Table food ideas for baby

Best Finger Foods for Babies: The Ultimate Guide

How exciting that your baby is about to graduate from mushy foods to finger foods! This is a big step in your little one’s development. However, you may be wondering when’s the right time to start finger foods, and how to tell that your baby is ready. We’ll answer all these questions and more, plus give you a list of the best finger foods to introduce to your baby first.

Introducing Finger Foods to Your Baby

So, when can babies eat finger foods? You can start to give your baby finger foods around the time they’re able to sit up independently and can bring their hands to their mouth. This may happen between the ages of 8 months old and 9 months old, but your baby may be ready a little sooner or later than this time. Around this time, you may also notice that your baby is developing their pincer grasp and may be making chewing motions. These are both great indications that your baby’s ready for finger foods. Moreover, using their fingers to pick up foods will further develop your baby’s fine motor skills. Some parents who adopt the baby-led weaning approach may start offering finger foods to their infants as early as 6 months old. This method skips spoon-feeding with solid foods and instead lets your baby take the lead in self-feeding with finger foods. Some believe this approach can decrease fussiness when it comes to introducing new foods, including finger foods, to your baby. Speak to your child’s healthcare provider if this method is something you’d like to try. Giving your baby finger foods can help your little one learn to feed themself, just one step toward gaining independence. Self-feeding can be great fun for your baby. Even if much of the food doesn’t end up in your baby’s mouth, the fact that they’re exploring this new frontier is an accomplishment to be proud of.

First Finger Foods for Your Baby

As you begin choosing finger foods for your baby, check out the following ideas:

Steamed veggies like sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, green beans, peas
Soft, ripe fruits like bananas, berries, peaches (peeled), mangoes (peeled)
Whole-grain breakfast cereals (without nuts, clusters, or chunks)
Whole-grain pasta (cooked well)
Whole-wheat bread
Whole-grain crackers or wafers like teething biscuits
Soft meats like chicken
Cheese (mild)
Scrambled eggs.

Be sure that any of the above finger foods are cut into small pieces. You don’t want your baby eating a piece that’s too big to swallow. And, make sure to watch them while eating.

Finger Food Safety

During this time babies are more likely to swallow foods without chewing them, whether they have a few baby teeth coming in or they have no teeth. Avoid giving any finger foods that require a grinding action to chew (this type of chewing is typically mastered around the age of 4), as these may pose a choking risk. Offer finger foods that are soft, easy to swallow, and broken or cut into pieces that your baby cannot choke on. A good rule of thumb is that soft and mushy finger foods are safe for your baby. Small, round, coin-shaped, hard, chewy, crunchy, slippery, or sticky foods may lead to choking. Here are some foods to avoid offering your baby when they start on finger foods:

Peanut butter (in chunks)
Meat (in chunks)
Cheese (in chunks)
Raw veggies (in large chunks or round shapes), including celery sticks, carrot sticks, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, and peas
Raw hard fruit (in large chunks or round shapes), including apples, pears, and grapes
Nuts (whole)
Seeds
Popcorn
Chewing gum
Candies (hard, gooey, or sticky)
Hot dogs or meat sticks.

There are ways you can still give some of the above foods while making them easier to eat and less hazardous to swallow. For example:

Grapes or cherry tomatoes, cut in half
Creamy peanut butter spread thinly on whole-grain bread that’s cut into small squares
Hot dog, cut lengthwise and then cut into small 1/2-inch pieces.

Note on Food Allergies

Medical experts once recommended that parents avoid feeding their babies eggs, fish, and peanut butter since babies may be allergic to these foods. However, it’s now recommended that you introduce these foods early—while keeping a close watch for any reactions—since this approach can help reduce your child’s chances of developing food allergies. Before introducing peanut butter or peanut products, consult with your baby’s healthcare provider. Your baby is more likely to be allergic to these foods if

food allergies run in your family
your baby is known to have an egg allergy
your baby has eczema.

