I need some ideas for fingerfood for 18month old twins who refuse to be spoon fed?

Question

I look after my twin grandsons 3 days a week and I am fast running out of ideas for finger food they both like brocoli (wow) chips and smiles and all the wrong sort of stuff so any ideas will be much appreciated

Answer 1

Boil chicken and cut it in small pieces. green beans are my daughters favorite (she's 18 months as well) Waffles cut up with a little bit of butter, bananas cut up, deli meat, berries, crackers, pb&j cut up in pieces. Anything cut up that is fresh- not greasy- works well. Just have a piece of plastic underneath their chairs to minimize your clean up time.

Answer 2

My twins (14 mos) don't take much on a spoon at this point so most of what they eat is done as finger food.

Most fruits and vegetables can be cut up into small enough pieces for them to use as finger foods.

Meat: I buy turkey/ chicken/ buffalo/ beef/ lamb etc. already ground....brown it and serve, basically, although sometimes I need to pull pieces apart or use a knife to cut it into small enough chunks.

Cheese is another great finger food that's a favorite around here.

Eggs: around here, omelet's are a favorite, and a staple. At that age you shouldn't be worried about fat -- they need it -- so egg consumption isn't an issue. It's also a good way to sneak in some vegetables that they don't normally eat or that make awkward finger food -- spinach cheese omeletes are a favorite.

mac & cheese: messy messy messy, but, it works!

pancakes -- cut up small, I put in small pieces of banana to add moistness and sweetness for them.

as far as pre-fab foods: Puffs. I'm telling you, those things are like crack for babies, it's insane. I don't like to use them too much because there's so many other things, but they are a complete lifesaver in restaurants, on the go, etc. (They're like cheerios, but they come in a variety of flavors, such as banana, sweet potato, corn, cherry, etc. and they dissolve more readily in a baby or child's mouth.)

There's very little in my experience that can't qualify as a finger food (basically, cereals, yogurts, soup, and applesauce!) Yesterday's lunch consisted entirely of finger foods: they had a vegetable omelet, cheese, "fruit salad" (tiny pieces of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, kiwi, melon, and mango), and puffs. And if you're more concerned with snacks than meals, fruit and cheese is a great option, and offers lots of variety.

Good luck, and enjoy those twins!

Answer 3

My son is 10 months old and doesn't like eating from a spoon he'd rather do it himself. Its a bit messy but he feeds himself just fine. I give him anything we eat just cut up small and of course within reason I wouldn't give him a hot wing or something like that. He likes ravioli, mac and cheese, chicken sticks {Gerber makes them}, turkey, chicken, all veggies except corn. He will however eat mashed potato's with gravy off a spoon and strawberry cream oatmeal that's about it. Yes its messy, yes he enjoys the fact he's doing it himself. Also try some cereals as snacks for them like Cheerios's and fruit loops {who cares if the kid has a handful of sugar coated cereal its not a whole bowl} your a grandmother you raised your child just fine you'll do fine with these babies when they are in your care too. Oh yes and Gerber also makes freeze dried fruits and lets not forget Goldfish crackers, Ritz crackers, and whole grain graham crackers that my son will eat. And alvacado and banana's...lol sorry I keep coming back remember the things he likes the most

Answer 4

My 18month old son loves pasta! He tries to eat with his spoon but gets frustrated when it keeps fallling off so lands up eating with his fingers! You can mash up some veggies and make a delicious pasta sauce! Nice and healthy!

Also fish fingers / chicken fingers are great! My son refuses to be spoon fed as well but at this age they're trying to get their independence and learning to feed themselves is all part of the process! Try ignore the mess and let them dig in...you'll find they'll eat more that way!

My son also loves sweetcorn! It takes him awhile to eat with his fingers but he eats every single piece!

Answer 5

First of all try getting some1 else to feed 1 while you feed the other. Second, try the choo choo train or the airplane effect (my nephew 11mo. only eats by the spoon if you sing it). Third wait until they r good and hungry (they r not going 2 starve)
Fourth, finger foods that the can dip is exciting because they r doing it by themselves so offer some ranch, cheese, blue cheese, ketchup, bbq sauce,or lite carmel to broccoli, the happy face french fries (no salt),breadsticks, apple slices, oranges are tasty to a baby.

Answer 6

How about french toast (eggy bread).

I'm sure you know what I mean but if not..... beat up an egg with a touch of milk in a shallow dish. Dip each side of a slice of bread into the egg mixture and fry each side in a lightly greased pan. Cut into slices or any shapes...

Have fun

Answer 7

i used to have the same problem with my 21 yr old when she was that age, so i had to boil carrots, green beans, chicken and cool it then put it all in a bowl in front of her. she loved it, the broccoli is great for them too. try small bits of cheese and fruit peeled....bananas, oranges, apples, in bit sizes for them also... actually you can get pretty well balanced meals from doing this.. the doctor told me that kids that age don't always eat a whole lot and they let you know when they get hungry. but i just couldn't let her go all day without eating. also i would mix up some thick fruity drinks from ice cream and fresh fruit. that always works too.. good luck!

Answer 8

at this age they should be allowed to eat more or less what we eat....they are way too old for spoon feeding....what about pasta?....spagetti in those small tins, macaronni cheese,sausages, fish fingers,pretty much anything, just bib them both because they will make a mess but they have to learn one day!...kids like to get dirty and make their own mind up on tastes and foods...mine have always eaten really well and i have 3, and pregnant with number 4!

Answer 9

Gerber Baby foods has a great line called Gerber Graduates. They have fruit and veggies finger foods, fruit and veggie puffs, juices, little dinners. -- if you visit their website I believe you can even print coupons for them. Also, you may want to try cucumbers (diced), diced eggs (as long as they aren't allergic), grapes sliced in half lengthwise, orange sections, peeled, cubed apples, cheerios or any dry cereal, cubed cheese, cubed bread slices, etc. Good luck!

Answer 10

Mine have fed themselves as soon as they could hold a spoon 9 months on - honest. Anything can be finger food chuck in a spoon you'll be amazed at how deft they are. best snack is frozen peas (honest) or cereal like cornflakes.