If you are celebrating an end-of-year recognition party, or simply hosting a small event that requires an interactive dash of creativity with a mix of limited budget – there is always something new that you can offer your guests.

How about adding multiple food bars to get guests up and moving about at your event while offering them yummy foods they can mix and match on their own.  This provides a low-budget fun way to present your food versus having just passed Hors d’Oeuvres or typical stationary food stations.

Recently, we created a Pretzel Bar where we dangled hot jumbo salted sweet-dough pretzels from hooks with a variety of toppings that guests could pick and choice – ranging from melted caramel, warm nacho cheese, spicy honey mustard, cinnamon sugar and creamy Nutella peanut butter.  We set up bowls of pretzel balls at the base, along with jars of candy-covered pretzels, pretzel sticks and yogurt drizzled pretzels nuggets. 

Guests went crazy for the pretzel bar options and it became a focal point for guests to snap photos, enjoy and talk about with others.  Most have never seen this type of bar created, so you use this idea –or create your own food bar idea to intrigue and engage guests while staying on a restricted budget. 

It can be basic – such as a Mac and Cheese Bar – as long as you become creative with the topping options and display it an interesting way.  For instance, replace the classic cheddar cheese topping with either warmed brie, gouda, gruyère, or even a crumbled blue cheese topping option – or add a bowl of mini cooked shrimp, fried chicken pieces, chili flakes, chopped almonds, black beans, baked mushrooms or even pre-popped salted kettle-corn popcorn for a different crunch.

Pick toppings to suit your theme or how daring you feel.  You can put a variety of low-to-mid cost options to suit all of the personalities in your crowd, and not exceed your budget – but look like you went all out for them.   

Positive experiences and fun doesn’t have to be costly – just thoughtful ideas that are either unique, or slightly updated, can create positive memories and outcome.