The Bottom Line

It’s time to introduce finger foods to your baby when you see that they’re able to sit up on their own, start bringing their hands to their mouth, and can use a pincer grasp to hold onto small items, like finger foods. This development happens around the age of 8 or 9 months old, but you may see it sooner or later in your baby. In the beginning, you’ll want to introduce finger foods that are soft and easy to swallow, since babies at this age tend to swallow instead of chew even if they have a few baby teeth. Think steamed veggies and soft fresh fruits. You can also introduce whole-grain bread, crackers, cereal, or pasta if they’re cut into small pieces. Chicken, mild cheese, and scrambled eggs are also great options when served in small pieces. Avoid hard foods like raw veggies and fruits, as well as chunks of nut butter, cheese, and meat. Whole nuts and seeds are not recommended, nor are chewing gum, candies, hot dogs, or meat sticks. All these items can pose a choking hazard.

Transitioning to finger foods is a big step in your baby’s development and independence. Letting your baby self-feed with finger foods may be a bit messy at first, but you’ll both get the hang of it. Learn more about developmental milestones for your 9-month-old baby.

Best Early Finger Foods for Baby (With Tips, Visuals, and Recipes)

Use this list of safe, nutritious, and easy to eat finger foods for baby to help you know exactly what (and how) to offer at meals and snacks. Plus, find the best first finger foods, troubleshooting tips, and visuals of foods broken down by food group to keep things easy!

Finger Foods for Baby

After baby starts solids and is ready to move onto finger foods, you may feel a little confused by exactly what to serve and how to serve it. Which is totally normal because it can be scary to let baby feed themselves this way and we may not have any experience doing this—or we may have totally forgotten from our last kiddo!

This list of finger foods for baby will cover some great first finger foods to start with, then set you up with plenty of healthy options from each food group.

TIP: Find more info on starting solids here and the best foods to start with if doing baby led weaning or purees with baby.

Healthy Baby Food

I love sharing these ideas for baby food since they are easy to prepare and serve and because I know how hard it can be to continue to come up with flavorful and healthy meals and snacks for our little ones. Let me tell you, I’m on my third kiddo and it can be such a challenge to feed him during the chaos of parenting the rest of my crew! These foods are wholesome and nutritious—perfect for your baby.

TIP: I’m a big fan of SpoonfulONE, a company that offers the most complete way to introduce food allergens to our kids. They make mix-ins, puffs, and crackers that are yummy and easy for babies and toddlers to eat. Learn more about their pediatrician-approved baby foods here. (sponsored link)

Best First Finger Foods

When baby is around 9 months, you’ll notice that they’re able to pick up smaller pieces of food with two fingers. This is known as the “pincer grasp” and is a sign that they’re ready to start finger foods. To be clear, when I say “finger foods” I mean small pieces of food that a baby (or toddler) can feed themselves.

Here are some of my favorite ones to start with that are all super soft, safe to eat, and easy to pick up.

Scrambled egg, broken up into small pieces
Roasted sweet potato mashed and broken up into small pieces
Fresh raspberries, broken up into smaller pieces
Oatmeal, cooked according to package directions and allowed to cool
Tofu, diced and sauteed lightly or steamed
Ground beef, chicken, or turkey, broken up into small pieces or lightly mashed meatballs
Shredded cheese or crumbled goat cheese
Mashed sweet potato, in little pieces
Peanut butter puffs

TIP: You can serve the tofu, ground meat, or meatballs in veggie puree from a pouch or a simple marinara sauce for extra moisture and flavor. Learn more about how and why to introduce peanut butter.

Finger Foods for Baby: Fruits and Veggies

Some of my favorite early fruits and veggies to serve babies are:

Mashed roasted sweet potato, broken up into small pieces
Warmed frozen peas, slightly mashed if desired
Roasted Zucchini
Diced Roasted Sweet Potato or Butternut Squash
Fresh blueberries, cut in half or quarters
Fresh raspberries, broken into small pieces
Banana, broken into small segments (they are less slippery this way versus slicing them)
Avocado, diced and mashed slightly (be sure it’s ripe and very soft)

TIP: A good rule of thumb is to serve pieces of food that are about the size of a pea to start and soft enough that they are easy to squish between your fingers. This will be easy for baby to pick up and eat and will also reduce chances of choking.

Finger Food Ideas: Carbohydrates

Offering complex carbohydrates can provide fiber, a variety of textures, B vitamins, and more. Try these with your baby.

