Finger Foods For Toddlers

Finger foods for toddlers are great to have because toddlers want to feed themselves and they can! Toddler love to try to use a spoon too and it sure might be messy but if you don't try, you don't learn...Toddler finger foods are handy to have as a snack or as a meal and it gives your child the opportunity to grab something and eat it easily.

Here we've listed the easiest finger foods such as fruit and veg and then a few recipes too that you can prepare and let your toddler dip into over tea time or snack time. They're also great if you're on the move or having a play in the park.

Finger Foods For Toddlers: Fruit

Simply peel and cut any of the fruits below. If you have an older toddler who is used to chewing then you may be able to leave the skin on. You may need to chop the grapes and cherries in quarters otherwise they could be a choking hazard. Always be with your child when he eats in case he chokes.

• Apple
• Banana
• Melon
• Cherries (no stones)
• Grapes (peeled might be necessary)
• Kiwi
• Mango
• Papaya
• Peach
• Pear
• Strawberries
• Nectarines

Finger Foods For Toddlers: Vegetables

Carrots and cucumbers are great on the move. With the other vegetables below simply peel, cut into little fingers and steam or boil until tender and then allow to cool.

• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Brussel sprouts
• Broad beans
• Courgettes
• Parsnips
• Sweet potato
• Potato
• Peas
• Pumpkin
• Baby corns

Here's a few great recipes for toddler finger foods. Other ideas are mini pizzas, healthy spring rolls, mini pancakes, mini wraps, quiches, samosas, etc.

Finger Foods For Toddlers: Oven baked vegetable wedges

Easy to prepare and easy to cook - and so much tastier than take away fries!

Oven: 200C, 400F, Gas Mark 6

Choose a selection of the following:

1. Preheat the oven
2. Peel of scrub the veg.
3. Cut the vegetables into chunky wedges.
4. Put the vegetables in a bowl and add a little olive oil and a little seasoning (herbs or a little pepper).
5. Turn the vegetables in the bowl so that they become very thinly coated with the oil.
6. Place on a baking tray in a single layer.
7. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes (until tender).
8. Leave to cook and enjoy!

Optional Dips:
Whilst the wedges you could mix up a cream cheese dip ( simply mix around 100g cream cheese, 1tsp of tomato sauce or ketchup, 1tsp of milk and 1tsp of chopped chives) or have some hummous or guacamole to hand.

Finger Foods For Toddlers: Cheese Straws

Great to have at home or on the move. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week and can also be frozen.

Oven: 200C,400F,Gas Mark 6

100g/4oz of plain or wholemeal flour
50g/2oz of unsalted butter choppped into small pieces
75g/3oz of cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg, beaten
A little for dusting
A little butter for greasing a baking tray

1. Preheat the oven and select a mixing bowl and baking tray.
2. Grease the baking tray.
3. Dust an area with flour and dust a rolling pin, ready for the dough.
4. Prepare the other ingredients.
5. Put the flour and butter in the bowl and mix with your fingertips to make crumbs.
6. Add the cheese and the egg and stir to make a dough.
7. Put the dough on the floured surface and roll out to a thickness of 1cm/one third of an inch and cut into fingers.(Alternatively, you can make little sausages).
8. Place on the baking tray.
9. Pop in the center of the oven for about 10 minutes.
10. Put the straws on a cooling or wire rack and leave to cool.

Finger Foods For Toddlers: Filo Pastry Presents

These are really easy to make and you can make it into a game to see what's in the parcel! You can vary the fillings with different cheeses, meats, tuna or mackeral. You can store them in the fridge for up to 2 days.

2 sheets filo pastry
25g/1oz melted butter

(You can vary the fillings - here are just two)
Spinach and Ricotta cheese
100g/4oz of fresh or frozen spinach
100g/4oz ricotta cheese
a little butter

Red Pepper and feta filling
Half a red pepper, finely chopped
65g/2.5oz feta cheese, finely chopped
1 tbsp olive oil

1. Grease a baking tray
2. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas Mark 5

For the Spinach filling
1. Wash the spinach, and still wet, place the spinach in a pan.
2. Cook gently until wilted (it'll only take a minute or two)
3. Put the spinach in a sieve and squash it to get rid of the excess moisture.
4. Empty any liquid from the pan.
5. Put a little butter in the pan and add the cooked spinach and ricotta.
6. Stir together.

For the Red Pepper filling
1. Gently heat the oil in a pan.
2. Add the pepper and cook for a few minutes until it's softened.
3. Turn the heat off.
4. Add the feta and mix well.

Then for both fillings:
1. Cut each filo piece into four equal rectangles.
2. Cut a quarter of each mixture into the middle of each rectangle.
3. Fold the corners up to the centre and twist or pinch together to close the present.
(Or you could make them into sausage presents, with the tops and ends folded and pinched together).
4. Put them on the baking tray and brush with a little melted butter.
5. Pop in the oven for 10 mins until they are lightly browned and crisp.
6. Leave them to cool.
7. Serve warm

Finger foods for toddlers are tasty and fun to make. Encourage your toddler to join in making them too as they will enjoy feeling the different textures and being able to stir their own little pan or bowl. Letting them join in the cooking will encourage also a sense of fun and interest in cooking and food which they will hopefully take with them into their older years.