Fantastic finger food – quick easy snack ideas

Finger food doesn’t have to be something baked or pre-prepared. There are lots of options that are tasty and nutritious and won’t take you lots of time to prepare. As a working mum I know how time poor we all can be at times, so here are some ideas I rely on for days when I’m chasing my tail and definitely don’t have time for baking!

The main thing I keep in mind when serving up a morning or afternoon tea is does it provide a balance of nutrients and will it keep Freddie filled up until the next main meal? Making sure there is a combination of carbohydrate and protein is key to keeping your little one feeling full and adding in some fruit or vegetables can help them get their 5-a-day.

Chickpeas and beans – packed full of protein these are a quick and filling snack, Freddie thinks they are great fun to eat too. If you do have time you could always turn them into the following dip with Homemade Nachos:
Hummus
Suitable from 8 months
400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 tbsp Tahini
2-3 tbsp olive oil
Juice of half a lemon
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp cumin (optional)

Blend all the ingredients together with a handheld blender until smooth and serve with crudites, crackers or in sandwiches.

Crackers with cream cheese, avocado or peanut butter – You can even sandwich them together and pop them in a lunch box.

Frozen vegetables – Not something I ever thought I would have in my house but Freddie seems to enjoy eating them and all the ‘preparation’ required is a couple of minutes in the microwave.

Cheese Sticks – Cut up cheese into sticks and serve with crackers or BabyBel is another great option.

Ham slices – Serve with crackers for a filling snack.

Hard Boiled Egg – A big favorite at the moment, whenever I offer Freddie food he asks for eggy!

Yoghurt with fruit slices – Simply cut up an apple, pear, pineapple, banana or any other fruit your little one enjoys and serve it with a pot of yogurt to dip the fruit into. A bit messy but very easy and tasty!

A piece of fruit – A great on the go snack Freddie loves to munch on like a big boy!