Spinach pancakes (moisten with applesauce or plain yogurt if needed; this recipe is particularly moist and great for babies)
Oatmeal, cooked according to package directions and allowed to cool
Baby Puffs
Peanut Butter Puffs
Rice (it’s easiest if it’s in little clumps so baby can pick it up; this Coconut Rice or this Cheesy Rice are both good options)
Baby Banana Muffin
O cereal (soften in nondairy unsweetened milk or yogurt as needed)
Baked Oatmeal, diced

Finger Food Ideas: Proteins

Offering proteins will continue to expose baby to a range of nutrients. These are my go-tos for babies newer to finger foods—and toddlers too.

Shredded cheese (thicker cuts are a little easier to pick up)
Tofu, diced and sauteed lightly or steamed
Flaked cooked wild salmon
Lightly mashed meatballs
Shredded chicken, cut up finely (we love this Butter Chicken to share with baby)
Ground beef, turkey, or chicken, broken into smaller pieces
Lightly mashed beans
Scrambled eggs, broken up into small pieces
Diced egg muffins

I’d love to hear any questions you may have, or if you have foods that your babies enjoy that I didn’t include here.

Chime in below in the comments!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Author Amy Palanjian

Cuisine American

Course Baby Food

Calories 124kcal

Servings 1

First Finger Foods (choose 1-3 per meal)

▢ 1 Scrambled egg (broken up into small pieces)
▢ 1/4 cup Roasted sweet potato, mashed and broken up into small pieces
▢ 1/4 cup Fresh raspberries (broken up into smaller pieces)
▢ 1/4 cup Oatmeal (cooked according to package directions and allowed to cool)
▢ 2 tbsp Tofu (diced and sauteed lightly or steamed)
▢ 2 tbsp ground beef, chicken, or turkey, broken up into small pieces or lightly mashed meatballs
▢ 2 tbsp shredded cheese or crumbled goat cheese
▢ 1/4 cup Mashed sweet potato (broken into little pieces)
▢ 1/4 cup Peanut butter puffs

Fruits and Veggies

▢ 1/4 cup mashed roasted sweet potato (broken up into small pieces)
▢ 1/4 cup warmed frozen peas
▢ 1/4 cup Roasted Zucchini
▢ 1/4 cup diced Roasted Sweet Potato or Butternut Squash
▢ 1/4 cup blueberries (cut in half or quarters)
▢ 1/4 cup raspberries (broken into small pieces)
▢ 1/4 cup banana slices (broken into small segments—they are less slippery this way versus slicing them)
▢ 2 tbsp avocado (diced and mashed slightly—be sure it's ripe and very soft)

Whole Grains and Carbohydrates

▢ 1 Spinach pancakes (moisten with applesauce or plain yogurt if needed; this recipe is particularly moist and great for babies)
▢ 1/4 cup Oatmeal (cooked according to package directions and allowed to cool)
▢ 1/4 cup Baby Puffs
▢ 1/4 cup Peanut Butter Puffs
▢ 1/4 cup fully cooked rice (it's easiest if it's in little clumps so baby can pick it up; this Coconut Rice or this Cheesy Rice are both good options)
▢ 1 Baby Banana Muffin
▢ 1/4 cup O cereal (soften in nondairy unsweetened milk or yogurt as needed)
▢ 1/4 cup Baked Oatmeal (diced or regular oatmeal broken into little pieces)

Dairy

▢ 2 tbsp Shredded cheese (such as mozzarella)
▢ 2 tbsp Tofu (diced and sauteed lightly or steamed)
▢ 2 tbsp flaked cooked wild salmon
▢ 1 lightly mashed meatballs
▢ 2 tbsp finely shredded chicken (we love this Butter Chicken to share with baby)
▢ 2 tbsp ground beef, turkey, or chicken (broken into smaller pieces)
▢ 2 tbsp lightly mashed beans
▢ 1 Scrambled egg (broken up into small pieces)
▢ 1 Diced Egg muffins

For each meal or snack, choose 2-3 foods from a mix of food groups. Aim to include some fat in most meals and protein in many too.
Prepare the food, cutting into small pieces and/or mashing as needed to make the food easy to eat.
Start with small portions and allow more as baby indicates according to their hunger.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days in the fridge.
Many foods you cook for your family will work as baby finger foods—just be sure they are easy to squish between your fingers and the pieces are small and easy to chew.
Babies very normally make a lot of faces when they eat, so don't assume they don't like something just because they scrunch their nose!
Flavors and textures can take time to learn to eat, so continue offering foods in small portions even if baby hasn't liked them in the past—and make sure they taste good to you!

