Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together and that shouldn’t exclude your baby. Whether he is just sampling table foods or is a full-fledged finger-food eater, your child can be very much a part of the family Thanksgiving dinner if you plan ahead:

Plain Mashed Potatoes – Regular or sweet potatoes are naturals for babies eating finger foods or being spoon fed. Lumpy mashed potatoes are great for little fingers and if you mash the potatoes to a lumpy state, you can scoop some out and mash the rest to a finer quality if you like. Spoon fed babies probably prefer the finer mashed varieties. Avoid gravies for your little one as they are heavy and often contain a great deal of fat and other items your child doesn’t need.

Macaroni and Cheese – It might not be a Thanksgiving tradition (yet) around your house, but if you prepare macaroni and cheese from scratch for the table, your toddler will likely be very grateful. You would be hard-pressed to find a child or adult who didn’t love mac and cheese, even if it’s served on china plates.

Beans – When preparing your green bean casserole or a pot of lima beans, put some aside to keep them clean and unseasoned. Most children can handle and enjoy sauces and seasonings as they get older, but young toddlers and picky preschoolers would probably enjoy a variety that was closer to what they enjoy every day.