Finger Foods
Finger foods can be particularly useful for people who forget to eat or find co-ordination difficult, such as those with dementia or following a stroke. If a person has a swallowing difficulty, finger foods are not usually suitable.
Finger foods can be:
- Served at the table in place of a plated meal
- Offered as snacks between meals
- Left in different places to pick up and eat through the day.
For people with diabetes
The foods below that are marked with an asterisk (*) can be high in sugar. However, if your appetite is poor and you are struggling to eat, these foods may be suitable. If you are concerned about your diabetes, or need advice around matching your food with your diabetes medication, please contact your GP and ask for a referral to a diabetes specialist dietitian.
Food groups
Suggestions are divided into the following food groups to help plan a balanced menu:
| High protein | Especially important in older and malnourished people to help reduce the risk of falls, infections and pressure ulcers |
| Starchy carbohydrates (carbs) | Important for fibre, vitamins, minerals and energy |
| Fruit and vegetables | Normally these should represent a third to a half of our daily diet. However, for someone who is malnourished, these are lower in calories than the other food groups, so be careful not to fill up on these and miss out on high calorie foods |
| High fat/sugar | High in energy (calories) so good for weight gain, but low in protein. Some people with diabetes may need to be careful with the amount of sugary foods they eat |
High protein finger foods
Cold meat pieces
Chicken drumsticks
Fish fingers/goujons
Crab sticks
Cooked prawns
Scampi pieces
Meat/fish on skewers
Sushi
Boiled egg halves
Mini quiche
Nuts
Cheese cubes
Spring rolls
Samosas or pakoras
Marinated tofu pieces
To increase calories: add or dip in full fat mayonnaise, cream cheese, tartare sauce, hummus or Greek yoghurt. Offer as extra snacks between meals.
Starchy carbohydrate finger foods
Toast cut into fingers
Small bread rolls
Finger sandwiches
Eggy bread squares
Malt/fruit loaf
Crumpets
Oatcakes/crackers
Biscuits/cereal bars*
Mini naan/pitta breads
Small chapatti
Pizza slices
Quiche slices
Chips or potato wedges
Small new/roast potatoes
Crisps
Rice cakes
Popcorn
Mini pastries/tartlets
Ideas for fillings/toppings: try meat/fish paste, mashed tinned fish, tuna or egg mayonnaise, marmite, cream cheese, hummus, tahini or nut butters.
To increase calories: add butter, full fat mayonnaise, jam*, peanut butter or clotted cream
Fruit and vegetable finger foods
Mini or sliced banana
Orange segments
Sliced apple/pear
Grapes and berries
Melon chunks
Pineapple chunks
Peach/nectarine slices
Mango slices
Fruit kebab
Dried fruit*
Salad sticks (carrot, celery, pepper,
cucumber)
Cherry tomatoes
Radishes
Sugar snap peas
Baby corn
Cooked vegetables eg broccoli spears,
cauliflower florets, green beans
To increase calories: dip vegetables into hummus, cream cheese, guacamole and yoghurt or spread with nut butter or cheeses. For fruit, dip into yoghurt or clotted cream.
High fat/sugar finger foods and dessert ideas
Bhajis, pakoras, samosas
Mini croissants, pastries,
pains au chocolat*
Mini brioche rolls*
Mini muffins*
Fun size cake bars*
Iced buns*
Cake pieces*
Flapjacks*
Fun size chocolates*
Biscuits*
Ice lolly*
Mini fruit pie*
Jam tarts*
Mince pies*
Example of finger food menus
Adapt these menus to take into account individual likes, dislikes and dietary requirements.
Example menu 1
Breakfast
Eggy bread squares, 3-4 dried apricots
Drink
Mid-Morning
Cereal bar and drink
Lunch
Mini beef/lentil burger in mini bread buns with tomato sauce, potato wedges and carrots
Malt loaf and drink
Mid-Afternoon
Squares of toast with pate or cream cheese
Drink
Evening Meal
Chicken/Tofu and vegetable skewers with yogurt dip, salad sticks, pitta slices
Slices/piece of fruit
Bedtime
Milky drink eg Horlicks, Ovaltine, hot chocolate or milkshake
Example menu 2
Breakfast
Hard-boiled egg in quarters, toast squares with butter, fruit juice
Mid-Morning
Flapjack/plain cake or fruit slices and drink
Lunch
Mini quiche with baby potatoes, broccoli spears
Mini fruit pie/cake and drink
Mid-Afternoon
Cheese cubes and grapes
Drink
Evening Meal
Mini sandwiches eg tuna mayonnaise, egg and cress, hummus, peanut butter, soft cheese, salad sticks
Mini cake or pastry
Bedtime
Milky drink eg Horlicks, Ovaltine, hot chocolate or milkshake
Tips when offering a finger food menu
- Be creative and make the menu varied
- Present food appealingly e.g. attractive plate, different coloured foods
- Use foods that are easy to hold. For people who wander, choose foods that can be eaten on the move or carried in a pouch
- People’s capabilities can change, finger foods might be better at certain mealtimes and plated meals at others
- Show the person what to do so they can copy
- Allow time for the person to look at the food and explore it
- Take time to describe the food
- Some foods will lose their freshness and appeal if left out for too long, so may need replacing
- Provide wipes or hot flannels to wipe hands before and after meals.
Contact numbers
We hope that you have found this information useful. If you have any questions or are worried about anything, please speak to the following Dorset County Hospital staff:
Nutrition and Dietetic Department: 01305 254415
Diabetes Centre: 01305 255130
Useful websites
Alzheimers UK
www.alzheimers.org.uk
Diabetes UK
www.diabetes.org.uk
Malnutrition Pathway
www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk
About this leaflet
Author: Sandra Hood, Lead Dietitian
(Adapted with the kind permission of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust)
Written: April 2020
Approved: July 2020
Review date: July 2023
Edition: 1
If you have feedback regarding the accuracy of the information contained in this leaflet, or if you would like a list of references used to develop this leaflet, please email patientinformation.leaflets@dchft.nhs.uk
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