Calories: 124kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 164mg, Sodium: 81mg, Potassium: 344mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 9857IU, Vitamin C: 18mg, Calcium: 51mg, Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

Children's birthday menu: photos, recipes, dish ideas

How to make a child's birthday truly unforgettable? Gather his friends, come up with entertainment and, of course, treat everyone to something delicious. But pleasing little guests is sometimes more difficult than adult gourmets. Our article will come to the rescue. In it, we have collected 10 dishes that will enchant even the most capricious persons. Serve these treats for a kid's birthday party and no one will leave hungry.

Original canapés

Kids will appreciate the unusual presentation, and adults will appreciate the ease of cooking. Indeed, among the recipes for a children's birthday, it is important to have at least one option for a quick snack. For canapes in the form of ladybugs, it is better to take unsalted crackers with the addition of whole grain flour. You can grease the products with both pate and hummus or curd cheese.

Ingredients:

crackers - 10 pcs.
cherry tomatoes - 5 pcs.
leaf lettuce - 3-4 leaves
olives - 3 pcs.
pate - to taste

Preparation:

Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and make a shallow cut in each half.
Brush crackers with pâté and cover with lettuce. Excess greens can be removed.
Top the salad with half a cherry and a quarter of an olive.
Decorate the finished ladybug with a pattern of white dots. To do this, dip a toothpick in Greek yogurt or mayonnaise and gently color the workpiece.

Snack muffins

Children are rarely fans of vegetables. But thanks to such muffins, they will even eat the hated green beans or green peas. It's nice that you can change the toppings to your liking. For example, take corn, ham or some broccoli and cauliflower. It is also better not to forget about the vegetable slices on the table. Serve carrot, pepper and cucumber sticks with yoghurt sauce.

Ingredients:

green beans - 100 g
green peas - 100 g
cheese - 100 g
chicken eggs - 2 pcs.
sour cream - 3 tbsp. l.
flour - 3 tbsp. l.
Bulgarian pepper - 1 pc.
baking powder - 0.5 tsp.
salt - to taste

Preparation:

Defrost beans and peas.
Pepper and cheese cut into small cubes.
In a clean bowl, mix eggs with sour cream and salt. Gradually add the sifted flour mixed with the baking powder.
Add prepared cuts to batter.
Divide the pastry between molds and bake for 15 minutes at 180°C. Then lower the heat to 160°C and bake the muffins for another 15-20 minutes in the oven.

Cheese donuts

If you don't know what to cook, try these donuts. At a children's birthday party, they will definitely become a popular treat. The main thing is to find a good crumbly cottage cheese with a fat content of 5-9%. It is desirable that there is not too much moisture in the mass, gluing the grains together. Otherwise, wrap the cottage cheese with gauze and put it under pressure for 2-3 hours to remove excess moisture.

Ingredients:

cottage cheese - 200 g
cheese - 80 g
flour - 70 g
chicken eggs - 2 pcs.
baking powder - 0.5 tsp.
sesame - to taste

Preparation:

Mash the cottage cheese with a fork or chop with a blender.
Add grated cheese, whole egg and one egg white.
Add the sifted flour and baking powder and knead into a stiff dough.
On a floured surface, form the dough into a ball and divide it into 6-8 equal pieces.
Roll each piece into a sausage and seal the ends.
Transfer the blanks to a baking sheet lined with baking paper and brush with the remaining yolk.
Garnish with sesame seeds and bake for 30 minutes at 180°C.

Mini pizzas

Who would say no to a popular treat? For a children's holiday, it makes sense to make portioned pizzas. It will be easier for kids to hold them in their hands. As a sauce, ordinary ketchup or a mixture of pureed tomatoes boiled with spices is suitable. In addition to cherry tomatoes, you can use bell peppers or broccoli for the filling, and put boiled chicken or turkey instead of ham. When serving, garnish pizzas with fresh herbs, if desired.

