Christmas food for small children

Posted by Elin Oresten on December 18, 2024

At Knatteplock we love the Christmas community around food. Many parents think you have to cook special food for the youngest, but in fact there is a lot on the Christmas table that babies from 6 months can eat.

There are so many different variations on a buffet table, and every family has their own version. In this post, we have tried to include the most common holiday foods.

The savory Christmas table

A large part of the food at Christmas table is quite salty, so it may be a good idea to avoid giving large amounts of the saltiest foods (e.g. smoked salmon, herring, sausages) and instead focus on less salty foods such as homemade meatballs, boiled eggs, potatoes, boiled/roasted salmon or homemade beetroot salad.

It is unnecessary to accustom children to very salty food as this can affect their food preferences and health in the long term. But on a festive table once in a while I see no problem with a small taste of the salty food, even for babies. However, it is good not to give large amounts of, for example, pickled herring.

Christmas recipes

Potato cakes in muffin form

Iron-rich wort bread

Iron-rich gingerbread balls

Köttbullar/miniköttfärslimpa i muffinsform

Meatballs/mini meatloaf in muffin form

Lussebulle porridge sticks

Pickled food on the Christmas table

Much of Christmas food is perfect to give as finger food to the children.

Foods to avoid/give less of

Community around the Christmas table

As you can see, there are plenty of foods that both young and old can enjoy together. Bring this into Christmas and focus on the community around the Christmas table.

/Elin Oresten

Lic. nutritionist and founder of Knatteplock.

Cooking and baking at Christmas

Christmas is also a time for time off and baking. With our baking tins you can easily bake and spend time in the kitchen together.

More on the blog

Sugar and children, the dietitian answers

One-year-old party: How to organize a successful children's party step by step

Choking and choking - the importance of understanding the difference

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Benefits of eating the same food the whole family

Make picked food at home

Children love to imitate, by eating the same food it facilitates learning and makes mealtime a positive experience of togetherness. As a parent you don't have to feed but can sit next to and enjoy the food.

Picking food gives children the opportunity to explore a variety of textures and consistencies at their own pace. This can lead to a healthier relationship with food and a greater enjoyment of eating. By offering different textures and flavors, the child gets a broader taste palette, and there is a greater chance that the appetite will continue even during the naturally picky period that usually comes around two years. Research shows that children who are introduced to a more varied diet from the start eat more variety and more vegetables later in life.

Promotes exploration and independence at mealtime.
Develops early chewing skills.
Simplifies family meals and strengthens community.

Why finger food ?

Promotes exploration and independence at the meal

Develops early chewing abilities

Simplifies family meal time and strengthens the community

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Encourage the joy of eating by letting your child explore flavors and textures on their own. Start the food adventure today - we are here for you and your child through messes, discoveries and challenges.

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Common questions about picking food

What is finger food ? What is finger food ?

Finger food is a way of offering food where the baby/child eats themselves either with their hands or with a spoon.

Finger foods give children the opportunity to explore a variety of textures and consistencies at their own pace, from an early age. This can lead to a healthier relationship with food and greater enjoyment of eating.

How to start giving finger food ? How to start giving finger food ?

Make sure your baby shows signs of being ready for solid foods. She should be able to sit up in a chair on her own, be able to bring objects to her mouth on her own, and show an interest in food. Maybe your baby is reaching for your food or looking at your plate with fascination, then there is probably interest!

Consider offering foods that are fairly soft but easy to grasp. For example, sweet potato sticks, slices of liver pâté, cooked broccoli or omelette/pancake strips. Sandwiches with butter and/or liver pâté are also perfect for practicing motor skills. Slippery foods that are difficult to grasp can be rolled in seeds or sandwich crumbs. For example, avocado or banana. But in general, it is good to offer the baby what the rest of the family eats as often as possible.

Small babies don't have a pincer grip so it's big pieces that matter at first. The pieces should be longer than the palm of their hand because small babies (6 months) often can't open their palm on request. It may feel scary but it's actually safer with bigger pieces than smaller pieces when it's a small baby! If they take too big bites they spit it out again.