Types of finger foods for babies

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!

Snacks for children's birthday

Recipes 11/17/2020 Daria Zhuravskaya

Photo: alvaradofamilydentalcenter.

com

Instead of heavy and fatty meals that make you want to sleep well, we offer you to try these 20 snack recipes for children's birthday! A quick, beautiful and healthy snack - and now the birthday boy and his friends can have fun with games and contests!

1. Appetizer of zucchini with curd cheese

Photo: receptfromchef.ru

You can't imagine such an easier and healthier appetizer for a festive table for children!

You will need: 1 zucchini, 1 cucumber, 150 g curd cheese, herbs, spices.

Preparation: Cut the cucumber into small cubes, chop the herbs and mix them with curd cheese. Cut the zucchini into thick slices and fry on a grill or non-stick frying pan. Lay the filling on top and garnish with nuts, grated cheese or cucumber strips, if desired.

2. Multi-colored meat appetizer

Photo: kulinarka-tv.ru

Such a nice mosaic can be made from different types of meat.

You will need: 300 g pork, 200 g beef, 2 eggs, spices, 2 tbsp. green olives, half red bell pepper.

Preparation: Mince 200 g of meat, add spices, olive slices and pepper cubes. Cut the remaining pork into small pieces and add there too. Mix the minced meat with eggs and put it in the refrigerator for 3 hours. Using a film, form several tight loaves and boil for an hour and a half over low heat. When cool, leave overnight in the refrigerator.

3. Vegetable snack with lemon sauce

Photo: gastronom.ru

The best snack is a healthy vegetable snack!

You will need: 2 zucchini, 1 head of cauliflower, 5 cherry tomatoes, hazelnuts, bunch of basil, 1 lemon, 1 tsp. Dijon mustard, 5 tbsp. olive oil, spices.

Preparation: Divide the cauliflower into florets, cut the zucchini into large pieces and boil them in a steam bath until soft. Cut the cherry tomatoes into quarters and stir in the vegetables. Grind the basil, add the oil, mustard, spices, lemon juice and zest, and field the vegetables.

4. Cones with a surprise

Photo: kulinarka-tv.ru

This appetizer is perfect if your child has a birthday in winter.

You will need: 1 cup red beans, 1 handful of almonds, 1 onion, 2 tbsp. olive oil, 100 g chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, herbs, spices.

Preparation: Chop and fry the onion, boil the beans and smash them with a blender along with the peeled almonds and spices. Separately, kill the boiled chicken and add chopped greens and tomatoes to it. Make a flatbread out of the beans, place a ball of stuffing on it, pinch the edges and make notches with a pinecone knife.

5. Festive fish snack

Photo: craftlog.com

A little red fish is good for everyone, including children.

You will need: 150 g red fish, 20 quail eggs, 1 large cucumber, 200 g cream cheese, 2 tsp. red caviar.

Preparation: Boil the eggs, cut the fish into thin slices and slice the cucumbers. Wrap the eggs with a thin strip of fish, put some cream cheese on the cucumber and place the egg on top. Decorate the appetizer with caviar.

6. Appetizer of tomatoes and mozzarella

Photo: recipeis.ru

The classic appetizer is very bright and beautiful, so children will definitely like it.

You will need: 6 cherry tomatoes, 250 g mozzarella, 16 basil leaves, olive oil.

Preparation: Cut cherry tomatoes in half and mozzarella in small circles. Put basil leaves between the pieces of cheese, tomato halves around the edges, and put them on skewers. Top with a drizzle of herb olive oil.

7. Cheese appetizer

Photo: instagram.com

Ordinary cuts can be prepared for a children's birthday in the form of such cute boats.

You will need: 100 g cheese, 100 g cream cheese, 1 tbsp. chopped sun-dried tomatoes, a handful of walnuts, herbs, 0.5 tsp. lemon juice, 4 tbsp. olive oil.

