The Finest of Finger Foods

Oh finger foods, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways….

Finger foods sure are wonderful. They're quick and easy. They encourage your tot to work on that pincer grip, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, the art of chewing, and how to simply enjoy mealtime.

Most days, lunch is 100% hands on for Fry. It gives him that lovely feeling of independence and "I can do it!" that toddlers thrive on, and it gives me a chance to catch up on chores around the apartment. The nice thing about this age, is that it doesn't have to make sense either.

Today's finger food lunch, for example, is a bowl full of: peeled green apple, raw zucchini, peas, matchstick carrots, cooked tomato, cheddar cheese, ham, turkey, and white bread.

Is this my ideal lunch? Goodness, no! (I'm a bit compulsive, so the thought of all these things mingling and touching is kind of repulsive to me.) But that doesn't mean it's not great for Fry! It's just a pile of things he likes with a whole array of different flavors, textures, and colors that is as filling as it is healthy.

To add to the fun, every now and then I'll serve him his nibblies in a few different sized and shaped containers. It gives him the opportunity to play with his food in a mommy-approved fashion. Be prepared for a super messy floor though!

Toddler "Sushi Rolls"

Lunchtime is looming. The kiddos are already rolling their eyes at the thought of another sammich. What's a parent to do? Try this fun alternative! Toddler "Sushi Rolls" are easily customized to your child's particular tastes, and are really quick and easy to make.

Here's what you need:

Lunchmeat

Cheese

Veggies (optional)

Today, we're using turkey and ham with colby-jack cheese, cooked matchstick carrots, and pureed yellow squash and zucchini.

Simply lay out a slice of lunchmeat and add some shredded/grated cheese and your veggies (if any).

Now roll it all up!

Heat in the microwave for a few seconds to melt the cheese and warm everything up.

Slice, serve, and you're all done!

I served this up with some cucumber cubes and some whole grain white bread on the side. Now, baby boy loooves him some cheese. I was really expecting this to be a big hit. The verdict? FAIL. Fry used to adore his zucchini and yellow squash, but for some reason he hasn't been taking to it. I'll be damned if I'm gonna let this last batch of it go to waste though! I keep trying to sneak it into other meals, this being one of them. Sometimes it works, this time it didn't. Darn! Normally though, this meal clears plates.

"Nice try, Mom. I keep telling you I'm not eating that green mush crap though."