Finger Food Fun

Finger foods should be offered at 7-9 months. Letting baby have finger foods to self-feed is frightening, but it essential for baby to learn. Use the following tips as guide for starting to offer finger foods.

Some babies are eager to feed themselves, while others are content to still be spoonfed. The palmer grasp comes first and allows babies to pick up things with and hold things in the palms of their hands. Long crackers and strips of toast are appropriate. When the pincer grasp is developed, babies enjoy using their thumbs and first two fingers to pick up small pieces of food. Some prefer soft and slippery to hard and crunchy. To improve intake and eating skill, introdice foods that can be self-fed:

• Teething biscuits with smooth edges
• Bite-sized pieces of soft, cooked vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, or frozen peas
• Partially frozen peas (crunchy and cold is pleasant on teething gums)
• Bits of soft fruit peeled and cut in tiny pieces: banana, peach, pear, apricot, watermelon
• Finger jello
• Pieces of dry cereal
• Goldfish, Ritz, or graham crackers
• Bit-sized bits of soft wheat bread or pita
• Scrambled or hardboiled egg
• Cooked pasta
• Shredded or ground meat: lamb, chicken, turkey, beef/hamburger

By baby’s first birthday, she will usually be enjoying three meals and two snacks a day and be able to eat in small pieces nearly whatever the family is having.

Use the following recipe to start introducing finger foods to baby. Let the fun begin!

·         Wrap a few soft, pita bread triangles in foil and warm in the oven. Spread hummus or guacamole on the pita slices. Serve with thinly sliced, peeled, apples.

More information can be found in Nurturing with Nutrition by Melanie Bazarte and Lucille Beseler. If you would like to purchase a copy of the book or speak to a nutrition professional, please call the Family Nutrition Center of South Florida at 954-360-7883 or visit nutritionandfamily.com.

Picky Eater Solutions

A picky eater tries parental patience with strange, frustrating, and often worrisome eating habits. Feeding challenges most often begin when a child is between 1 and 2 years old. Toddlers become picky for several reasons: change in appetite, urge for power and independence, wary about new foods and change in food preferences. As stressful and frustrating a picky eater may be, it is important that parents model good eating habits and continue to reinforce healthy food choices. The following strategies can help parents cope with a picky eater and ensure the child is receiving the necessary nutrients.

Introduce new foods slowly and positively

The most efficient way to introduce a new food is to offer it when the child is hungry. Parents should taste the food with the child to prevent any anxiety and make the experience fun. If the child rejects the food, don’t give up. It takes up to 10 interactions with a food for the child to determine he does not like it.

Involve the toddler in food selection and preparation

Allow the child to select one new food to try that week. Make grocery shopping a sensory experience. Let the child touch, smell and select the food. In the kitchen, have the child help wash and prepare the food item. When children are more involved, they are more likely to want to eat the food.

Eliminate mealtime distractions

All members of the family should sit at the table and enjoy the meal together, free of distractions. Turn the TV off, clear the table of clutter and suggest individuals sit at designated spots at the table to create a routine and sense of familiarity. Do not make food the topic of discussion, instead focus on each other.

Serve fun, finger foods

A child’s interest can be stimulated by making meal time fun! Some ideas include cutting food into cute shapes, using fun utensils, allowing the child to create a shape or decorate the plate with small pieces of food. Let the child experiment with various textures like crunchy, smooth, chewy and crispy foods. Be sure the foods are small enough for the child to pick up with his fingers or a utensil. The more a child associates food with excitement and curiosity, the more likely he will be to expand his palate.

Use dips and dressings

Children love dipping foods into sauces. Examples include carrots with ranch, apples with peanut butter, or strawberries with yogurt. Place the dip into small containers to make dipping easier and less messy.

More information can be found in Nurturing with Nutrition by Melanie Bazarte and Lucille Beseler. If you would like to purchase a copy of the book or speak to a nutrition professional, please call the Family Nutrition Center of South Florida at 954-360-7883 or visit nutritionandfamily.com.