Preparation: Mix cream cheese with tomatoes and spices. Separately, mix chopped nuts, herbs, lemon juice and oil. Cut ordinary cheese into slices 10 cm long and 2 cm wide. Put the pieces in a drop, fill with cream cheese and put the nut mass on top.

8. Appetizer with chicken and pineapple

Photo: omskfish.ru

A combination that almost everyone likes without exception!

You will need: 300 g of baked or smoked chicken, 800 g of canned pineapple, 6 cucumbers, 2 lemons, 1 bunch of mint, olive oil, spices.

Preparation: Whip 2 tbsp olive oil with crushed mint. add lemon juice and zest to this mixture, and marinate cucumber slices in them. Cut the pineapples into pieces and mix with spices, and chop the chicken. Put everything on skewers, put in a beautiful dish and fields with the rest of the oil.

9. Mushroom soufflé

Photo: koolinar.ru

Perfectly diversifies the dish with cheese and meat slices!

You will need: 500 g mushrooms, 2 onions, 1 carrot, 6 eggs, 3 tbsp. corn flakes, spices.

Preparation: Chop the onions, carrots and mushrooms, fry, season and beat with a blender. Add corn flakes and eggs to this mass, mix with a whisk and put in a baking dish. Bake for half an hour at 180 degrees.

10. Vegetable bruschetta

Photo: vkuso.ru

Another interesting recipe for healthy vegetable snacks for children's birthday!

You will need: 2 zucchini, 1 tomato, half an onion, 1.5 bell peppers, spices, olive oil, 1 tbsp. balsamic, 40 g feta, greens.

Preparation: Slice the courgettes diagonally and marinate in 1 tbsp. oil with spices for 15 minutes, and then lightly fry on both sides. Grind tomatoes, peppers and onions, add balsamic, add spices and mix. Lubricate each zucchini circle with cheese, sprinkle with chopped herbs and lay out the vegetables.

11. Corn wafers

Photo: patee.ru

Take molds or cut ready-made wafers into pieces and use as a base for canapés and sandwiches.

You will need: 1 cup corn flour, 1 cup rice flour, 3 tbsp. sugar, 3 tbsp. oil, 1 orange, a pinch of soda and salt, 2 cups of water.

Preparation: Mix both types of flour, add sugar, salt, soda, oil and water to a consistency. Add an orange crushed with a blender, mix everything until smooth and bake in a waffle iron.

12. Sea shell

Photo: kulinarka-tv.ru

To make this children's snack look neater, choose smaller buns.

You will need: 500 g shrimp, 5 rolls, 1 egg, 5 quail eggs, 1.5 tbsp. red caviar, 3 tbsp. mayonnaise.

Preparation: Cut the tops off the buns, remove the crumbs, chop and fry until golden brown. Boil the shrimp and chop them with a boiled chicken egg. Mix with crackers, caviar and mayonnaise. Fill the buns with this mass, put a boiled quail egg-pearl on top and decorate with red caviar. Top with the top of the buns.

13. Lacy pancakes

Photo: koolinar.

Even if you don't always make beautiful pancakes, you can definitely handle them!

You will need: 180 g flour, 150 ml milk, 1 egg, 2 tbsp. butter, 100 g crab sticks, 4 boiled eggs, 1.5 tbsp. sour cream, lettuce.

Preparation: Whisk the egg with the milk, slowly add the flour and finally add the butter. Fry the pancakes, randomly pouring the dough in lacy patterns. Grind crab sticks and boiled eggs, mix with sour cream. Put a lettuce leaf on each pancake, then the filling, and roll it into a roll.

14. Cheese-apple snack

Photo: pinterest.ru

Take juicy sweet and sour apples to make the play of flavors even brighter.

You will need: 2 apples, 100 ml mayonnaise, 2 tbsp. nuts, lettuce, 250 g cheese, 1 tsp. zest, mint, spices.

Preparation: Peel the apples and grate them with the cheese on a coarse grater. Add chopped mint and nuts to them, mix with light mayonnaise and spices to taste. Serve with fresh and crispy lettuce.

