EASY FIRST FINGER FOODS FOR BABIES • steamed (or lightly boiled) whole vegetables, such as green beans, baby corn, and sugar-snap peas • steamed (or lightly boiled) florets of cauliflower and broccoli • steamed, roasted or stir-fried vegetable sticks, such as carrot, potato, egg plant, sweet potato, parsnip, pumpkin, and zucchini • raw sticks of cucumber (tip: keep some of these ready prepared in the fridge for babies who are teething—the coolness is soothing for their gums) • thick slices of avocado (not too ripe or it will be very squishy) • chicken (as a strip of meat or on a leg bone)—warm (i.e., freshly cooked) or cold • thin strips of beef, lamb or pork—warm (i.e., freshly cooked) or cold • fruit, such as pear, apple, banana, peach, nectarine, mango—either whole or as sticks • sticks of firm cheese, such as cheddar or Gloucester •breadsticks • rice cakes or toast “fingers”—on their own or with a homemade spread, such as hummus and tomato, or cottage cheeseDips and Dippers Most babies can dip from about nine months, but as with everything, some will be able to do it much earlier (or later) than others. Using a “dipper” can be a lot of fun. It means your baby can eat soft or runny foods such as yogurt without a spoon, and it’s also a good way for him to acquire the skills needed for using a spoon later. He may discover dipping for himself with any piece of food that works—be ready for some odd combinations, such as using a finger of roasted sweet potato to dip into pudding! Ideas for dippers • breadsticks • pieces of chapatti, pita bread, or toast • oat cakes or rice cakes (salt-free)—these may be easier to dip if they are broken in half first • sticks of firm fruit, such as apple • raw vegetable sticks: carrot, celery (strings removed), red or green peppers, zucchini, cucumber, green beans, sugarsnap peas • lightly steamed whole baby corn • roasted vegetable fingers: carrots, pumpkin and other squashes, parsnip, zucchini, potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc. Easy-to-make savory dips Many of the following dips can be bought ready-made, but most are very easy and quick to make at home. They usually have a couple of basic ingredients that are blended with olive oil or yogurt in a food processor. • hummus • guacamole • mixed bean dip • kidney bean and tomato • red pepper and butter bean • cheese sauce dip • cream cheese and yogurt with chives • yogurt and tofu, yogurt and cucumber • dhal (lentils with spices) • eggplant dip (baba ganoush)BREAKFAST IDEAS Pancakes - 1 banana and 2 eggs• Fresh fruit. • Hot cereal. While cooking you can add: stewed or grated apples or pears, blackberries or blueberries, dried apricots, dates, cranberries or figs. Fruit purée, strawberries, or a little molasses can be added at the table. Although hot cereal is usually made from oatmeal, it can also be made with rice flakes, millet flakes, and quinoa flakes (usually available in health food shops but more and more supermarkets are stocking them). • Live, full-fat natural yogurt with fresh fruit. (Babies and toddlers often love stirring berries or stewed or puréed fruit into their yogurt, or dipping pieces of fruit into it.) • Scrambled egg (well cooked). • Cold cereal—with or without milk. Some babies love dry cereal; others prefer it mushy. Cereals such as mini wheats, cornflakes and Rice Krispies are suitable for babies because they don’t have high levels of sugar and salt. • Toast, oat cakes, or rice cakes spread with cream cheese or 100 percent fruit spread. • Baked beans on toast. • Cheese on toastEasy Snacks and Food on the Move Once your baby starts to rely on solid foods to fill his tummy it’s a good idea to make sure you have a healthy snack with you when you go out together, just in case he gets hungry before you get home. The following are a few ideas for foods that are easy to carry with you: • fruit (such as apples, pears, and bananas) • salad (tomatoes, sticks of cucumber, peppers, and celery with strings removed) • cold cooked vegetables (carrots, broccoli, etc.) • cold cooked corn-on-the-cob • sandwiches • pieces of cheese • pasta salad (or cold cooked pasta) • yogurt—plain, full-fat, live yogurt with fresh fruit added is best (flavored yogurts often contain a lot of sugar) • avocado dip or hummus, with breadsticks, carrot sticks, etc. • low-salt oat cakes, rice cakes, or toast, spread with cream cheese or sugar-free fruit spreads • dried apricots or other dried fruits (in moderation—they can damage teeth if given too often). Brands that have not been treated with sulfur dioxide are best. (Nonsulfured apricots are usually dark brown, rather than bright orange) • freshly made fruit smoothies • dry, low-sugar breakfast cereal Remember to read labels very carefully. Teething biscuits and many prepackaged snacks aimed at children tend to be full of sugar and additives and are best avoided.HEALTHY DESSERTS • fresh fruit • fruit salad • plain full-fat live yogurt with fresh or stewed fruit • homemade rice pudding • homemade egg custard • apple crumble (made with sweet eating apples rather than cooking apples so you don’t need to add much sugar) • baked pears or apples