Toddlers are at that age where they simply do not want to sit in one place while eating. They are too busy exploring everything; their food included. Anything and everything causes them to become distracted and lose interest in their food. Playing with their food actually helps your children to develop and give them the chance to examine the different textures, tastes and colours of the food. In this situation, finger foods are the way to go!
15 Delicious Finger Foods That Your Toddler Will Enjoy Eating
There are plenty of healthy options for you to choose from. Fruits and vegetables are not just healthy and colourful but can be prepared in a way that makes it easy for your child to pick up and eat without much difficulty. There are many easy to make recipes that will make it fun for your children as they explore the world of food. Here are some simple and healthy finger food ideas for toddlers:
1. Steamed Veggie Salad:
A soft and nutritious treat.
What You Will Need :
- Steamed vegetables chopped into bite-sized pieces
- Salt
How To Prepare:
Mix the vegetables and season with a little salt. Can be served on its own or with a side of meatballs and mashed potatoes.
2. Scrambled Eggs:
Loaded with protein, it will help in muscle formation and healthy growth.
What You Will Need:
- One egg
- Milk
- Half tomato finely chopped
- Oil
How To Prepare:
Beat the egg with a teaspoon of milk. Add the tomatoes and salt. Heat one teaspoon of oil and pour out mixture into pan. Mix as it cooks.
3. Fruit Salad:
This is ideal for a hot summer day and helps to clear the skin
What You Will Need:
- Watermelon
- Mangoes
- Papayas
- Avocadoes or any soft fruit.
How To Prepare:
Cut into bite-sized pieces, mix and serve.
4. Peas and Beans:
If you want to raise your kids as vegetarians, use this recipe to get their daily dose of protein.
What You Will Need:
- Beans of choice
- Peas
- Salt
How To Prepare:
Drain and wash the beans well before cooking. Wait until the beans are half cooked and then add the peas. Cook until the beans are soft.
5. Eggy Banana Bread :
Laced with the goodness of banana, it helps ease digestion as it is high in fibre.
What You Will Need:
- One ripe banana
- One egg
- 20ml milk
- Three slices of bread
- Butter.
How To Prepare:
Mash the banana and then add the milk and egg. Mix well. Cut the bread into slices and then dip it into the mixture and fry until golden brown on both sides.
6. Mini Pea Pancakes :
High in proteins and fibre, it helps in optimising your toddler’s growth spurts as well as digestion.
What You Will Need:
- One cup cooked peas
- One cup rolled oats
- 50g Feta cheese
- Half cup cottage cheese and two eggs
How To Prepare:
Blend all the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Heat the pan over medium heat. Drop about a spoon of the mix into the pan and fry until bubbles appear on one side. Flip and fry until golden brown.
7. Turkey Breast Nuggets:
High in proteins and low in fats, this delicious treat is a better option in the non-vegetarian front.
What You Will Need:
- One turkey breast diced into nuggets
- Two tablespoons of almond meal
- Two tablespoons tapioca
- Two teaspoons dry herbs
- Quarter teaspoon nutmeg
- Half teaspoon fine Himalayan salt,
- Two eggs
- Two teaspoons minced garlic
- Quarter cup almond milk
How To Prepare:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Mix the eggs, milk and minced garlic in one bowl and the dry ingredients in another. Dip the turkey bites into the wet ingredients and then the dry. Place them on a baking sheet on a baking tray and bake for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway, or until baked through. These make great finger foods for toddlers lunch.
8. Meatballs:
Easy to munch on, these nutritious balls of protein may get cleared out within minutes!
What You Will Need:
- Ground meat of choice
- Rava
- Eggs
- Parmesan cheese
- Steamed and chopped carrots
How To Prepare:
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for an hour. Preheat oven to 220 degrees Celsius. Using wet hands form into balls and bake for up to 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through.
9. Frozen Fruity Bites:
A good meal during a hot summer day, it helps your kid cool off and can aid digestion.
What You Will Need :
- 200g yoghurt
- A handful of fresh fruits
How To Prepare:
Line twelve muffin cups on a tray. Spoon some yoghurt into the bottom of the cups. Take a few pieces of fruit and press them into the middle of the yoghurt. Put the tray in the fridge for a couple of hours.
10. Broccoli And Carrots:
An acquired taste, this recipe is high in fibre and can be an effective substitute for laxatives.
What You Will Need :
- Broccoli
- Carrots
How to Prepare:
Steam the broccoli and carrots well and give them to your toddler. They may take a while to get used to the taste of broccoli, but it is rich in fibre as well as vitamins C and A. The sweetness of the carrots should balance out the taste of broccoli.
11. Cucumber Strips:
Cucumbers are great for soothing sore gums during the teething period.
What You Will Need:
- Cucumbers
How To Prepare:
Cut the cucumbers into long and wide strips to prevent choking.
12. Mac N Cheese:
Loaded with the goodness of cheese and milk, they help in strengthening the bones.
What You Will Need:
- Cooked macaroni
- Grated cheddar
- Parmesan cheese
- Two cups milk
- Quarter cup butter
- Two and a half tablespoons maida
- Half cup breadcrumbs
How To Prepare:
In a saucepan melt the butter, and stir in enough flour to make a paste. Slowly add milk, stirring constantly. Add the cheese to the mix and stir until it is melted and the sauce is thick. Put the macaroni in a large pot and then add the sauce. Mix well. Melt some additional butter in the pot and add the breadcrumbs. Cook until brown.
13. Potato And Butternut Squash Tots:
This is packed with fibre to help aid digestion.
What You Will Need:
- 250g peeled white potatoes,
- 250g peeled butternut squash,
- Half cup grated cheddar cheese,
- One and a half tablespoon maida,
- Half clove crushed garlic,
- One teaspoon mixed dried herbs,
- Quarter cup breadcrumbs.
How To Prepare:
Chop the butternut squash and potatoes into small pieces and put them into a pan of boiling water. Cook until soft. Drain and then add back to the pan. Mash with a hand masher and add the cheese, flour, garlic and herbs and mix well. Season to taste. Put everything on a plate and let it cool for a while before shaping it into tots. Roll into breadcrumbs and then fry the tots until golden and crispy.
14. Quinoa And Fish Baby Bites:
Packed with Omega 3 fatty acids, this dish can help improve eyesight and heart function.
What You Will Need:
- Half cup cooked quinoa
- One cup roughly chopped baby spinach
- Four eggs
- One small can of tuna
How To Prepare:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Mix everything in a bowl and add salt. Spoon mixture into mini silicone trays and bake until the egg is fully cooked; roughly 15 minutes.
15. Rainbow Omelette Cakes:
High in protein, this dish can get your kids excited as soon as they hear the name.
What You Will Need:
- One teaspoon olive oil
- Half red pepper
- Two spring onions
- One small carrot
- Two tablespoons sweet corn
- 50g cheddar cheese
- Three large eggs
How To Prepare:
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Place cupcake cases in muffin trays. Finely chop the spring onions and the peppers. Grate the carrot and cheese, drain and rinse the sweet corn. Sautee the spring onions and the peppers over a low flame. Once they start to soften, take the pan off the flame and add the cheese and corn. Break the eggs and whisk until frothy. Add all the vegetables and the grated cheese to the eggs. Mix well. Put them into cupcake cases and bake until cooked through.
You can experiment with different ideas and come up with your own toddler finger food recipes. Always remember to cook all the vegetables and meat until everything is tender enough for your child to eat. Toddlers are learning about the world so help them experience the best food there is. Don’t forget that while some children with very sensitive taste buds may create a fuss, they can get used to any taste over time.
