Finger foods are an important way for your toddler to learn independent eating habits as well as sample many new foods. Toddlers may find it difficult to use a spoon and fork to eat, and finger foods allow them to feed themselves, reports Annabel Karmel, author of "Top 100 Finger Foods: 100 Recipes for a Healthy, Happy Child." Offering your toddler nutritious foods will also ensure that the finger foods he enjoys supplies his growing body with the nutrients he needs to grow up healthy.
Sandwich Strips
Sandwiches are a versatile food that can be prepared using many nutritious ingredients. Cutting a sandwich into strips is an easy way for your toddler to pick up her food and feed herself. Start with whole wheat bread to supply your toddler with fiber for digestive health. Nut butter, such as peanut butter or almond butter, and banana slices is a toddler-friendly sandwich. A slice of cheese and tomato is another option that many toddlers are willing to eat. Adding a slice of lean turkey or chicken will add protein to your toddlers sandwich. Carol Fallows and Karen Kingham, authors of "Baby and Toddler Food: Recipes and Practical Information for Feeding Babies and Toddlers," suggest serving a toasted sandwich, such as toasted cheese," cut into strips and dipped in soup as a toddler-pleasing way to serve sandwich strips.
Nachos
Nachos can be a healthy finger food that allows you to customize the ingredients according to your toddler's tastes, notes Karmel. Start with baked tortilla chips or make your own by cutting a tortilla into wedges, brushing with olive oil and broiling until lightly browned. Top the tortilla chips with low-fat cheese, such as cheddar or colby, for a healthy way to add calcium to your toddler's diet. Black or pinto beans are a good source of fiber and are small enough that they do not pose a choking hazard. Chopped tomatoes, cubed avocado or sliced black olives are additional toppings that supply nutrients for your toddler.
Chicken Pieces
Chicken is a good source of protein, which your toddler needs to grow properly, notes Karmel. Chicken can be prepared in different ways to help encourage your toddler to eat enough. Roll chicken strips in crushed corn flakes or bread crumbs and bake until cooked through. Chicken can also be sauteed with bite-sized vegetables, such as carrots, pepper and squash, to make a finger food version of a healthy stir-fry. Homemade chicken nuggets can be made by dipping chicken pieces in beaten egg and then sprinkling with bread crumbs and herbs and then baking or broiling until cooked through. Make sure that whatever type of chicken you offer your toddler is cooked until no pink is visible to help prevent food-borne illness.
References
- "Top 100 Finger Foods: 100 Recipes for a Healthy, Happy Child"; Annabel Karmel; 2010
- "Baby and Toddler Food: Recipes and Practical Information for Feeding Babies and Toddlers"; Carol Fallows and Karen Kingham; 2005
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