Top 10 Finger Foods For Toddlers That They Will Love

Q: What Finger Foods to Send to Daycare?

Depending upon the number of hours your toddler is going to spend at the daycare, you can pack finger food accordingly. For longer hours you can keep several food items which can sustain them. For shorter stays you can pack sweet potato sticks, potato fries, vegetable cutlets, fruit slices, etc. Take care to include foods which your toddler likes.

Finger foods, as the name suggests, are foods which do not require cutlery. They can be eaten using hands. Finger foods for toddlers are a fun way to make them learn to eat by themselves. Toddlers and babies use their hands to eat and explore the food which is given to them. This helps to make them understand the various textures of different food items as well as build fine motor skills. Finger foods are an excellent way to help your toddler also learn how to eat by themselves.

Top 4 Benefits of Finger Foods For Toddlers

Finger foods are a convenient way to help your toddler learn how to eat. It also helps the toddler to be independent and gives them control over what they eat. Apart from this, finger foods for toddlers have several other benefits as well, like-

1. Easy and Convenient

Finger foods do not require too much hassle to cook and eat. So it is easy and convenient for both you as well as your toddler. Finger foods are also easy to consume since it is eaten using hands. It does not require any cutlery and hence your toddler will need less supervision while eating. Finger foods are also easy to carry while stepping outside and will not create too much mess even if your toddler plays with it, as they are bound to do.

2. Exposure to New Foods And Textures

Finger foods are the easiest way to expose your toddler to different textures, tastes, and variety. Your toddler may reject the same vegetable in curry form or side dish form, but may end up eating it in the form of vegetable fingers etc. Finger foods also come in different textures and forms which will again expose toddlers to different things.

3. Nutrient Dense

The trick to including finger foods in toddler’s diet is to ensure it is nutrient rich and home cooked. Do not start feeding them french fries etc. or other junk sold in markets. Instead make healthy versions at home. This way not only you can control the ingredients which go into the food but also refrain them from eating preservative and chemical laden junk.

[Read : 10 Harmful Effects of Junk Food on Toddlers]

4. Helps in Exploring Different Tastes

Finger foods are easiest way to expose toddlers to different tastes. While paneer fingers maybe salty and little spicy, boiled egg slices will be little bland and soft to eat. Vegetables and fruits in form of finger foods will again have varied tastes. Giving all these foods to toddler will ensure they develop a liking for healthy food. It will also help parents figure out what their toddler likes.

10 Finger Foods For Toddlers That They Will Love

Finger foods can be served cooked or raw depending upon what you plan to make. If it is something like cucumber wedges or fruit slices, it will help the toddler discover the raw taste of a vegetable. Cooked finger foods like boiled eggs, vegetable cutlets etc. will offer a different experience to them. So, let’s see some exciting and nourishing finger foods for toddlers. These are healthy and easy to prepare as well.

1. Eggs

Eggs can be perfect finger food for a toddler. Egg is a good source of protein and has high nutritional value (1) Just a boiled egg, cut into small pieces is very easy to eat for toddlers. You may sprinkle some salt or anything as per your toddler’s taste. It can also be served as sandwich by putting egg slices between two bread slices.

2. Whole Wheat Pasta

Boil some whole wheat pasta and give to your toddler to eat. These days there are many options available in pasta. It comes in different shapes and colors. Get creative and choose colorful pasta, assemble it in a creative manner and watch your toddler attack it with enthusiasm. Since pasta is made from whole grains it has fiber and will provide energy to your little one as well (2). If you want you can add some colorful vegetables as well to make the pasta more exciting for the toddler.

3. Sweet Potato Sticks

Rich in vitamin A and C, sweet potato sticks are easy to prepare (3). Cut potato in ½ inch sticks after peeling it and preheat oven to 400 degrees (F). In a bowl, take one teaspoon of olive oil and add potato sticks. Toss well and bake these for 30 -40 minutes. Sprinkle some salt and serve with sauce.

4. Cheese Toast

If your toddler likes cheese then you can make cheese toast (use whole wheat bread) for them. Add toppings like tomato or capsicum or, you may try something different. Now serve these toasts and watch them enjoying it. Cheese is a rich source of essential nutrients like protein, calcium, vitamins etc. (4) and helps in growth and development of human body.

5. Tofu Cubes

Cut tofu in small pieces. Add arrowroot powder, little bit of garlic, salt and pinch of chilli powder or pepper powder. Toss these well so that tofu cubes get coated properly. You can either bake this, air fry or even shallow fry it. Tofu is easy to chew and provides healthy fat, protein, calcium, and folic acid to growing kids (5).

6. Banana Pancakes

Use ripe bananas for making these pancakes. Mash the banana and mix with some flour (whole wheat preferable). Add some water or milk and prepare a batter of slightly thick consistency. Now make pancakes using this batter. No need to add sugar as bananas are naturally sweet. You can use creative molds to make these pancakes in different shapes or assemble them creatively to make faces etc.

7. Roasted Lotus Seeds/Fox Nuts (Makhana)

Fox nuts or makhana is very light and can be easily digested. It is beneficial for the heart and acts as an antioxidant. Roasted makhana can be prepared in 2-3 minutes and your toddler will like it too. Take a little amount of ghee in a pan and add some makhana and roast them till they become crunchy. Add salt or black pepper and serve. Makhana is rich in nutrients and roasting it improves the mineral content (6), (7)

8. Cheese Popcorn

Prepare fresh popcorn at home, add cheese and toss well. Serve these in cute paper cones or basket. Your toddler would love to have it. Popcorn is made from whole grain and has multiple benefits. It has fiber, is rich in phytonutrients, minerals, and vitamins (8).

