First, get the fish off of the minnows...I realize that's the goal here, but if you can replace them with mollies, ghost shrimp, or large guppies, they're MUCH better for the fish.
I dunno if you've seen this article or not, but if not, you should give it a read:
Tools of the Trade: Equipment & Techniques to Convert your Fish onto Frozen
I highly recommend using "Renee's Super-Sleuth" stick. We use it to feed fish from 1" all the way up to our adult volitans. It doesn't freak the fish out, nor does it cause issues if they get a little too aggressive and "swallow" it.
Also, the size of the food item makes a big difference when weaning your fish. Don't give them anything that is much larger than their eye to start, as they can be intimidated by larger dead food items.
Here's the "stealth stick" in action:
STEALTH STICK