Are you worried about your toddler’s fussy eating habits? Try not to panic, as it’s very common. According to Baby Centre: ‘Fussy eating is simply a phase that most toddlers go through, usually in their second year. Fear of eating new foods is called food neophobia, which humans developed as they evolved. It’s an instinctive defence against eating potentially unsafe or dangerous foods. Many toddlers display mild food neophobia from time to time. In fact, it can be reassuring to know that this instinctive fear stops your toddler from eating anything and everything he comes across!’
The NHS website lists some tips for coping with fussy eaters:
- ‘The best way for your child to learn to eat and enjoy new foods is to copy you. Try to eat with them as often as you can.
- Give small portions and praise your child for eating, even if they only eat a little.
- If your child rejects the food, do not force them to eat it. Just take the food away without saying anything. Try to stay calm, even if it’s very frustrating. Try the food again another time.
- Your child may be a slow eater, so be patient.
- Do not give your child too many snacks between meals – 2 healthy snacks a day is plenty.
- Do not use food as a reward. Your child may start to think of sweets as nice and vegetables as nasty. Instead, reward them with a trip to the park or promise to play a game with them.
- Changing how you serve a food may make it more appealing. For example, your child might refuse cooked carrots but enjoy raw grated carrots.’
Despite being told not to worry, what you probably do want to know is what to offer your child to eat, without it being thrown on the floor. We’ve put together a list of 30 healthy finger foods for your toddler to snack on. They’re suitable for almost all toddlers – even the fussy ones!
1. Vegetable crisps
An alternative to the greasy and salty regular potato crisps, vegetable crisps are a crunchy and tasty snack packed full of vitamins and goodness. You can roast anything from carrots to parsnips and beetroot. This Tesco recipe for making homemade baked vegetable crisps is super easy.
2. Apple slices with creamy peanut butter
If you’re having trouble getting your little ones to eat apples – try dipping some slices in creamy peanut butter. It’s a delicious combo.
3. Crudités with hummus
Sliced carrots, peppers and cucumber are easy for little ones to grab and colourful to look at too. They’re likely to enjoy the action of dipping them into the hummus.
4. Cheese and pineapple cubes
A classic canapé without the dangerous toothpick stick!
5. Homemade chicken nuggets
Skip the processed option and make your own tasty nuggets. Use chunks of chicken breast, egg, flour and breadcrumbs and either shallow pan fry, or bake with a light coat of oil spray. Serve with colourful dips.
6. Meatballs
Easy to grab and packed with protein, try mixing both beef mince and pork mince with some mild herbs and serve with their favourite dip.
7. Pasta with cream cheese and broccoli florets
Mix pasta with Philadelphia and add broccoli florets for easy finger food that’s creamy and filling.
8. Dippy eggs and soldiers
A childhood classic, eggs have great nutritional value and taste delicious when softly boiled and served with buttered toast ‘soldiers’.
9. Pinwheel wraps
Fill a wrap with your toddler’s favourite foods, such as ham, cheese and tomato, then roll the wrap and cut it into small pinwheels.
10. Frittata
A great way to hide veggies. Fill a frittata with tomatoes, mushrooms, mixed peppers and cheese. Cut into bite-sized chunks.
11. Homemade cod fish fingers
Delicious served with mushy peas or baked beans, homemade cod fish fingers are a great source of vitamin B12.
12. Watermelon fruit lollies
Stick a lollipop stick into some slices of fresh watermelon for a refreshing snack.
13. Grilled canned pineapple rings
Lightly grill pineapple rings for a sweet treat.
14. Pitta bread slices with smashed avocado
Lightly toast some pitta bread and cut it into small dipping fingers. Mash up some avocado with a little olive oil and seasoning for a quick guacamole dip.
15. Fresh sliced berries with natural or Greek yoghurt
Add a little honey and ground cinnamon for sweetness.
16. Oatcakes with cheese and tomato slices
The blend of textures will hopefully be a hit with your inquisitive toddler.
17. Rice cakes with cream cheese and cucumber slices
Creamy, cool and crunchy.
18. Boiled egg and cocktail sausages
Cut them up for easy pickings.
19. Mini muffin pizzas
Top an English muffin with some tomato sauce, cheese and veggies to make a face. Pop them under the grill for a few minutes. Your toddler can even help assemble the face – they love to get involved.
2o. Sweet potato chips
Baked until sweet and crispy, these are great for dipping into tomato ketchup.
21. Edamame
Pop the peas out of their cases first.
22. Nut butter on wholemeal toast with banana slices
Deliciously creamy and sweet.
23. Dried fruits and raisins
Sweet and mess-free.
24. Homemade sticky rice
Here’s how to make jasmine sticky rice. Serve with cooked chicken breast chunks.
25. Cheesy omelette
Cut into small chunks and serve with sliced cherry tomatoes.
26. Cooked prawns with avocado chunks
Lightly season and serve with colourful dips.
27. Apple and cinnamon muffins
Gluten-free, these tasty muffins are made with coconut flour.
28. Roasted carrots and parsnips
Slice them thinly and cook with a little honey.
29. Homemade tater tots
Incredibly moreish, these are great for dipping. Click here for the recipe.
30. Cheesy cauliflower patties
Mashed cauliflower mixed with cheese and fried golden makes a lovely hash-brown style snack that’s great for dipping. Click here for the easy recipe.
There you have it, 30 healthy finger food snacks for toddlers to chomp away on. We hope you found these useful and have discovered a new idea, or something that your little one loves. Remember, fussy eating tends to just be a phase and is usually nothing to worry about. Keep trying new things and try not to lose hope. If you don’t like to see food going to waste, you can always finish off your tasty creations yourself. Just like Carrie Underwood @carrieunderwood said: ‘It just occurred to me that the majority of my diet is made up of the foods that my kid didn’t finish.’ We hear ya, Carrie!