9. Chicken Fingers

This is a wholesome snack for your toddler if they eat non vegetarian food. Cut thin strips of chicken breast. Now take flour and add seasoning like salt and bit of pepper to it. Coat these chicken strips in the flour, now dip them in beaten eggs and coat them in crumbs or semolina to give that crunchy texture. You can either fry them or bake them. Chicken strips are packed with protein, iron, minerals like selenium, zinc etc. (9).

[Read : Top Healthy Snack Ideas For Toddlers (12 to 24 Months)]

10. Grated Apple

Apple contains soluble fiber content which helps to boost immune system. If your toddler does not like to eat apple, you may try grated apple. After peeling apple, grate it and serve. Alternately you may cut thin strips of apple and serve them as apple chips to your toddler. Apples are rich in micronutrients like iron, zinc, vitamins C and E and are beneficial for the health (10).

Precautions to Take

Though finger foods are hassle free and easy to feed a toddler, there are certain precautions which one must take. These are-

Serve bite-sized portions to the toddler to avoid the risk of choking
Do not give very small foods like raisins, peanuts etc. which can cause choking
Monitor and keep a close watch when giving any new food to the toddler. Certain foods may cause allergy
If you notice any reactions after eating a particular food, better consult the doctor

Remember whatever you offer your toddler, try to be creative while presenting it to them. Also, once your toddler has refused to eat a given dish, it does not mean that they are not going to eat it ever. Try it again after some days. If you want your toddler to eat most of the healthy items, you need to make sure to prepare these at home regularly. There is a large variety of finger foods you can make at home without compromising on taste or quality. Always try and avoid packaged or store bought food items.

FAQ’s

1. How Can I Encourage My Toddler to Try New Finger Foods?

If you want your toddler to eat and try new food items, you have to lead by example. That means that when you offer any food item to your toddler, you and others in the family also have to sit and eat with them. Once they see others eating the same thing, there are more chances of them trying it out. Also, if they refuse at first, try and mix the new food with something familiar and then give to them. For example, mix broccoli with potatoes and offer. Do not get dejected by toddler’s refusal to try new foods. Try giving it to them again after sometime.

2. How Can I Incorporate Different Textures And Flavors Into my Toddler’s Finger Food?

Offer your toddler foods that have different textures. Like, banana slices are smooth and slimy, apples maybe a little rough to touch, chicken fingers have a rough and crunchy texture, whereas boiled egg or omelet will have a smooth texture. Also, keep on changing the foods that you give to toddlers. This will introduce them to different food items and textures. It will also keep them interested. Giving same thing repeatedly will bore them and they may stop eating.

3. What Finger Foods to Send to Daycare?

epending upon the number of hours your toddler is going to spend at the daycare, you can pack finger food accordingly. For longer hours you can keep several food items which can sustain them. For shorter stays you can pack sweet potato sticks, potato fries, vegetable cutlets, fruit slices, etc. Take care to include foods which your toddler likes.

4. At What Age Should You Start Finger Foods?

From the time the baby is able to sit independently and start grasping at things, you can start giving them finger foods. Keep in mind to give only age appropriate finger foods. As they grow into toddlerhood, you can add a variety of finger foods to their diet.

5. Why Won’t my 2-Year-Old Eat Finger Foods?

Reason behind your 2-year-old refusing to eat finger food maybe that it was introduced to them quite late and is unfamiliar for them. Also, if you are giving big portion size or filling their plate with too much food it will overwhelm them. To encourage the toddler to eat finger food, start with the food items they are familiar with. Give in small quantity. Do not give 2-3 choices all at once. Stick to one finger food at a time. Keep patience and keep on trying. Eventually they will start liking it.

References

Egg Consumption in Infants is Associated with Longer Recumbent Length and Greater Intake of Several Nutrients Essential in Growth and Development – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6024369/]
Pasta Consumption Is Linked to Greater Nutrient Intakes and Improved Diet Quality in American Children and Adults, and Beneficial Weight-Related Outcomes Only in Adult Females – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7426435/]
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) – A Valuable Medicinal Food: A Review – [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263096030_Sweet_Potato_Ipomoea_batatas_L_Lam_-_A_Valuable_Medicinal_Food_A_Review]
Cheese in nutrition and health – [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/45450821_Cheese_in_nutrition_and_health]
Tofu: A Popular Food with High Nutritional and Health Benefits – [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332343856_Tofu_A_Popular_Food_with_High_Nutritional_and_Health_Benefits]
Market Intelligence Report: Makhana – [https://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/Weekly_eReport/Makhana_Report.pdf]
Roasted fox nuts (Euryale Ferox L.) contain higher concentration of phenolics, flavonoids, minerals and antioxidants, and exhibit lower Glycemic Index (GI) in human subjects – [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357900523_Roasted_fox_nuts_Euryale_Ferox_L_contain_higher_concentration_of_phenolics_flavonoids_minerals_and_antioxidants_and_exhibit_lower_Glycemic_Index_GI_in_human_subjects]
Revisiting an Old Friend: The Gastrointestinal Benefits of Regular Popcorn Consumption – [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361180668_Revisiting_an_Old_Friend_The_Gastrointestinal_Benefits_of_Regular_Popcorn_Consumption]
Role of poultry meat in a balanced diet aimed at maintaining health and wellbeing: an Italian consensus document – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4462824/]
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away”: The potentials of apple bioactive constituents for chronic disease prevention – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9321083/]