• Cut meal prep time in half •
Feeding Tips & Pics...
As parents of young kids, we ALL have meal time angst and nightly dinner table battles. It's nothing to be ashamed of.
Whether it's a picky eater who won't touch anything green or a toddler who keeps saying he "is NOT hungry, Mommy. Get it outta here!", it's meal time angst and it sucks.
But we can't let these pint-sized table terrors take over and get the best of us. We need to regain control of meal time.
Parents, who's with us??
The most fool-proof way to feed our own kids is by presenting them with safe, easy-to-eat and even easier-to-prepare "finger food" that looks fun to eat and different from normal.
Remember, kids eat more if food is easier to eat!
Here are some of our favorite tried-and-tested ways using Tiny Bites Food Shears to feed our own children.
We welcome any of your own suggestions or tips so please send us an email and we will post them here and credit you and your kids.
Now on to some fun feeding tips.
BREAKFAST
Designer Pancakes
Cut pancakes into different shapes or the letters of your kid's name...
especially fun when you go out for breakfast
Show your love at breakfast with heart-shaped pancakes and strawberry bites.
Spread the bagel spread of choice on one side of a bagel and then simply cut it into tiny bites making it easier to pick up and eat… (ditto for waffles or french toast where you can create your own sticks or bites)
Yo Grabba Grabba Waffles
There will definitely be a "party in your tummy" as all the kids reach for their "yo grabba grabba waffles".
Toast of Town
Simplest idea...cut crust off slice first, pop bread in the toaster then after spreading with topping of choice, cut into little squares or triangles... we've even faked bagels (and a toddler meltdown) by cutting a slice of toast into a huge circle and cutting out the "hole" in the center...you gotta do whatcha gotta do
LUNCH: SANDWICHES
Cheese Bag
Every parent is a pro at the grilled cheese sandwich. Either place grilled cheese bites on a plate or once the bites have cooled down, stick them in a Ziploc bag(this works especially well for kids feeling under the weather; we've plopped a sick 3-year old on the couch and he went through two entire sandwiches)
Sticky Swords
Instead of the traditional triangles, cut sandwiches into strips (aka swords)... works well with cream cheese, butter, peanut butter, apple butter, jam, jelly and other spreads; also good with chicken salad and tuna salad
Buh Bye Crust
Snip the crust off a sandwich (before you make the sandwich) or slice of pizza (okay, it's not creative but it's so simple)
Who You Callin' Turkey?
Oh so simple, they'll "gobble" it up...snip off the crust prior to preparing sandwich...add little mayo, slice of turkey, slice of american cheese and cut out little circles or other fun shapes (add some sweet potato chips)
Bling Rings
For a little bling with your dinner... cut up penne or rigatoni pasta into little "rings" that kids can "wear" and eat off their fingers
Schpaghetti Schmoodles
Cooked spaghetti or linguine cut into smaller, easier-to-pick-up pieces; add cooked ground turkey or steamed veggies like broccoli
Sea Shells & Beach Balls
Cut meatballs into smaller bite-sized "beach balls" and mix with some pasta sauce and small pasta shells... sprinkle some "sand" (aka grated cheese) on top
LUNCH/DINNER: MISCELLANEOUS
Pizza Bites
Just as simple as it sounds.
KidKebabs
Everything is more fun if you eat it off a stick! Use a left-over Chinese take-out chopstick and stack with bite-size pieces of fruit, veggies, cheese, turkey, chicken, bread (an entire meal can be consumed this way)
Hot Dog Island
Squeeze ketchup/mustard into the center of a plate... cut hot dog into bite-size pieces and arrange around condiment of choice... slice bun into strips and lay around perimeter of hot dog
Tomato Fingers
Slice up cherry tomatoes and place them on the ends of their fingers... dipping is optional
Broccoli Lollipops
Who doesn't love lollipops? Trim steamed broccoli to make it resemble kid-friendly, easy-to-hold "lollipops"...let them dip their lollipops in melted cheese or veggie dip
Veggie Dunk
Place steamed carrot, string beans, green beans, peppers and broccoli bites on a plate with their choice of tasty dip, sauce or even ketchup so they can have fun (and make a mess) while they eat their veggies
FRUIT
Apple Fries
Slice up an apple and then cut the slices into thin strips... place "apple fries" on a plate with some strawberry yogurt "ketchup" for dipping (shhh, you can use an old-fashioned knife to initially slice the apple)
Fruit Lake
Place assorted melon fruit cubes or strips around a “lake” of yogurt...works great with a combination of cantelope, honeydew and watermelon
I've Been Berry Good
Snip off the top of a strawberry, slice in half, slice in half again, cut into tiny bites and then throw in a bowl with some blueberries
Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana?
Our son's favorite punch line is also a great snack for the road...oranges are very portable so peel and then cut slices into small bites
Banana Ice Cream Bites
Speaking of bananas, cut one into tiny slices, place in a freezer safe ziploc bag in your freezer...defrost a bit before serving
No Whine & Cheese Platter
Cut mozzarella string cheese into little cubes and place on plate with club crackers alongside cut up grapes, pretzels or other noshy snacks
BABY'S FIRST FOODS
Feeding an older infant can be a very daunting experience. And not just for first-time parents but for seasoned ones too. Ensuring safe consumption size is top priority along with knowing they are eating the right food.
One of the reasons Tiny Bites Food Shears was invented was because of the grape. Having to cut a grape for our 10 month old son with a knife seemed too dangerous and risky for our fingers.
Below, pics of how to use Tiny Bites Food Shears to cut one grape, strawberry, pizza and carrots into tiny, easy-to-eat bites for older infants.
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Here are some of our favorite foods to cut up with Tiny Bites Food Shears:
Pasta
penne, rigatoni, spaghetti, ravioli, macaroni, noodles, fusili
Pizza
strips, bites, crust off
Vegetables
brocolli, string beans, carrots, green beans, zucchini, cauliflower, peppers, tomatoes
Meat and poultry
chicken nuggets, hot dogs, steak
Fruit
grapes, melon, strawberries, oranges, apples, pineapple, banana, dried fruit
Bread
bagels, sandwiches, heroes
Breakfast food
pancakes, waffles, french toast, pop tarts
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