Finger Food For Babies And Toddlers: Delicious nutritious food for little hands to hold [Hardcover]

a mouthwatering collection of recipes --Junior

Has excellent ideas and recipes .... Maizel's emphasis is on nutrition as well as enjoyment
--Daily Telegraph

Delicious, nutritious food for little hands to hold

Faced with a perpetual mealtime battle with her baby Millie, Jennie Maizels discovered it wasn't that Millie did not want eat, she just didn't want to be spoon-fed by anyone else. Faced with this independence, Jennie Maizels was forced to dream up ideas for foods that Millie could hold, like a mini pizza or a rice ball, until she was able to feed herself, and life became simple again. But all babies go through a stage when finger-held foods are the best way to feed them. Jenny Maizels has come up with a beautifully illustrated book using a wide range of healthy ingredients, cooked and uncooked, hot and cold, savoury and sweet. (20021018)

A beautifully illustrated book full of delicious, nutritious food for little hands to hold.

Jennie Maizels is the illustrator and author of many children's books, including The Wonderful World Book and The Super Science Book. She lives with her husband and baby Millie in Brighton. (20021018)

INTRODUCTION

I am the mother of a very independent-minded little girl called Millie. This book came about because I discovered a way of ending the perpetual mealtime battles I had with her and I wanted to spread the word.

The problem with my little girl Millie was not that she didn't want to eat, but more that she didn't want to be fed. While too young to feed herself with a spoon, she felt too frustrated to be spoon-fed by anyone else. This often resulted in disastrous effects upon herself and my kitchen.

I started to experiment with food that she could hold, such as sausages and cakes, and feed herself without any `interference'. I began cutting silly shapes out of omelettes, making things in mini pie trays and converting any leftovers from grown-up suppers into croquettes or wrapping them in pastry. At last Millie began enjoying mealtimes again.

Being vegetarian is even more of a challenge, as I had to make sure that she was always receiving a varied and balanced diet. This forced me to be even more inventive (I am particularly proud of my tofu fishcakes).

To begin with, I found that she ate a lot more if she thought I couldn't see her. No showing off, no trying to put food in Mummy's mouth and no `Look at me spit my food out!' I hid round the corner with a cup of tea, creeping up only to refill her satisfyingly empty plate. Once she had got into the habit of enjoying mealtimes again, I would try and sit with her, showing her that food was a pleasure for me too.

Not only was finger food a breakthrough for mealtimes in the kitchen, it was also a great boon on the move. It made picnics and car journeys far more bearable. A small amount of preparation would save us stopping for unhealthy snacks or junk food. Millie could eat a nutritious meal without a messy and often public scene. I hope this book will help you to overcome mealtime difficulties with your own child, and to convey the message that food should always be equated with pleasure.