Safe Size Guide for Fruit and Vegetables

By cutting the food in the right size you can reduce the risk of choking. Offer foods that pass the “squish test” = the food breaks apart easily when squeezed between your thumb and fingers (e.g., think avocado, roasted sweet potato, hard-boiled egg).

Risky foods:

• Hard foods like seeds, whole nuts, hard candy, raw fruits and veggies, dried fruits
• Whole grapes, berries, cherries, grape tomatoes, round hot dogs
• Large tough chunks of meat or cheese
• Popcorn - especially the seed.
• Globs of peanut butter

Risky Shapes:

• Small
• Round
• Firm
• Slippery

To lower the risk small round shapes like green peas and blueberries can be squeezed before served. Hard vegetables can be steamed or roasted before serving.