What foods are suitable for babies to have as finger food?
8.5 months ago I had my little girl who has been the greatest blessing. I have been lucky to be able to have time off with her and I am currently only working part time. Being a dietitian has definitely made the whole process easier especially when it came to weaning my child. Each child is different and responds differently but I have tried to introduce as much variety as possible into my daughters diet from early on. The first 1000 days of a child life ( including the nine months in utero) are the most crucial in developing healthy eating habits and establishing good nutrition.
I am now at the stage where I am trying to include finger foods and so her evening meal every night is only finger foods ( this is a really messy affair that tests my somewhat A type personality)
Moms often find it hard to come up with different finger food ideas but actually as long as the foods are cooked really well, there aren't too many foods that a child cant have.
Here are some ideas for you that I use for my 9 month old who still has no teeth:
Starchy foods:
Toast with avo, cream cheese, brovil or hummus
French toast
Pasta e.g macaroni or spagetti
Meat
Strips of cooked chicken or fish
Small cooked meatballs
Non salted biltong strips
Fish cakes
Fruit and Veg
Pieces of ripe fruit: kiwi , mango, banana or even watermelon ( no pips) Cooked apple or pear pieces , even grated apple Pieces of cooked vegetables: carrot, cauliflower, broccoli
Pieces of cooked starchy veg: butternut and sweet potato
Seedless grapes, cut in half
Dried fruit strips e.g mango
Dairy:
Cream cheese: e.g laughing cow or kiri cheese squares Grated cheese
Eggs
Boiled eggs
Egg muffins: I make mine using egg yolk, some of her milk, carrot, mushroom and coriander
Fats:
Slices of avocado