Ingredients:

For the dough:

flour - 200 g
water - 90 ml
olive oil - 30 ml
sugar - 1 tsp.
dry yeast - 4 g
salt - pinch

Basic:

ham - 200 g
cherry tomatoes - 8 pcs.
tomato sauce - 3 tbsp. l.
cheese - 50 g

Preparation:

Mix yeast, sugar and water. Cover the bowl with a towel and put it in a warm place for 15-20 minutes. After the specified time, a foam cap should appear on the surface of the mixture.
Sift flour into activated yeast, add olive oil and salt. Knead a homogeneous dough that will not stick to your hands.
Transfer the workpiece to a clean dish, greased with olive oil, and leave warm for 1 hour.
Punch down the risen dough and divide into 8 equal parts.
Shape each piece into a 8-10 cm round shape and place on a baking sheet.
Brush base with tomato sauce, top with ham and cherry halves, sprinkle with cheese and place in the oven.
Bake the mini pizzas for 15 minutes at 210°C.

Chicken skewers

Homemade skewers continue the selection of recipes for children's birthdays. When preparing a marinade, remember that the child likes simple and understandable tastes more. A large set of seasonings, especially spicy, he will not appreciate. But vegetables will add benefits and make the meat juicier. For variety, place sliced bell pepper or zucchini between the chicken pieces. Don't forget to prepare wooden skewers. Before stuffing the meat, it is advisable to soak them in boiling water, otherwise the wood may burn in the oven.

Ingredients:

chicken fillet - 800 g
kefir 3.2% - 180 ml
onion - 1 pc.
garlic - 1-2 cloves
salt - to taste

Preparation:

Divide the chicken fillet into 2-3 cm pieces.
Chop the onion into rings, mince the garlic.
Mix the chicken with chopped onion and garlic, season with salt.
Pour in the kefir and mix well. Leave the blank in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Thread the pickled pieces onto skewers and bake for 15-20 minutes at 200°C.

Fish fingers

Children love variety. Give the kids a choice between several dishes. For example, serve chicken skewers and crispy fish fingers. The appetizer is made from white fish: pollock, cod or haddock. If desired, breading can be supplemented with sesame seeds. Ready-made sticks go well with tartar sauce.

Ingredients:

white fish fillet - 600 g
vegetable oil - 150 ml
breadcrumbs - 3 tbsp. l.
chicken eggs - 1 pc.
salt - to taste
pepper - to taste

Preparation:

Cut the fillet into strips 1.5–2 cm thick. Season with salt and a little pepper.
Beat the egg with a fork in a flat bowl.
Place the breadcrumbs in another bowl.
Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan.
Dip the fish fillets in turn into the egg and breadcrumbs, and then fry in hot oil.
Wipe finished sticks with a paper towel to remove excess oil.

No Bake Cake

When planning what to cook for a child's birthday, don't forget about sweets. What's a holiday without cake? This recipe can be made the day before. Any gelatin is useful, but the rules for working with sheets and powder are different. The layers are randomly poured with cold water, and then squeezed out. For crystals, it is desirable to observe a ratio of 1: 6 (take 6 parts of water for 1 part of gelatin).

Ingredients:

For the cake:

cookies - 300 g
Butter - 100 g

Basic:

cottage cheese - 800 g
cream 20% - 200 ml
sugar - 100 g
sour cream - 100 g
cocoa - 2 tbsp. l.
gelatin - 40 g

Preparation:

Grind cookies with butter into crumbs. Spread the mass over the bottom and sides of the form and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Soak gelatine in water.
Beat cottage cheese with sugar and sour cream. The easiest way to do this is with an immersion blender.
Mix swollen gelatin with cream and heat to 60-70°C. The thickener should dissolve, but the liquid should not be allowed to boil.
Add the warm mixture to the curds and beat everything well again with an immersion blender.
Cocoa mix with half of the curd and cream mass.
Spread the filling as follows: 1 tablespoon cream mixture, then 1 spoon chocolate mixture. It is advisable to finish the cake with a colored layer.
Using a skewer, make patterns on the top of the workpiece and send it to the refrigerator until completely solidified.

Funny apple slices

Even ordinary fruits can be served in an original way. For example, make funny monsters out of apple slices. Sweet sprinkles in the form of eyes can be found on the Internet. If there is no unusual decoration, then make it yourself. Melt the chocolate and use a toothpick or skewer to drizzle over the marshmallows. The same melted chocolate or peanut butter will help to fix the marshmallows on the slices.

