M.R.
I recommend a book called "Feed Me I'm Yours". It's WONDERFUL! It tells how to make bagels, english muffins, & tons of finger foods! I used it with my little ones & my daughters have used it as well. With toddlers it becomes more important on the "presentation" than the food itself. You have to become creative. The grandbabies all love grandmas' whole wheat pancakes, SAME as moms, but I make them into shapes & letters & sometimes use syrup, but sometimes cool whip & fruit or decorate the "faces" with fruit. They may not "like" eggs & toast, but they LOVE Bulls Eye or the toast being cut with cookie cutters into shapes...hearts, bunnies, bells, etc. Grandpa is the one that gets them hooked on Texas toast. Lightly buttered & pan fried (both sides) then cut into a big circle...it cuts the crust off & the babies like it better. Or egg posies - hard boiled egg sliced in rounds & formed into a "flower", using 1 pc of toast cutting center diagonally for the "stem" & using the now 2 pcs of triangles for the "leaves"....teaches them shapes while eating! TONS of ideas in this book, but mostly just gets you thinking outside the box... Just have FUN with them. They grow up WAY too fast! Then you just have grandbabies to feed & enjoy.... Here's a list though for 9 months-1 yr...
Apple, peeled & cut into 8ths
orange sections, peeled & loose membrane removed
peaches, ripe & peeled
egg, boiled, scrambled or poached
cheeses, soft
custards, soft
carrots & other veggies, cooked soft
macaroni pasta
egg noodles
rice
toast
bagel
tender meats, lamb, veal & some beef
spaghetti with meat sauce
fish without bones
tiny meatballs
bananas
applesauce
cooked cereals
cheerios
graham crackers
mashed potato
cottage cheese
yogurt
pudding
vanilla ice cream
1 yr & older:
carrot sticks, large
cauliflower
cherry tomatoes, halved
mushrooms
lettuce, cut up
avacado
asparagus
broccoli tips
green beans
sweet potato, cooked
french fries
peas, uncooked, frozen ones too
celery with all strands removed
pickle spears
small squares of cheese, variety of kinds
deviled eggs
hard boiled eggs
cottage cheese with fruit added
yogurt, may be served semi-frozen
pears, peeled
mandarin oranges, canned
fruit cocktail, canned
fresh berries, strawberries, grapes (halved), cherries, blueberries
watermelon
cantaloupe
crisp bacon
hotdogs
spareribs, well cooked
ham, cut in bite size pcs
luncheon meats
sausage
chicken or turkey, diced
tender roasts
tuna
hamburger, (try in different shapes)
ground turkey (like hamburger)
corn dogs
beef jerky
saltines
triscuits & fun crackers
pretzel rods
oyster crackers
bagel & cream cheese
grilled cheese sandwich
french toast (or french toast sticks)
pancakes (made into fun shapes)
macaroni & cheese
omelettes
finger jello
stuffed celery, with cheese, peanut butter, etc