punch out yummy favours for guests to take home. Bag in cellophane tied with pink and blue ribbon.

• Savoury bites

  Mini sandwiches: Everyone loves classic chicken and mayo sandwiches. Cut them in ribbon fingers with crusts off so they’re fuss-free for the ladies to eat.
• Mini puff pasty pinwheels: These are tasty and look a bit fancy, even though they are simple to make.
• Mini favourites: Think mini quiche, mini pizzas, mini burgers, or mini meatballs!