Easy Finger Foods For Toddlers

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Does your toddler love to feed themselves?  Finger Foods For Toddlers are perfect for encouraging independence in your toddler.  It’s also a good way to get a variety of food into their diets.

It probably isn’t hard to convince your toddler to feed themselves – it’s probably something they actually love doing. 

During 18 months-3 years is when toddlers start to want to do everything on their own and gain their independence.  I really try to encourage my 2-year-old twins to do things on their own or attempt when it’s appropriate.  It’s a normal part of child development and should be encouraged – when it’s safe, of course! 

That’s why finger foods for toddlers are so wonderful.  It’s something they can feed themselves and feel successful with – since they can get some in their mouth (a lot will end up on the floor though).   

Forks and spoons can be a bit frustrating in the beginning – although my twins have always loved using utensils. Utensils are great to introduce early on to start gaining those fine motor skills and learn how to use them.  I usually always offer utensils with all meals for my twins – and let them decide how they want to eat their food.

Finger foods are usually easy to prepare, too!

Finger foods are basically food your child can pick up without the use of utensils.  A lot of foods can go into this category of finger foods, but I’ve compiled a list of mostly whole (unprocessed) healthy finger foods your toddler can eat.  These ideas are fairly quick and easy to prepare.  I’ve fed all my kids these finger foods and they love them – I hope your toddler will enjoy them, too!

Finger foods are great for when your toddler is learning to eat, and were perfect for my twins starting around 7-8 months – and they still eat them at 2-years-old.  I started giving them very soft finger foods when they were younger, but as they are getting older I am slowly introducing more.  Always ask your pediatrician first what foods your toddler is ready for. 

 By giving my twins finger foods they were able to successfully feed themselves! It’s hard trying to feed two babies at once – so finger foods are perfect for us.

All of these easy finger foods for toddlers are do-able, things you can whip up quick, and healthy!

Easy Toddler Finger Food Idea – Sliced and rinsed olives, thinly sliced pears, and shredded cheese

Fruit:

• Sliced Grapes (sliced in quarters)

• Freeze Dried Yogurt Melts – We like Amara Organic brand.  They are plant-based with fruit and have no added sugar!

• Pears – make sure they are soft and sliced thin

• Apples – I steamed these when my twins were younger, but now I slice very thin and peel without steaming

• Banana – Can give with the peel on and it’s easy to hold.  My twins like eating bananas this way.

• Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Honeydew – sliced small, make sure they are soft

• Berries – Blueberries (smash if larger), Sliced Strawberries, Raspberries

• Peaches -I remove the skin and slice small

• Clementines or Mandarines 

• Pumpkin – I use frozen and steam it

• Raisins – I gave this when my toddlers had back teeth

• Prunes – broken up/sliced up small-make sure they are soft

• Dates – chopped small (for toddlers with back teeth)

• Avocado

• Olives sliced small (drain first to rinse some salt off or soak for a bit) – Olives have good fat

• Cherries – pitted and sliced

• Mango 

• Pineapple

• Plum – Remove skin and chop small

• Kiwi

• Unsweetened Shredded Coconut Chips

Related:  Quick and Healthy Toddler Breakfast Ideas

Easy Toddler Finger Food Idea – Great Northern Beans (canned), Steamed Pumpkin (frozen, pre-chopped), 1/4 sliced Banana

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Vegetables:

• Baked Potato sliced in small pieces, skin removed (cooked well and very soft)

• Sweed Potato – steamed with skin removed

• Yams – steamed with skin removed

• Squash (butternut, acorn, spaghetti squash) – steamed and cut up small

• Peas

• Green beans – steamed

• Broccoli florets – steamed and small pieces

• Carrots – cooked and very soft

• Cucumbers peeled and sliced

• Corn Kernels

• Sliced Sweet Mini Bell Peppers 

• Zucchini – steamed

• Cauliflower – steamed

• Seaweed (My twins eat this kind)

Dairy

• Cheese slices, shredded cheese, cheese sticks – cut into small pieces

Related:  Toddler Dinner Ideas The Whole Family Can Eat

Easy Toddler Finger Food Idea – Shredded string cheese, avocado, hard-boiled egg

Grains:

• Mini Muffin Tin Dutch Babies or mini muffins – my toddler love these avocado muffins

• Whole grain or whole wheat crackers

• Bread with butter (or nut butters spread thin) cut up into small pieces.  I like to use whole wheat or hemp bread (or use an alternative like gluten-free, etc.).  Or other spreads such as hummus or avocado smashed up.

• Peanut Butter Balls

• Cereal (preferably no or low sugar)

• Baby Puffs

• Mini Pancake Muffins

• Flourless Banana and Oat Muffins

• Cooked Rice – brown or wild is what I prefer for my twins 

• Cooked Pasta – I like to use whole wheat.  You can add butter or sauce for more flavor.

• Quinoa – I like to add butter or avocado oil to this.

Meat/Meat Alternative/Protein:

• Shredded turkey, chicken, or ham

• Ground Beef or ground turkey (ground up very small)

• Deli Meat (sliced up) – I like to use uncured deli meat with no nitrates or nitrites added and minimally processed 

• Tofu

• Eggs – Scrambled, Hard-Boiled egg sliced up, or fried sliced up

• Fish – salmon, cod, etc.  Just shred so it’s small or slice it up small

Beans/Legumes/Seeds:

• Black Beans

• White Northern Beans

• Cannellini Beans

• Pinto Beans

• Lentils

• Sunflower seeds (for a toddler with back teeth)

Finger Food Idea: Whole wheat bread with organic Valencia peanut butter and a thin layer of homemade jam, frozen wild blueberries (let thaw a bit to make softer), sliced cheddar cheese

I typically feed finger foods for something quick when my boys need a snack.  Sometimes I’ll just serve one finger food, and sometimes they’ll try 4-5 things at a time.  If you want to know how I get my toddlers to eat so many vegetables and like them, read this.

Finger foods are great for trying new foods.  Start with a very small amount of a few things and see if your toddler tries them all.

You never know what your toddler will eat and like from trying such a variety of foods.

Looking for More Toddler Food Ideas?  Try These!

Toddler To-Go Snack Ideas

What My Twins Ate for Lunch This Week