15. Processed cheese tangerines

Photo: youtube.com

Even an ordinary processed cheese salad can sparkle with new colors.

You will need: 2 processed cheeses, 100 g hard cheese, 3 eggs, 3 carrots, 2 tbsp. mayonnaise, spices.

Preparation: Grate boiled eggs, melted and hard cheese, mix with spices and mayonnaise. Boil carrots and grate on a fine grater. With wet hands, roll the lettuce into balls and roll tightly in the carrots. Put in a dish and make green leaves.

16. Cold chicken for snacks

Photo: photorecept.ru

An excellent substitute for ham and sausage for children's snacks on the festive table.

You will need: 2 chicken fillets, 2 tbsp. soy sauce, 1 tbsp. rice vinegar, 0.5 tsp dry garlic, spices.

Preparation: Cut the fillet into 2 parts and lightly beat, marinate in sauce, vinegar and spices, leave for an hour in the refrigerator. Wrap the chicken in spices in foil, put in the oven for half an hour at 200 degrees. Without unwrapping, cool and refrigerate overnight.

17. Cabbage rolls

Photo: koolinar.ru

Another quick and healthy recipe for crispy snacks.

You will need: 1 cabbage, 3 carrots, 3 tbsp each. soy sauce and vegetable oil, 1 tsp each. salt and sugar, spices, 1 liter of water, 3 tbsp. wine vinegar, 1 bay leaf, 7 peppercorns, 2 tbsp. salt and sugar for brine.

Preparation: Boil the cabbage leaves in salted water for a couple of minutes. Grate carrots on a Korean grater, add salt and sugar, mix. Heat the oil, add spices to it, mix and pour the carrots. Add soy sauce there and leave for 20 minutes.

Divide the cabbage leaves into triangles, wrap some carrots in each and place in a bowl. Boil water with bay leaf, pepper, salt and sugar for brine, add vinegar and fill the rolls with this. Cool, put in the refrigerator overnight, and in the morning drain the brine and serve.

18. Liver pâté cakes

Photo: gastronews.ru

Use a pastry bag to arrange the pâté nicely on the base.

You will need: 6 slices of bread, 6 quail eggs, herbs, 300 g chicken liver, 1 onion, half a carrot, 60 g butter.

Preparation: Fry the liver with onions, boil the carrots and blend them with a blender with butter and spices until smooth. Cut out circles from bread, fry on both sides and beautifully lay out the pate on top. Garnish with boiled quail eggs and herbs.

19. Mushroom stumps

Photo: koolinar.ru

An interesting alternative to ordinary sandwiches for children's birthday!

You will need: 250 g mushrooms, baguette, 1 onion, 1 bell pepper, 100 g cheese.

Preparation: Grind and fry onion, pepper and mushrooms with spices. Cut the baguette into 2.5 cm thick slices, partially remove the pulp and squeeze. Put the vegetable filling inside, sprinkle with grated cheese and put it in the oven for 10 minutes at 200 degrees.

20. Turkey ham

Photo: eda.ru

Cream, apple juice and spices - and here is an amazing recipe for cold cuts for children.

You will need: 1 kg turkey fillet, 30 ml oil, 150 ml apple juice, 75 ml 35% cream, 70 g paprika, 2 tbsp. cilantro, black pepper, 5 star anise, coriander, sugar and salt.

Preparation: Make a marinade of apple juice and spices, bring to a boil and reduce by half, then add the cream. Make punctures in the fillet with a fork, roll in the marinade and leave overnight in the refrigerator. Wipe the breast with napkins, brush with oil and roll in paprika and salt, put in the refrigerator for another hour. Bake the turkey in foil for 20 minutes at 250 degrees.

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. Don't come up with elaborate meals.

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 table, various canapes, mini-sandwiches, cold cuts, fruits and drinks will be located on the festive table. 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

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.

Children's birthday menu 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, curd 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

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.