finger food recipes desperately needed!

[kitbit]

Hope this is the right place to post this!

I am in desperate need of help.

ds (19 mnths) is a very picky eater and last week he caught a tummy bug from nursery. He threw up his lunch which had consisted of the two staple items he would happily eat last week and now he refuses them completely (understandable really). However now I am totally at a loss what to try next. The only thing he'll eat from a spoon is yogurt, everything has to be picked up. He does like oven chips (I keep trying to slip in a roasted other-type-of-veg that look as much as possible like oven chips but he always notices) and he used to like spaghetti (now cursed by the bug) and pastry parcels (semi-cursed, a bit iffy).

He likes philadelphia, toast, breadsticks, apple chunks, pear chunks, yogurt, used to eat ratatouille with his spaghetti, oven chips, cheddar bickies, will sometimes eat homemade biscuits if in the mood. That's about it and that's only if he's in the mood for any of them.

Tonight he was really really hungry but refused everything I gave him and got really upset as he obviously wanted to eat something but didn't fancy any of the above. I'm really desperate, has anyone got any magic finger food recipes I can try? Or any magic tips from a similar situation?

thanks in advance

does he have Houmous with his breadsticks? My DS always adored this and it's really healthy, full of protein, and garlic is good for the tummy!

will he eat chicken? I do homemade chicken dippers, just bash a chicken breat quite flat, cut into strips and coat in flour, egg and breadcrumbs. He can dip them in sauces and they can be forzen - just take out one or two and pan fry as you need them.

realise this is a strong taste for some but my DS always like strips of smoked mackerel to eat from his hands.

How about corn on the cob? My ds enjoys demolishing one of these!

Strips of pizza?

Sure someone will be along soon with other more creative ideas!

thanks Sparklemagic! Hoummous is a no-no which is a real pity, but will keep trying it periodically just in case! Chicken also not keen, although I thought I might try some really really thinly cut pieces so he can hardly feel the texture of the chicken. Doesnt like corn in little pieces, hadn't thought of on the cob though, will def try it!

thanks so much...any more fab ideas anyone?!

coctail sausages. also a good snack thing is to thinly spread marmite on bread fingers then sprinkle a bit of grated cheese on them (not much or it doesn't work) put it in a low oven for (i think) about an hour - might be more, until they're crispy

If he doesn't like chicken this might not work, but Annabel Karmel has a fab recipe for chicken balls in one of her books - just don't have it to hand right now - where you make mashed potato (maybe parsnips??) and cooked chicken that you blend together, roll into balls, dip into flour and lightly fry or bake in the oven. They're yummy for adults too

\link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0091889510/sr=1-4/qid=1150320677/ref=sr_1_4/026-8634653-6816421?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=books&v=glance\Jennie Maizels Finger Food for Babies and Toddlers book}

Some great things to try, I like the idea of the marmite fingers so will give those a go as he has had marmite in the past and liked it. Will also check out the book by Jenny M...thanks everyone

Similar problem with DS2 excptthat isdiet is not as restricted.
Found the book from Jennie Maizel fantastic - full of very good ideas.
I also found that I needed to leave him some time to get used to a new food and feeling like he can try it. But that is definitively a winner !!

Also try some pastry (Puff or short cust) ready rolled. Add soem topping (I spread some pesto sauce, tomato sauce and the like), add a bit acheese on the top. Cut into finger and put in the oven. Easy and a big succes with everyone - including DH !

Fish fingers?

kitbit does he feed himself or do you? I am wondering if this is contributing to the food phobia thing (not wanting to be fed). My 20mth DD has been feeding herself for ages, and is happy to eat cereal, porridge, rice and casserole type dishes, pasta etc. I just leave her to it (and clean up the mess afterwards). What about letting him dip bread in soup? Or do you think it is a texture thing and he hates "wet" food?

Some other finger food to try - roast new potatoes, omelettes, frittatas, quiche, pancakes, cheese scones/muffins, those quick-cook noodles, sausages/meatballs (you can mix chicken and sausage meat together for something different), cut up hard-boiled eggs, babybels.

Like the idea of the pastry mini finger things, he likes strips of toast so these might go down well!
Florenceuk, he does feed himself yes. I have tried giving a little heap of something and a utensil and standing well back but so far he slaps the fork or spoon in it to play, grins, flips a bit up the walls and then gets upset and makes his signals for me to please take it away! Exception is yogurt, which he will spoon in for himself or let me do it. I think you're right I think it's a wet food thing. I have even tried putting a dollop of something on his tray and letting him get in there with his fingers, the only thing this worked with was spaghetti, everything else he plays with then wants taken away.

I did though take a piece of advice that toddlers often only eat when they know and you shouldkeep offering food lots of times and eventually they-ll eat it because they recognise it - last night he picked up a fish finger and gave it a good look over (normally vetoes entire plate, chucking out everything he doesn-t want without a 2nd glance) and then had a nibble before rejecting it. Progress however small is still progress!

Am def going to get the Jenny M book it sounds great.

this is probably just a phase, ds was like this at that age and is fine now. just be relaxed as much as poss and he'll come out of it. i would probably let him play with the food if he's not going to eat it anyway. like you say at least he's becoming familiar with it, in this weather put him in the garden - less clearing up . also 'picnics' are good, we have them in the lounge on a blanket and invite all the teddies, its good for trying new things because you can have lots of little dishes.

also until this passes make quick simple things like the stuff previously suggested - its easier to shrug it off then when the little blighters dump it on the floor or make 'dinner towers' with it .

also probably goes without saying but lots of praise the trying. ds's favourite mealtime saying is 'its good to try mummy'