What should I consider for snacks for toddlers & babies?
Easy to hold: So that your child can easily hold their food themselves, you should always cut finger food into appropriately sized pieces.
No nuts: Almonds or walnuts do contain healthy fats, but they also have substances that small children can hardly digest and that may cause stomach aches. In addition, they are hard and difficult to chew.
Soft: Even babies can, after a few months of breastfeeding, slowly be introduced to complementary foods — not just purees. So that they can break down food without teeth, everything should have a soft consistency.
Large enough: The fine motor skills of babies and toddlers are not yet so developed. For this reason, finger food that is easy to grasp and hold is best.
Avoid round foods: Round foods with a smooth surface such as grapes, olives, or cherry tomatoes are not suitable as finger food for young babies, because there is a high risk that they will be swallowed.
Not without supervision: Finger food should help your baby slowly learn to eat independently. Nevertheless, you should always be present so you can intervene immediately if your child chokes.\r
What is suitable as finger food for babies and toddlers?
Rusks & rice cakes: They soak well with saliva and are then sucked on.
Cucumber: Peeled and cut into easy-to-hold pieces, cucumbers are tasty and refreshing.
Melon: Without seeds, the sweet fruit is a finger-food hit in summer.
Pumpkin: Especially Hokkaido pumpkin can also be steamed well with the skin on. Its bright color and slightly sweet taste make it particularly popular with children.
Bread: Without crust, your child can happily suck and taste. Spelt, rye, or mixed breads are better and more nutrient-rich than white bread.
Bananas: The classic of finger food. They are soft, sweet and delicious and fit perfectly in little hands.
Pasta: Soft-cooked and only lightly seasoned, pasta in its various forms is a very popular snack that is easy and quick to prepare.
Carrot: The colorful and slightly sweet vegetable is best cooked or steamed.
Avocado: The healthy fats and nutrients in avocado promote your child's growth. Additionally, the soft texture feels especially pleasant on toothless gums.
Pear: Sweet and soft are qualities that babies and toddlers appreciate. At first, you can peel or lightly steam the pear so that it's easier to digest.
Cheese: As a savory finger food, you can offer your child cheese cubes from about the 8th month. However, please only offer cheese made from pasteurized milk.
Delicious snack recipes for babies and toddlers
Waffles without sugar
35g butter
2 eggs
200g quark
100g spelt flour
2 tbsp oats
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and cook the batter in a waffle iron. The soft waffles have an interesting shape thanks to the honeycomb pattern and can be easily held by little fingers.
Banana cookies
1-2 ripe bananas
Oats as needed
Preheat the oven to 170 °C. Mash the ripe bananas with a fork until a liquid mixture forms. Then gradually mix oats into the banana mixture to form a dough. It should not be too runny so that the cookies have a good consistency after baking. Use a tablespoon to portion the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 12-15 minutes.
Couscous balls
6 tbsp couscous
Double the amount of water
A splash of lemon juice
Fruit or vegetables of your choice, for example zucchini, carrots or apple.
Bring the couscous and water to a boil until all the liquid is absorbed. Then let the mixture cool briefly. Add a splash of lemon juice and knead well with your fingers. Grate fruit or vegetables with a kitchen grater and add to the couscous. Shape small balls from the mixture and, if desired, fry them.
Small meatballs
250g minced meat, preferably beef
4 tbsp breadcrumbs
150 g low-fat quark
1 egg
1 tsp mustard
A pinch of salt and pepper
A little rapeseed oil for frying
Mix all ingredients well together and form into small meatballs. Fry them in a little oil and let them cool on a paper towel. Take care not to season the meatballs too strongly.
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Image credits
Children's hands reach for cucumbers, banana, noodles on a wooden plate © LaMantarraya - stock.adobe.com
Woman holds a plate of Belgian waffles in her hands © Anikonaann - stock.adobe.com Banana cookies © kikisora - stock.adobe.com
Cooked couscous with coriander in a ceramic bowl on a concrete background © nesavinov - stock.adobe.com
Homemade meat patties on a ceramic plate © ffphoto - stock.adobe.com