Ingredients:

apples - 2 pcs.
strawberries - 100 g
peanut butter - 8 tsp
sunflower seeds - 2 handfuls
confectionery topping in the shape of eyes - 8 pcs.

Method:

Quarter medium-sized apples.
Remove the center from the skin side of each wedge.
Brush the resulting hole with peanut butter and fill with a strawberry slice.
Peel the sunflower seeds and stick a few into the apple blanks.
Seal eyes with peanut butter and serve.

Cake pops

Bright cakes on skewers - why not treat a child's birthday? It is easy to attract even the birthday man himself to their preparation. Or you can make blanks in advance and invite guests to decorate them with sprinkles and icing. For the latter, it is better to choose white chocolate, since dyes can be added to the resulting mass. Let the little chefs cover the balls on their own and show imagination in decorating.

Ingredients:

For the biscuit:

chicken eggs - 3 pcs.
sugar - 90 g
flour - 90 g

For cream:

curd cheese - 90 g
powdered sugar - 30 g

For glaze:

chocolate - 200 g
butter - 20 g

Preparation:

Whisk eggs with sugar until fluffy white foam.
Carefully add the sifted flour and knead the dough.
Bake the biscuit for 30 minutes at 180°C.
Cool the finished cake and grind into crumbs.
In a clean bowl, beat the cream cheese with the powdered sugar.
Add biscuit crumbs to the cream and mix. Form into balls 4–5 cm in diameter and refrigerate for 1–2 hours.
Melt chocolate in a water bath and mix with butter. Thread the balls onto wooden skewers.
Dip the balls in the frosting one by one. Let the mass take over.
Decorate each cake pop as you like.

Nut bars

Although a sweet table is an obligatory part of a children's holiday, it is not worth pampering children with a lot of sugar. Instead of store-bought bars or candies, make an alternative treat of nuts and dried fruits. Don't be afraid to change the filling to your liking. For example, make a treat only from almonds or add walnuts.

Ingredients:

pitted dates - 200 g
almonds - 60 g
cashews - 50 g
peanuts - 50 g
hazelnuts - 50 g
honey - 50 g
coconut oil - 1 tbsp. l.

For glaze:

chocolate - 200 g
coconut oil - 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation:

Crush the almonds.
Chop the remaining nuts and dates.
Add crushed almonds, honey and coconut oil to the mixture. Mix the base for the bars.
Line a mold with foil and place the mixture on top. Smooth out.
Melt the chocolate with coconut oil in a bain-marie.
Decorate the blank with the resulting glaze. Sprinkle shredded coconut on top, if desired, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Divide the formed cake into bars, wrap each with parchment and serve.

As you can see, there are many interesting ideas of what to cook for a children's birthday. The original menu will definitely be remembered by both guests and the hero of the occasion.

How to calculate the menu for children's birthday

How to calculate the menu for children's birthday?

January 24, 2022

Today we will share with you the secrets of organizing a children's menu for the holiday.

Organizing a children's birthday party is difficult, there are many things to consider in order for the celebration to go well.

The preparation of a menu for a children's party is especially important. It is necessary that the children's favorite dishes be present on the table so that there is enough treats for everyone. And today we will share with you the secrets of organizing a children's menu for the holiday.

Children's birthday menu: general recommendations

1. Utensils must be safe. There should be no piercing or cutting objects on the table. It is possible to use beautiful disposable tableware.

2. The children's menu should be familiar to children, no need to order those dishes that they do not know. Recipes for a children's birthday menu should be known to the child so that it is easier for him to navigate.

3. Food must be of high quality and fresh.

4. Consider the tastes of the children, order or cook what the children like the most.

5. Consider the tastes and health of guests. Do not include dishes on the menu that some of the guests may be allergic to.

6. Set a separate table for small children, a separate table for older children, and a separate table for adults. Remember that the birthday boy should sit at the head of the table.

7. Divide the children's menu according to the age of the children (if there are children at the celebration who differ greatly in age).

8. Do not invent complex dishes.

Children's birthday table: design tips

1. Table setting should be bright. Beautiful tablecloths, colorful dishes - all this attracts children. A beautiful table is the main element of the celebration. You can choose tablecloths and dishes for the theme of the holiday. (from various patterns on plates to favorite cartoon characters on tablecloths).

