I know for my household, my kiddos LOVE to have their food as a “grab and go” rather than sit, cut up the food, and slowly eat your meal. They want to eat their meal and get back to playing as soon as possible. Finger foods are great for this situation and I have MANY ideas to help you with this exact type of child. But first, we’ve got to talk about some important tips and advice for giving toddlers finger food:
Tips for Feeding Finger Foods to Toddlers
- Shape matters: Although I love to encourage spoons and forks from an early age, to keep your sanity, you’ll want to have your toddler feeding themself as often as possible. That means giving them their food in a stick or diced up so they can easily pick it up with their fingers. Keep in mind that the diced pieces shouldn’t be too large to choke on or too small that it can’t be picked up. Talk to your child’s doctor about their recommendations if you’re not sure what your child can handle.
- Promote Independence: Encourage your child to feed themself and avoid forcing in bites. Toddlers are notorious for not eating consistently. They may eat well at one meal and then terrible over the next 4. As hard as it is on your Mama heart, know that it’s normal.
- Avoid Choking Hazards: My toddlers always want popcorn when they see someone eating it, but it’s a big choking hazard. So are whole hot dogs, whole grapes, lettuce, raw vegetables, whole nuts, and large clumps of nut butter. Pass on offering these foods for a couple of more years.
- Stay Strapped in: If toddlers could have their way, they’d love to just eat on the go (aka graze). But, this sets the stage for bad eating habits that are hard to break and it also increases the risk of choking. Keeping them in a high chair or strapped booster seat is the best bet.
- Have fun: I know, it sounds cliche, and mealtimes with toddlers can be like the wild wild west with full-blown meltdowns and food being whipped across the room. But, this time will pass and many toddlers can and do love to eat. Encourage them to explore and even play with their food!
Tons of Finger Foods for Toddlers to Gobble Up!
Toddlers can self feed all of the foods that you find on this list, that’s the beauty of finger foods. Of course, at this age, stay close by, monitoring how well they’re chewing or if they’re shoving way too much in their mouth. I’ve included a ton of ideas and there’s often an option for homemade or store-bought, depending on what you prefer:
Quesadilla (Fold a tortilla shell over in your skillet with some cheese, diced peppers, and shredded meat inside)
Waffle (Cut into strips)
Diced Cheese (think Cheddar, Mozzarella, or Monterrey Jack)
Chicken Nuggets
Pizza Muffin (Spread cheese and sauce on an English muffin and put in the broiler for a few minutes until warm. Cut into squares.)
Meatballs (try with ground chicken and turkey too)
Fish Sticks
Broccoli Tots
Meatloaf
French Fries
Buttered Macaroni Noodles (leave them plain if your child can’t pick them up)
French Toast Sticks
Healthy Finger Foods for Toddlers
Everyone’s definition of healthy is different, but this specific list of healthy finger foods is all about whole fresh foods. You’ll find lots of fruits and vegetables here, but also some healthy recipes that take only a little effort:
Sweet Potato Fries (or other root vegetables like parsnips and beets)
Pancakes
Fish Cakes (These are brilliant! A great way to get fish into your toddler)
Whole Wheat Crackers (Even the popular Goldfish crackers have a whole wheat variety)
Frozen Yogurt Dots (Spoon drops of yogurt onto a baking sheet and freeze.)
Peas (Serve them warm or cold! My kids LOVE frozen peas!)
Diced Cooked Apples
Hard Boiled Egg
Beans (Rinsed straight from a can works great)
Mango
Strawberries
Watermelon Sticks
Green Beans
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cantaloupe/Honeydew/Other Melons
Sliced Banana (roll them in crushed puffs or cheerios if they can’t pick it up)
Kiwi
Papaya
Diced Tomato
Diced Cooked Carrot
Diced Butternut Squash
Zucchini Sticks
Diced Grapes
Pear slices
Soft Pita Pockets with Hummus (spread hummus inside and serve this diced or in strips)
Cucumbers
Easy Finger Foods for Toddlers
Easy is all about the store-bought, and while I love healthy, there’s no judgment. Sometimes we need quick. And, all of these foods are available with “healthier” ingredients:
Cheese Curls (Look for natural or toddler varieties to skip the artificial food coloring)
Soft Pretzel Bites
Fruit/Cereal Bar (similar to a granola bar but filled with a fruit puree)
Pepperoni (some toddlers like a little bit of pepper)
Bacon Crumbles (make sure it’s thin bacon and is crispy)
Diced Hot Dogs (hot dogs can be safe if they are diced into quarters)
No Hull Popcorn (similar to a cheese curl and not a choking hazard)
Hash Brown Patties (I like to cook these in the oven a little long so they have a little crisp to them and are easier to hold)
While that’s a list of over 50 different finger foods for toddlers, know that even though your eating does change with kids around the table, you don’t have to sacrifice the foods you love – even if your kid isn’t ready for them. Think about having a few finger foods at your meals with a side dish that you love. Before you know it, they’ll be eating everything right along with you.
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