• Cupcakes are an alternative to a birthday cake at catered meals.birthday cake 3 image by Julia Britvich from Fotolia.com
  
  Birthday parties celebrate one more year of life lived and the year to come. Give yourself a break this year when you host your next party. Use a caterer for at least part of the food preparation so you can concentrate on the decorations, festivities and keeping the party going. Don't think you have to stick with the Saturday night party; try a catered birthday meal for breakfast or lunch, instead.
  
  

Breakfast and Brunch

• Start the birthday off right with a catered breakfast or brunch. Breakfast foods are less expensive than lunch or dinner, so you can feed a crowd on a lower budget. Choose foods the caterer can leave, such as a carved ham, rather than those that require onsite help. Avoid foods that require last-minute preparation such as Eggs Benedict.
  
  Supplement the catered menu with fresh fruit and fruit juices, and your own selection of breakfast meats, such as sausages and bacon. Good catering choices include a frittata--baked egg dish--of potatoes, eggs, cheese and spinach; French toast stuffed with cream cheese, walnuts and bananas; or waffles with an assortment of toppings. Add mini muffins and breakfast pastries for those with a smaller appetite.
  
  

Gourmet Picnic

• A birthday picnic with a few good friends at the lake, park or secluded glen is a relaxing way to start the next year of your life. Have the caterer make box lunches of gourmet peanut butter and jelly inspired sandwiches. Think satay chicken with a sweet raspberry and spicy peanut sauce stuffed into pita bread with a crisp cool cucumber salad. Add vegetables, chips and a dip of garlicky hummus.
  
  Another picnic option is old-fashioned fried chicken with a twist. Serve the chicken boneless with a variety of dipping sauces such as tangy barbecue, lemon mayonnaise and fire engine red sauce. Serve individual birthday cupcakes for dessert.
  
  

Luxury Suite Sporting Event

• Pull out all the stops and rent a luxury box at a sporting event such as a football or baseball game. Many of the boxes come with catering available, for an extra charge of course. But this is a birthday party, so splurge a little.
  
  Seafood starts the game and party off right. Try grilled oysters on the half shell, shrimp with remoulade dip and crab claws cocktails. Beef loin sliders with honey mustard sauce won't take the focus off the game. Bratwurst with sweet onion relish on French rolls are sure to please a football fan. Lobster rolls are an upscale version of poor boys. Add in some side dishes and your catered sporting event is a win.