According to the Cambridge English dictionary, finger foods are foods only eaten with your fingers instead of cutlery. Since this is how toddlers consume food when they’re seven or eight months old, finger foods for toddlers can help them develop independent eating habits. However, before offering them any finger foods, you should find out which finger foods toddlers can eat. Moreover, along with the taste of the food, you should examine the nutritional value. Read this post to learn about some nutritious and simple toddler finger food recipes you could make for your little ones for each mealtime.
What Are Some Popular Finger Food Ideas For Toddlers?
Toddlers can eat solid foods that they are not allergic to. Here are some finger food ideas (from various food groups) that would suit your toddlers’ palate. You can combine the above foods in several ways to make exciting toddler finger foods. Let’s take a look at a few of them. Note: Be cautious of allergic reactions as the chances of cross-reactivities increase when an array of foods are introduced to the baby (8). Also, introduce only one new food at a time.
21 Toddler Finger Food Recipes
We have divided the toddler finger food recipes into five categories, so that they are suitable for all the meals of the day.
Breakfast Finger Foods For Toddlers
1. Oats and Apple Pancake with Yogurt
Pancakes are soft and have an easy to chew texture, which makes them an ideal choice of finger food for breakfast. Adding fruit and yogurt to this recipe can increase its nutritional value. You will need:
1-1.5 cup whole wheat flour 3/4 cup rolled oats 1/4 cup finely chopped almonds 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (coarsely powdered) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 whole egg 2 cups fresh buttermilk 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey (optional) 1-2 tablespoons virgin olive oil 1 apple (peeled and sliced) Whole fat yogurt (as serving)
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2. Cereal and nut bites
A healthy mix of cereal and nuts with the sweetness of dates makes this dish a delightful breakfast finger food for the toddler. You will need:
1/2 cup peanut butter 1 cup oat cereal 1/3 cup chopped almonds 1 cup seedless dates
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3. Honey toast sandwich
Honey in combination with toasted whole wheat bread makes a delicious mix, thanks to the naturally sweet flavor of honey. Note: Do not give honey to children below the age of one year (9). You will need:
4-5 slices of whole wheat bread 1/2 cup honey
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4. Oats and bananas muffin
It is a fiber-rich muffin made from oats and bananas. You will need:
2 chopped bananas 1 cup oats 2 eggs 1 cup cottage cheese 1 tablespoon honey 1/2 cup sliced blueberries 1/2 to 1 cup cow’s milk (optional)
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5. Scrambled eggs with vegetables
A scrambled egg makes an ideal finger food for toddlers as it is easy to make, and have too! You can bump up its nutritional value by adding crumbs of whole wheat bread. You will need:
4-5 eggs Finely chopped vegetables 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
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Lunchtime Finger Foods For Toddlers
6. Rice and chicken nugget
A chicken recipe for toddlers with the goodness of rice makes it an ideal Indian-style toddler finger food that can be served for lunch. You will need:
2 cups sliced boneless chicken 3-4 cups of rice flour 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
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7. Potato and peas cutlet
This vegetarian finger food recipe for toddlers is easy to prepare and convenient to carry for outdoor activities such as camping or a road trip. You will need:
3-4 cup peas, boiled and mashed 1 large potato, boiled Salt to taste ¼ cup cornflour or chickpea flour 1 cup breadcrumbs 2 tablespoon vegetable oil Water
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8. Mashed potato rolls
Wheat and potatoes make this recipe nutritious. The rich carbohydrate content makes it an ideal finger food for active toddlers in daycare, where they indulge in a lot of outdoor play that demands extra energy. You will need:
2 cups diced potatoes 4-5 cups of wheat flour 6-7 cups of water 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
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9. Spinach, cheese, and rice rolls
Spinach, cheese, and rice, all rolled up together in this delicious finger food suitable for toddler’s lunchtime is packed with nutrition. You will need:
2 cups of finely chopped spinach 1 cup grated cheese 4-5 cups of rice flour 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
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10. Meat and wheat balls
This is a protein-rich finger food with the added nourishment of wheat. You will need:
4 cups minced meat (mutton) 3-4 cups whole wheat flour 5-6 cups of water 3 tablespoon oil
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Evening Snack Finger Foods For Toddlers
11. Baked sweet potato sticks
If you are exploring ideas to make finger foods for a toddler’s birthday party, then check this recipe out. It is a simple dish for toddlers that you can prepare quickly and easily. It is sweet and nutritious too! You will need:
5-6 sweet potatoes 1/4 teaspoon salt
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12. Assorted fruit salad
This is perhaps the simplest toddler finger food idea to satisfy the preschooler’s hunger pangs in the evening. Since it is an all-fruit recipe, it provides nutrition too. You will need:
1 cup sliced apple 1 cup sliced pear 1 cup chopped banana 1 cup diced papaya 1 cup sliced orange 1 cup chopped strawberry 3 cups of water
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13. Egg and vegetable muffin
Combine the goodness of eggs with that of milk and vegetables in this delicious finger food snack for the toddler. You will need:
5 eggs 1 cup diced cauliflower 1 cup diced carrot 1 cup milk 1/2 cup grated cheese 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
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14. Baked apples with lime
This finger food dish is easy to prepare, yet healthy enough to be an evening snack for the toddler. You will need:
4-5 apples 2-3 tablespoons of lime juice 4-5 cups of water
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15. Minced chicken finger sandwiches
A simple sandwich recipe for toddlers, it is easy to prepare and has all the goodness of chicken and whole wheat bread. You will need:
5-6 slices of whole bread 3-4 cups of minced boneless chicken 2-3 teaspoons of vegetable oil 5-6 cups of water 1/3 tablespoon salt
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16. Cracker coated tofu
This is an easy finger food recipes for toddlers and can be prepared in a few minutes. You will need:
1 slab of firm tofu 3-4 whole wheat crackers A ziplock bag
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Dinner Finger Foods For Toddlers
17. Vegetable and rice momo
Momos are dumplings made from wheat and rice and filled either with vegetables or meat. It makes an excellent finger snack for toddlers owing to its soft and easy-to-chew consistency. You will need:
3 cups boiled of rice 4-5 cups wheat flour 1 cup diced carrots 1 cup finely-chopped beans 1 cup peas
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18. Baked cauliflower
Cauliflower is a good vegetarian finger food option. Make this in combination with wheat flour, corn, and garlic. You will need:
1 cup thin-sliced cauliflower pieces 1/2 cup refined wheat flour 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 cup corn flour 1 teaspoon garlic paste 1/3 teaspoon salt 2 cups of water 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
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19. Applesauce chicken loaf
A delicious chicken finger food that is filling and excellent for picky toddlers who would love to have something unique every time. You will need:
4 cups ground chicken 1 whole egg 1/2 cup pureed carrots 1/3 cup applesauce 1/3 cup wheat flour 1/4 cup bread crumbs 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon basil 1/2 teaspoon olive oil Water as per requirement
How to:
20. Broccoli and cheese cutlet
Cheese and broccoli make a great combination in this delicious veggie finger food recipe for the toddler. You will need:
2 cups finely chopped broccoli 1 cup toddler cereal 1 cup wheat flour 1.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese 2 eggs 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
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21. Carrot and wheat sticks
Blend carrot and wheat to make a nutritious dinnertime finger food for your preschooler. You will need:
1 cup long-sliced carrots 3 cups of wheat flour 4-5 cups of water 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
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