2. A long feast is not about children. It is desirable that throughout the holiday the table was available for children. Therefore, the best format for a treat is a buffet, on the festive table there will be various canapes, mini-sandwiches, cold cuts, fruits and drinks. This is necessary so that the child can at any time come to the table and take what he wants.

3. Children's birthday dishes should not be too complicated, but keep in mind that the presentation should be beautiful and original.

4. Creating an interactive zone. Invite the kids to cook some dish on their own at the holiday (collect canapes, decorate a gingerbread or donut with their own hands). For children, it will be very interesting and fun.

Children's birthday menu: recipes

When planning the menu, you need to take into account the age of the children present at the celebration.

Below we will offer you sample options for a simple children's birthday menu for guests of different ages.

Children's birthday menu 2 years old

At such a young age, babies don't eat much yet, so just one main course, drinks and dessert will suffice.

Main course: soft meatballs with colored puree.

Drinks: natural juices, fruit drinks, compotes.

Dessert: oatmeal cookies, light cheesecake.

Menu for children's birthday 3 years old

Snacks: quail egg with tender pâté in a tartlet.

Main course: steamed turkey cutlet + colored pasta.

Fruit plate.

Drinks: fruit drinks, lemonade, tea, natural juices, compotes.

Dessert: lollipops, cottage cheese cake.

Children's birthday menu 4 years

Snacks: potato emoticons, canapes, cold cuts (cheese, sausage).

Main course: chicken skewers with vegetables.

Drinks: lemonade, juices, compotes, fruit drinks, tea.

Fruit can be served on skewers to make a fruit skewers.

Desserts: muffins decorated with cream, sour cream cake.

Children's birthday menu 5 years old

Snacks: chicken nuggets, cherry tomatoes in the form of ladybugs.

Main course: pizza, french fries + chicken roll.

Drinks: various juices, fruit drinks, lemonade, tea, milkshake.

Desserts: berry pancakes, chocolate cake.

Menu for children's birthday 6 years old

Snacks: canapes, natural chips, cheese balls.

Main course: pizza, minced beef cutlet + mashed potatoes.

Salads: vegetable salad, Caesar salad.

Drinks: juices, lemonade, fruit drinks, baby champagne, milkshakes, tea.

Desserts: lemon cream cake, berry cake.

Children's menu for 7 years birthday

Snacks: mini croissant sandwich.

Main course: beef burger.

Salads: Olivier, Caesar, Spring salad.

Drinks: children's champagne, fruit drink, juices, tea, milk shake.

Desserts: pancakes with jam, honey cake.

Menu for children's birthday 8 years old

Snacks: cheese balls, potato figurines, chicken skewers.

Main course: fish (boneless) + rice with corn.

Salads: layered salad with chicken, Olivier, sliced vegetables.

Fruit plate.

Drinks: tea, lemonade, juice.

Desserts: puff tongue, tiramisu.

Menu for children's birthday 9 years old

Snacks: mini burgers, cold cuts (cheese, sausage), canapes, french fries.

Main course: pizza, chicken burger.

Salads: fruit salad, vegetable salad, vinaigrette, sweet grated carrot.

Drinks: juices, fruit water, lemonade, baby champagne, soda (Pepsi, Cola, Sprite).

Desserts: gingerbread, Napoleon cake.

Menu for children's birthday 10 years old

Snacks: caviar or pâté tartlets, village potatoes, meat plate.

Main course: beef medallions + village potatoes, pizza, burgers.

Salads: Greek salad, Olivier, vegetable cuts, fruit salad, Mimosa.

Drinks: juices, sparkling water (fanta, cola, sprite), fruit drinks, tea, lemonade, milkshake.

Desserts: profiteroles, Pancho cake.

Children's menu for the birthday of 11 years old

Snacks: fish fingers, cheese balls, French fries.

Main course: breaded chicken wings + mashed potatoes.

Salads: vegetable salad, Caesar. Olivier, vinaigrette, Korean carrot, fruit salad.

Drinks: children's champagne, fruit water, compote, juices, tea, milk shake.

Desserts: churros, Santiago cake.

How to calculate the children's birthday menu?

Children's holiday menu should be calculated based on the number of people. Everything related to main courses, desserts and snacks should be taken according to the number of children - 1 serving / 1 child. There is no need to save on water and drinks, as children actively play, run and have fun between meals.