Finger foods are served in a style and form that can be eaten using fingers. Most parents struggle when dealing with fussy eaters, and nothing they do makes the children like the food. However, these tasty and easy finger foods can work the magic for you.
Parents are advised to teach healthy eating habits to their kids from an early age, and the article below will discuss the best finger foods for baby.
1. Vegetables and Fruits
Raspberries, blueberries, and halved strawberries are perfect for children to enhance their pincer grasp. Steam, peel, or cut these vegetables into tiny chunks to ensure they are safe for the child. It will also help to peel whole fruits like pears.
For example, avocados are rich in unsaturated fats that are essential for the brain. Avocado is mild and creamy, and you can use lime or lemon to brighten its flavor.
2. Beans
Kidney beans, black beans, and chickpeas are excellent sources of protein and fiber, crucial nutrients that aid brain development. Sodium-free and BPA beans like Eden organic are other terrific options if you lack enough cooking time.
However, you should ensure you rinse the canned beans before feeding them to the child for the best results.
3. Nuts
Nuts are rich in nutrients that have a considerable role in promoting healthy metabolism, which is essential for children. Nuts are a great source of vitamin E, proteins, and fatty acids needed for the child’s development.
It is also possible to incorporate nuts into your child’s diet by powdering or crushing them into small pieces before mixing them with specific foods for better ingestion. This powder can also be included in other recipes for thickening, thus increasing the nutritional value.
However, it would help if you looked out for allergic reactions because the chances of cross-reactiveness increase when you introduce an array of foods to the infant.
4 .Meat
Meat is an excellent protein source and has other essential nutrients like iron and zinc. You can begin by feeding the child turkey, red meat, or chicken. Also, pick boneless options because they are easy to digest and eat for the child.
5. Eggs
Eggs entail minerals like vitamins and iron, boast the best biological value, and have all the essential amino acids. Eggs also boast bioactive elements like lutein that help children fight diseases.
Advantages of Finger Foods to Children
Finger foods have many benefits to children besides improving their immune system. Below we discuss the top benefits of finger foods for children;
- New Food Exposure
Finger foods provide an excellent opportunity for children to try new foods. Parents use strategies and tricks to achieve that, resulting in long-term success.
- It Develops Food Tastes
Research has shown that the food a child takes at a young age significantly impacts their future preferences. It will help to use the child’s curiosity to give them healthy finger foods.
Final Thoughts
Finger foods are served in a form where children can eat with their hands. They include eggs, beans, and meat. Kindly reach out for more information.