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Sweet Treats for Tots
Healthy and Sweet Ideas for Valentine's Day
By Donna Smith
And no matter if the food is sweet, salty, bitter or sour, always keep safety in the forefront. "The most important things to never offer a toddler are things that would pose a choking hazard – some of the most common are anything that is small and round – like a grape or cherry tomato – always cut these into several pieces that are not round prior to eating," O'Shea says. "Also stay away from hard candies, jelly beans, any hard fruits or vegetables, nuts, seeds, popcorn and any large chunks of food, especially those that are hard to chew or sticky."
Food allergies are another issue to keep in mind when serving toddlers any new foods. "Some common ones are milk, nuts, eggs, citrus fruits and juices, soy, fish and even strawberries and chocolate, but food allergies are on the rise and can take many different forms," O'Shea says. And she reminds parents that honey should also never be given to a child under the age of 1.
"Toddlers should also stay away from juice, and most especially from any sweetened beverages like punch or soda," O'Shea says. "Also stay away from anything that is too sweet and sticky as these will stick to a child's teeth and can cause problems even from a very young age."
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