Finger Foods for Picky Toddlers

Cheese Shapes

• Small cookie cutters transform cheese into fun toddler finger food. Cut a block of cheese into slices or use pre-sliced cheese. Use cookie cutters to cut the cheese into child-friendly shapes for your toddler. Another option is to cut the cheese into little cubes and call them building blocks. Offer different varieties of cheese, starting with mild-flavored cheeses.

Boiled Eggs

• Boiled eggs offer a healthy finger food option for toddlers. Cut the boiled eggs in a variety of ways to appeal to toddlers. Try slicing the boiled eggs, cutting them into wedges or chopping them into bite-sized pieces. Serve them alone or on top of toast for a snack.

Fruits and Vegetables

• Toddlers often ignore vegetables, but parents should continue offering these nutritious foods to them despite previous refusals to eat them. Cut the fruits and vegetables into wedges or thin slices, with a yogurt dip on the side. Cut vegetables into a stick shape and steam them to make them soft. Offer your toddler less-common fruits and vegetables, such as avocado, mango, kiwi or papaya to broaden her taste preferences.

Bread

• Bread items offer another finger food option for picky toddlers. Offer your toddler a variety of breads, toast and bread sticks with meals or at snack time. Add fillings to create sandwiches, which can be cut into appealing shapes using cookie cutters. Serve spaghetti sauce, honey or other dips to accompany the bread.

Dips

• The act of dipping food entertains toddlers and encourages them to try things they may normally ignore. Provide various dips for your picky toddler along with the finger foods. Try different dips each time to add variety to your toddler's diet. Dip options include hummus, cream cheese, guacamole, peanut butter or yogurt. Dips complement nearly any finger food you may offer your toddler.

Presentation

• The presentation of the finger food influences the overall appeal for picky toddlers. Choose a plate with a favorite character or bright colors. Use a muffin tin, ice cube tray or other segmented tray as an attractive presentation for the finger food. Cut the finger food into attractive shapes that are easy for toddlers to grab.