Good ideas for protein finger foods at nine mths.

[taylorbean]

I'm running out of ideas for quick protein finger foods. My daughter refuses all purees or cereals because she doesn't like the taste or texture of something. She also refuses to be spoon fed anything but yoghurt. I make her meals in bite size or mashed form and she takes them in with her fingers. I have no problems in the veggie and fruit department, we steam constantly . . but I'm having problems in adding proteins into her diet. I usually have some chicken or beef dish prepared for supper but for lunch and breakfast, I don't know what to do. I usually give her some lentils but I'm discovering she doesn't digest them and they end up in her stool, anyone have any ideas for good finger foods for protein or just finger foods in general? She likes a lot of variety and it has to be fresh, something she can pick up and eat (little picky pants). I'm just running out of fresh new ideas.

[cwolff]

OK, there's tons of ways to get her to eat protein.  There's tofu, scrambled eggs (watch for allergy), cheese, hard boiled egg pieces, toast with cream cheese or sunflower seed (delicious), almond or soy nut butter.  There's a pasta called Barilla Plus and it is a whole wheat pasta fortified with tons of protein and Omega 3 vitamins.  It's very tasty and makes a good finger food lunch or dinner.  Ground beef chunks are also good.  Mashed or Avocado pieces.  Offer whole milk in a sippy with breakfast which will give her some more protein and calories.  Make a grilled cheese sandwich with whole wheat bread and cut it into bite sized pieces.  Make egg salad and let her pick up the chunks with her fingers.  Hope this helps, I'll keep thinking on it.

[tylersmommy]

Offer whole milk in a sippy with breakfast which will give her some more protein and calories

Whole milk isn't usually recommended as a drink until 1 yr of age. Of course, it's possible to introduce it earlier, but I'd check with your doctor first.

Don't forget that yogurt also has protein in it...and cottage cheese is another great source of protein.

[cwolff]

You are so right, though our doctor actually said we could offer milk in a sippy cup as well as mixing with foods as early as 9-10 months.  I am very sorry though, because I should have been more observant about your baby's age!  Thanks Tylersmommy, for savin' my butt.

[tylersmommy]

 

[Katet]

The other thing to remember is you actually don't have to give all that much protien, From memory 30g or 1oz is actually about all the protien a baby under 1yo needs, so if you are giving yogurt & some other protein in the day then she should be ok

I make "meat balls" which are really pureed veg, meat, pureed lentils & breadcrumbs all mixed together. Ds#2 loves them & easy to pick up if I make them the right size. I don't have a recipe (I never cook with recipes) but it is about 1cup meat, 1 cup veg/lentils & 1/2 cup breadcrumbs...I make them for the whole family. The Lentils seem to hold them together in the way eggs do.

[Lola]

you guys said hard boiled eggs. Can she have yolk yet? I thought she was supposed to wait until a year? I love eggers!!

[RachelC]

She can have the yolk.  No egg white until a year.

[charmed_angelca]

How can a 9month old eat solids? My 10 month old barely has 2 teeth,she'll gag if she eats out of those big jars with "chunks" of food in them....how do u all do it?
                                                 charmed_angelca

[Eden's Mum]

The apparent non digesting thing is apparently quite normal and we shouldn't be concerned at this stage. remember that a large part of lo's diet should be milk so that is protien in itself. Look at Jennie Mezels book called finger foods for babies and toddlers. it is fab and my bible.  I also make a mean sandwish spread which is cannilini beans, mush rooms and onions fried together wiht some parsley and then pureed. freeze it in ice cube trays and it works as a great protien sandwich filling. Also to help wiht digesting beans and lentils ensure they are mashed first. it tends to be the skin which holds things up.

[Katet]

How can a 9month old eat solids? My 10 month old barely has 2 teeth,she'll gag if she eats out of those big jars with "chunks" of food in them....how do u all do it?
                                                 charmed_angelca

I have a friend whose lo has not teeth & eats chunks of meat... teeth don't mean they can't eat chunks, they actually "gum" it, at least my 12mo with 6 teeth does.
Some lo's just don't take to mashy food until they are older... the gaging is not related to lack of teeth, just she hasn't learnt to master it yet...keep trying it will happen

Stacy. I use minced beef (think you call it hamburger or ground beef in the US) & then I just cook up any veg I have, or use frozen veg, pretty much use up my "scraps". I think you could use lamb or chicken or turkey, I just tend to use beef
I make a tomato sauce... (roughly like all my cooking) tin of diced tomatos, 2 tblsp tomato paste, then a bit of herbs... sometimes I just buy a "spaghetti sauce" or use Ketchup.
BTW my dh & FIL both love them, but when I was giving Liam some lentils they both were horrified...LOL little do they know they eat them

Stacy I also mix Lentils with avocado, Liam seems to love it & actually I like it on toast too

Also have to agree, mash up the lentils, they get digested better

[Katet]

Stacy, yes, just mix it all up, cook them in a pan & then add sauce
I'm with you on not liking all the meat...that is why I like these ones... Aiden eats Veg he doesn't know about & I don't have to eat the 'stong meat flavour'

[Eden's Mum]

another great idea! Ok so  the beans are fried with the onions and mushrooms?

Yes. Add some parsley too for added iron and vit C. I think I do about i can of beans with about the same size amount of mushrooms if that makes any sense!!! It is about half and half or slightly less mushrooms. very tasty and healthy. Home made cheese straws are good too., oooh and tofu burgers from that book i mentioned are a big hit!!!

[taylorbean]

Thanks everyone for responding, I'm just getting all the answers because I've been battling a flu, you guys are awesome, such great ideas, has been a big help!!!