Guide: reduce the risk of choking
Use this resource to help reduce the risk of choking when preparing and serving foods to children ages 1 to 5.
This guide is suitable if you are in the kitchen or doing food-themed activities with children. It will help you understand why young children are at a higher risk of choking and how you can create a safer mealtime environment.
The Registered Dietitians at Teach Nutrition developed this guide with the help from pediatric experts. This guide uses food photos to show how to modify foods that pose a choking hazard because of their shape, size or texture. You will learn safer ways to serve:
- Hard foods (like carrots and apples)
- Tube-shaped foods (like hot dogs and string cheese)
- Small round foods (like grapes and cherry tomatoes)
- Chewy foods (like meat and dried fruit)
- Stringy foods (like celery and lettuce)
- Sticky foods (like peanut butter)
- Doughy foods (like soft bread)
Foods to avoid are also included, since they cannot be safely modified.
This guide is intended as a starting point, and the food examples provided are not a complete list. Some children may be ready for certain foods earlier than the suggested age or without extra preparation, while others may need more time. Every child develops at their own pace. Consult a healthcare professional if you are unsure about the safety of a food.
Download this practical guide below!
For more info, you can also check out our article Reducing Choking Risks in Early Childhood.
Contains:
Printable guide
Language:
English
Guide: reduce the risk of choking
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