Food Preparation Guidelines for Young Children
* May slide down the throat before chewing
| Food | Recommendations |
| Grapes | Remove pits and cut into 1/4 inch pieces. |
| Hard candies and jelly beans. | Avoid serving to children under age 5. |
| Hot dogs, sausages and toddler hot dogs. | Slice in quarters lengthwise, then into thin strips. Do not serve in round slices. |
| Nuts and seeds | Chop into small pieces. |
Small, dry or hard foods
* Difficult to chew and easy to swallow whole
| Food | Recommendations |
| Popcorn | Avoid serving to children under age 5. |
| Raw vegetables (e.g. carrot sticks) | Chop into small pieces. |
Sticky or tough foods
* Do not break apart easily and are hard to remove from the airway
| Food | Recommendations |
| Caramels, chewing gum, and other chewy candies | Avoid serving to children under age 5. |
| Marshmallows | Avoid serving to children under age 5. |
| Meat or cheese chunks | Chop into small pieces. |
| Peanut butter | Spread thinly over bread or crackers. Do not serve directly from a spoon. |
| Raisins and other dried fruit | Chop into small pieces. |
General Guidelines: Cut foods into pieces no larger than 1/4 inch for infants and 1/2 inch for toddlers and children up to age 5.
Sources:
Caring for Our Children National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care (2nd Ed.), American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, and National Resource Center for Health & Safety in Child Care (2002).
A Guide for Use in Child Nutrition Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (2003).
