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Home › Expert Q&A › Nutrition › Toddlers › My 3-year-old enjoys dipping foods in yogurt, ranch dressing and other types of dips. What are some different, healthy items for him to dip?

Expert Q&A

 

By Peggy O'Shea Kochenbach
Registered Dietitian

My 3-year-old enjoys dipping foods in yogurt, ranch dressing and other types of dips. What are some different, healthy items for him to dip?

Traditional finger foods that most people think of include soft fruits like banana slices [cut in half to avoid a choking hazard], mango, soft peaches, pears, etc., cheese, soft-cooked vegetables and crackers. But be adventurous with your child! Try dipping a sandwich – and make it fancy by cutting it up with a fun-shaped cookie cutter. Or try dipping different shapes of pasta into tomato sauce.

Always remember to be careful when serving a toddler foods that could be a choking risk. Be sure that crunchy fruits and vegetables are cooked and soft and that pieces are cut small enough not to pose a choking hazard. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) considers these foods to be dangerous for children younger than 3:

  • Nuts
  • Hard candy
  • Grapes
  • Hot dogs
  • "Chunks" of meat
  • Raw carrots
  • Popcorn
  • Apples

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