When planning the menu for your toddlers party, choose foods that are easy to pick up, fun to eat, the correct size for little hands, and do not pose choking hazards. Try to round the menu out with nutritionally sound choices. Young children between the age of 12 and 36 months are usually classified as toddlers, and feeding children at this age can be especially challenging. Toddlers are usually beginning to assert themselves in many ways, including expressing likes and dislikes of certain foods. Combine the picky eating habits of toddlers with the distraction of a party, and you could end up with mountains of leftovers. Prepare toddler-friendly recipes to ensure that your food disappears.
Meatie Cheesey Fun Shapes
For an easy snack packed with filling protein, purchase a cheese and lunch meat assortment. It is wise to stick with mostly mild flavors for toddlers. Cheddar, provolone and gouda would be good choices for cheese, as they are easy to slice and not too strong tasting. Lunch meat like honey turkey, ham and roast beef can be purchased in thick slices from the deli at most grocery stores. Stack a few slices of meat and cheese to make multiple shapes at once, and press down firmly with a cookie cutter. There is no need to buy themed cookie cutters, just use easily recognizable shapes, like stars, "gingerbread" men, trees and hearts. Spread out your shapes on a fun platter, so toddlers can see the shapes and pick what they want.
Fruit Pizza
Fruit pizza will likely become an instant family favorite. Toddlers will love the sweet, colorful treat, and you will love that it is a simple recipe with nutritious fruit. You will need an 18-ounce package of store-bought sugar cookie dough, 8 ounces of plain or sweet-flavored cream cheese (strawberry flavor works great), an 8-ounce tub of whipped topping, and sliced fruit. The sugar cookie dough will be most manageable for this recipe when it is very cold. Slice the dough and place on an ungreased 12-inch pizza pan, and press the slices together to form one crust. Bake the crust for around 15 minutes in a 350-degree oven, and cool completely. Use a hand mixer to combine the whipped topping and cream cheese, and gently spread onto the cooled crust. Top with your favorite fruits. Strawberries, blueberries, kiwis, mandarin orange slices and bananas are great choices, and you can be creative in your arrangement. This dish will not hold up well in the heat, and should be served promptly after making.
Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries are easy to make, delicious and great toddler finger food. Sweet potatoes are loaded with healthy vitamins A and C. Simply cut about six sweet potatoes in 1/4- to 1/2-inch-wide strips, and toss in a 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil. Spread the strips in a single layer, not touching each other, on two baking sheets. Sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon of salt combined with 1/2 tablespoon of brown sugar. Bake in a 450-degree oven for 20 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking. Serve warm.
