Finger Foods

For the last month or so, the lads are wanting to feed themselves more and more, which is so sweet, but it makes it harder to ensure they are getting balanced, full meals. I liked the consistency of seeing an empty bowl at the end of every mealtime versus a semi-empty tray that gives no indication whether the food went into their tummies or Zelda's.

I've been trying to think out of the box about fingers foods, so I thought I'd share some of our current favorites (FYI...we're still having super porridge for breakfast and a yogurt-based lunch, so these items are used as add-ons, snacks, or sometimes even dinner):

• Pieces of Applegate Farms yogurt cheese slices or Wegman's/Applegate Farms organic chicken and turkey
• Roasted broccoli (1 bag frozen organic broccoli florets, tossed with 1 T. sunflower oil and pinch of sea salt and pepper, roasted at 425 degrees for approximately 20 minutes or until really fork-tender)
• Ricotta spelt pancakes and pumpkin spelt waffles
  
• Dollops of Dr. Weil's white bean spread (I halve the amount of salt and use dried basil instead of pesto)
• Raisins or diced dried apricots
• Toasted Ezekiel bread with a light schmear of almond butter
  
• Carrot cream cheese sandwiches (Shred 3 medium carrots, then blend with one 8 oz package of organic cream cheese, 1/2 cup chopped golden raisins, and 2 T. sprouted sunflower seeds)
• Diced tomato, peaches, plum, kiwi, sweet potato, or sliced grapes or berries
• Hard-boiled egg (chopped)
  
• GoRaw Live Pumpkin bar (finely chopped)
  
• Wild Wood SpouTofu veggie burger
• And, of course, lots and lots Happy Baby puffs, munchies and MumMums (when in doubt, they are always a hit, right?)