Back to School Party and Event Catering Ideas for 2022
Time really does fly—summer is in its final stretch, and autumn will be here before you know it. While it’s always a little sad to say goodbye to beach days, barbeques, and vacations, there’s nothing quite like the excitement that comes with the start of a new school year (no matter how long ago you were a student).
The season is inevitably busy, and we know you’re probably in the midst of planning an event or two. The most important part of any back-to-school event is the food, and hiring one of LA’s best food trucks to handle all your school catering needs is a sure-fire way to keep students, teachers, and everyone in between happy!
From football games, to dances, to creative events geared towards helping everyone feel more comfortable about the year ahead, food trucks are a great way to approach school meals for all grades, ages, and levels.
Read on to learn more about hiring a food truck for back-to-school fun:
Make Open House Even More Exciting
No matter how old you are, you’ll always remember those back-to-school jitters. Meeting new teachers, school staff, and classmates is a big deal for students and parents alike, and an open house is a time when it’s crucial to make a good first impression with some quality local school catering.
All the excitement of the new year works up an appetite, which is why it’s a great idea to hire a food truck to provide some tasty eats and unique menu items straying from the typical food service the student are used to for this year’s class. Food trucks are extremely social and encourage mingling. Everyone will feel more at ease when the first day rolls around if they’ve already had a chance to break bread together.
Cheer the Football Team to Victory
Nothing says “fall” more than a football game—and everyone knows one of the best parts of any sporting event is the food at the stadium. Whether you want to stick to tried and true game-day grub, or you want to branch out with something a little more creative, there are plenty of LA food truck options that are perfect for fueling school spirit.
If you or your catering manager need some game-day inspiration, take a look at the ideas below:
- Wetzel’s Pretzels: This one takes a classic stadium favorite to the next level. Whether you like your pretzels sweet or savory, Wetzel’s Pretzels are and ideal halftime snack.
- The Twist Churro: Classic churros are the perfect, handheld, cinnamon-sugary treat, but this truck makes them even better by offering churro ice cream sundaes. If you have these at the stadium, fans will be happy even if their team doesn’t bring home the big trophy (or at least, they won’t be as sad).
- Habibi Shack: When you want to branch out from burgers and hot dogs, this food truck is a delicious option. With loaded fries, pita wraps, and Mediterranean bowls, there’s something for everyone on this menu.
Homecoming Dances Need Fuel
If you want students to be able to dance the night away, it’s essential to provide food that’s not only tasty, but that’s also fun! Since everyone will be decked out in their finest attire, it’s a good idea to offer options on your catering menu that are easy to eat and not too messy—no one wants to ruin their homecoming gown or suit!
Food trucks are ideal for catering this type of event since you won’t have to dedicate any of your precious dance floor space to school catering services. A food truck can simply drive up, set up shop in the parking lot, and then drive away when the dance is over. Not to mention, it’s extremely cost effective! If you do want an indoor option, FTALA also works with a variety of incredible food cart vendors and talented mobile kitchen staff that specialize in food service management.
Teachers Deserve (Delicious) Appreciation
You already know how important teachers are, and a great way to express some well-deserved appreciation is to treat them to meal options surpassing the school lunch service from an LA food truck. Since teachers and staff usually have to go back to school before students for planning, there are plenty of chances to treat them to something special. If you want to show your teachers how grateful you are for everything they do, take a look at these options:
- Keep them Caffeinated: This one doesn’t need much explaining. Help teachers prep for a busy school year with incredible mobile coffee vendors like Granno Cafe or Maesto Luxury Coffee.
- Focus on Healthy and Tasty: Just like students, teachers need quality brain food! Thankfully, there are a plethora of food truck options in LA that taste good, and are good for you. Amazebowls and F!N Fresh are two excellent examples
- Provide a Sweet Treat: Healthy food has its time and place in a healthy school, but sometimes what teachers really need is dessert. Satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth with dessert trucks like Moom Maam, After’s Ice Cream, and Sure Good.
Remind Students of Home Sweet Home (Literally)
If you’re considering back-to-school event ideas for college students, it’s important to keep in mind that as fun as going away to school can be, many students end up feeling a little homesick. Hosting an event where you provide students with a taste of home is a great way to make them feel more comfortable.
Nothing says ‘home sweet home’ like fresh-baked cookies, so using catering services that bring cookies straight to your students is a ‘sweet’ idea! Dreamy Creations is the perfect example of a truck that bakes cookies that taste just like home. Wellness can go beyond food and nutrition services – mental health is important too!
Break the Ice with Icy Treats
Everyone loves themed event catering, and hosting an ice-themed ice breaker event is a creative way to help students mix, mingle, and make friends. Catering companies can provide the food, but some local LA food trucks will really set the tone.
Snobiz Sno-Balls can help you pull off this unique themed event—and keep everyone cool if fall weather hasn’t hit your school’s region just yet. They offer a wide range of stand-out flavors of sno-balls (which are different than snow cones) like:
- Cake Batter
- Strawberry Cheesecake
- Orchid Vanilla Magic
- Tutti Fruitti
- Mango
With the right school catering and a little encouragement, students will be bonding with their classmates before you know it!
We hope by now you’re starting to get as excited about back-to-school season as we are. Here at FTALA, we’re here to help you pull off all your back-to-school events. Hiring a food truck is a memorable way to approach school catering, and to celebrate fresh starts, new beginnings, and of course, incredible food!
All of our incredible partners are experts at catering events both big and small. So, whether you need to feed a hungry football team, or the entire senior class, we’ve got you covered!
