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This recipe is fast to throw together, easy to make, and toddlers and babies who aremore advanced with finger foods just love it. The use of tri-color pasta isn't necessary, but it makes it more colorful and fun. Better yet, this recipe only has three ingredients. The addition of grated parmesan cheese not only adds flavor, but also helps make the pasta easier for little fingers to grip. Here is the Toddler Tri-Color? Pasta Recipe: Subscribe to Type-A Mom articles

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Ingredients

• Two cups tri-color pasta
• Two tablespoons parmesan cheese
• Splash of milk (or use breastmilk or formula for babies who haven't started on cow's milk yet)

Preparation

• Select a pasta that is small and easy to handle, such as rotini, gnocci or shells. Boil the pasta until it is slightly overcooked if this is for a beginning finger food eater, or al dente for more experienced toddlers.
• Drain and pour pasta into mixing bowl.
• Add parmesan. The easiest and fastest method is using a shaker of parmesan cheese. Parmesan in a can is also finely grated, making it work better to dust the pasta and make it easier for gripping.
• Stir while adding a splash of milk. You don't need much, but want just enough to moisten it. It's OK if the pasta is a little sticky, as it will be easier to handle as a finger food.
• You can serve it warm (but check that it isn't too hot, particularly pasta underneath the top pasta where heat could be held in). Or place it in the refrigerator covered so it is on hand to serve as a cold pasta salad needing no more preparation.

More on Healthy Food for Toddlers

• Benefits of Homemade Baby Food
• Healthy Finger Foods for Toddlers