These Four Healthy Toddler Finger Sandwiches are perfect for perfecting Baby Led Weaning (BLW) or for packing for on the go snacks or meals.
What food do ALL picky toddlers and kids love? BREAD! How do we make bread more nutritionally balanced? SANDWICHES! And how do we make sandwiches more kid friendly? FINGER SANDWICHES! Yes, mamas, that’s pretty much all you need to know about motherhood.
No but seriously, I do batch prepping legit every single weekend and these healthy finger toddler sandwiches ALWAYS are in rotation. I like to switch up the varieties to keep Baby E’s attention, so that’s why I’m sharing his (and my) four favourite finger sandwich fillings.
How to Make the best healthy toddler finger sandwiches on the fly
A lot of people ask me how I have my shit together enough to feed Baby E such a vibrant variety of foods. Well, let me tell you- BATCH.PREP. It’s all about the batch prep. I usually make a bunch of healthy toddler finger sandwiches each week (usually two varieties), and keep them in the fridge separated by a paper towel or wax paper in a tubberware. I mean, obviously it is not as good as fresh, but Baby E has NEVER complained and I then have something healthy that we can easily grab and take with us everywhere we go. It’s a great way to get a nice combination of energizing carbohydrates, plus some protein and often iron, too. Here are some of my favourite combinations.
Avocado Salmon Salad
Instead of using mayo in my salmon salad, I mash up some avocado with lemon juice and dill. Super easy and nutrient dense! You can also do this with tuna (I go for light tuna for the lowest mercury options). As for salmon, I often look for WITH bones and skin and no salt added which adds beneficial calcium! PS: Baby E used to HATE salmon no matter what I did, but as soon as I started to make these finger sandwiches (with a squirt of relish for a tiny bit of sweetness), he became obsessed.
Peanut Butter Chia Jelly
These are Baby E’s FAVOURITES and they’re stupid simply. In a bowl, mix one package of baby food (any flavour- fruit, veggie, whatever you have) with a tablespoon of chia seeds and let it sit overnight. Then spread it onto bread, along with the peanut butter, smash together and slice! I make this cheater chia jam every week and use it on toast, in yogurt, ricotta, sandwiches and more.
Ricotta Strawberry & Cucumber
These are like fancy high tea sandwiches, but are actually totally kid and toddler friendly. The combination of creamy ricotta and cream cheese with strawberries and cucumber is such a treat that is great for breakfast, lunch or snack.
Chicken Pesto and Tomato
This is a great way to use up any leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken. Just add a little pesto (homemade or store bought), layer with tomatoes and cut into fingers.
What’s the Best Bread for making healthy toddler finger sandwiches?
Honestly, it’s a bit of a balance. The softer bread is best but it’s not as nutritious, so I usually serve a simple whole grain bread for finger sandwiches and choose a heartier, seedier bread for breakfasts. If you or your kiddo are gluten free, you can of course use a gluten free bread.
So friends, tell me – what kind of healthy toddler finger sandwiches do your kids like?
Leave me a comment below with your favourite!
Peanut Butter Chia Jelly
Ingredients
- 1 squeeze pack of baby fruit puree your choice
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
- 4 thin slices whole grain bread
Instructions
- Put the baby fruit puree into a bowl with chia seeds and allow to sit overnight.
- Spread onto the bread with the peanut butter and cut into strips or cut into shapes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Chicken Pesto and Tomato
Ingredients
- 2 rotisserie chicken legs skin removed and shredded
- 3 tbsp basil pesto
- 5 cherry tomatoes halved
- 4 thin slices whole grain bread
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the chicken with the pesto. Spread onto the bread, and top with tomatoes.
- Sandwich together and cut into strips or shapes.
Nutrition
Avocado Salmon Salad Finger Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 150 g can of wild salmon with bones and skin no salt added
- 2 ripe avocados
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp dill
- Salt and pepper optional
- 1-2 tbsp relish optional
- 4 thin slices whole grain bread
Instructions
- To a bowl, mix together the salmon, avocado, lemon, dill, salt and pepper, and relish if desired (to sweeten it up).
- Spread onto bread and cut into strips or cut into shapes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Ricotta Strawberry & Cucumber
Ingredients
- ¼ cup ricotta
- 2 tbsp cream cheese
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 6 strawberries thinly sliced
- 1-2 mini cucumber thinly sliced
- 4 thin slices whole grain bread
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the ricotta, cream cheese and lemon zest. Spread onto the bread, and top with strawberries and cucumber.
- Sandwich together and cut into strips or shapes.
Nutrition
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.
Julia says
Love these sandwich ideas, especially the peanut butter and chia jelly; however, I’ve always followed the 24 hour rule for pouches which would make it difficult to batch prep them. Maybe I could ease up a bit on that rule… I guess you’ve never had issues?
Abbey Sharp says
I would still follow that rule for the peanut butter and chia jelly one, but the others are okay.
Angela says
These all looks like such great ideas! Honestly, I would love them too, especially the one with ricotta 🙂
Abbey Sharp says
So so good. Thanks love
Angela says
These all look like such great ideas! Honestly, I would love them all too, especially the one with the ricotta!! 🙂
Farrah says
Avocado and salmon are two of my favorite things ever! I like the idea of chia jelly too–these look super tasty! :]! (And yay for batch prepping!)
Abbey Sharp says
awesome!
Deborah Brooks says
Your kids are very lucky that you make them such gourmet meals! Thanks for sharing your ideas
Abbey Sharp says
aw thanks so much