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I just started McDougaling and am looking for good, healthy finger foods for my 17 month old daughter. She has had GERD since birth and is a reluctant eater so especially high calorie foods would be appreciated (not avocado, she won't eat it unfortunately).

What do you give for "filling" foods? She will eat whole wheat pasta and sometimes toast but does not like potato fries. Any other ideas? I am just struggling with what to replace her meat with that will still be filling/high calorie since she eats so little quantity. Thanks so much!

I used to make pasta with beans and used pasta ruffles (Mueller's, I think - not whole wheat though) and unrolled the ruffle and stuck a bean in it. My son loved those, I would put them on his high chair tray. We also would give our boys a dish of soup with cubes of bread in it, they could practice using a spoon getting the chunks out to eat, or use fingers.

Another good finger food would be sweet potato but in chunks. Green peas, frozen and just run hot water over until they are warmed. Cut up whole wheat toast with peanut butter or any other nut butter, mixed with a little bit of honey.

Mary McDougall's french toast would be good, also. Make it with 100% whole wheat bread and it's very sturdy, cut it in strips or cubes.

Considering that this baby has GERD and digestive problems, you might want to ask advice from the professionals who answer in Jeff Novick's forum or our wonderful team of physicians, Drs. Matt and Alona.

Chunks of firm or extra-firm tofu were a hit w/my daughter at that age.

Thanks for the ideas. I can't find ruffles around here but may try putting a bean in cooked whole wheat penne. Will also try tofu again (she didn't like it before but who knows, maybe now she will!)