Food Safety: What Foods are a High Choking Risk and Ways to Prevent Choking
Children are always learning new skills and eating properly is one of them. Children under 4 years old have a higher chance of choking while eating because they are still learning how to chew food properly. Their airway can easily become blocked because it is still so small. Because of this, it is important to choose foods that are age-appropriate. Cutting foods to smaller pieces and using cooked veggies can reduce the risk of choking in children:
- Cook food until it is soft enough to be smashed between your thumb and first finger
- Remove skin, fat and bones from meat before cooking
- Remove skin and pits from fruits and cut into small pieces (1/4 – 1/2 inch pieces)
- Cut round foods (like grapes) into quarters or thin strips
Never leave your child alone with food. Here is a list of foods that are choking hazards and should be avoided: dried fruit, gummy fruit snacks or hard candies, hard pretzels, ice cubes, marshmallows, nuts and seeds, popcorn, peanut butter that is not thinned down, whole round or tube-shaped foods like grapes, cherry tomatoes and hot dogs.
Sources: Reducing the Risk of Choking in Young Children at Mealtimes
Food Safety for Breastfeeding
A healthy and diverse diet is encouraged while breastfeeding to ensure both mom and baby are getting the nutrients they need. There are two foods that might raise concern while breastfeeding: seafood and caffeine.
Seafood is an excellent source of many nutrients but the amount and type should be taken into consideration. Check out this chart from the FDA on which seafood is best while breastfeeding.
Caffeine may also need to be limited while breastfeeding. Caffeine can pass from the mother to the baby in small amounts through breastmilk. There are usually no effects on the baby when caffeine is consumed in low to moderate amounts, about 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day. Some effects can be seen in the infant with very high intake of caffeine — about 10 cups of coffee or more per day. Check with your doctor if you have concerns about your caffeine intake.
Some sources of caffeine include: coffee, soda, energy drinks, tea and chocolate.
Sources: Maternal Diet | Breastfeeding | CDC.
Apple Wraps
Ingredients
- 1 large apple (WIC)
- 2 ripe bananas (WIC)
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter (WIC)
- 2 (8-inch) whole wheat tortillas (WIC)
Directions
- Wash prep surfaces, your hands, and the fruits.
- Peal apple and cut in half, lengthwise. Remove any stems. Cut out center core that contains the seeds.
- Lay apple halves flat side down. Cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cut slices into small cubes. Mince finely (or shred) for children under age 4
- Peel bananas. In a medium bowl, use your fingers to break bananas into pieces. Use your fingers or a fork to mash pieces until creamy and smooth.
- Add peanut butter to mashed banana. Stir well to blend.
- Spread peanut butter mixture over one side of each tortilla.
- Sprinkle diced apple over peanut butter. Tightly roll each tortilla. Cut each wrap in half.
- Chill in refrigerator, covered, until ready to serve, up to 24 hours.
Tip: Kids can help with most of the steps in this recipe!
This post was last updated on March 27th, 2023 at 4:22 PM
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