Can Toddlers Eat Popcorn? (and Other Common Food Questions)

Neither of my kids are pro athletes—yet!—but neither am I, and I would still consider grabbing a Gatorade to rehydrate if we were to get a stomach bug. So I had to ask the panel: Is it okay for little kids to sip some too?

McNamee doesn’t recommend it—but it has nothing to do with potential for choking, toxins or even allergies. (Phew!) “It’s not unsafe for them,” she confirms. “But if they need an electrolyte-replacement drink for diarrhea or vomiting, Pedialyte, Kinderlyte or Liquid IV Kids contain a better ratio of electrolytes.”

Salama agrees: “Toddlers really only need milk or water,” she says. “Gatorade contains lots of sugar, and that’s not anything a toddler needs more of.” Water, she explains, is the best source to rehydrate, anyhow. For sick kids who need something extra special, water infused with lemon or berries can do the trick.

Before you file cucumbers under “round, slippery and dangerous,” grab a knife: All of the experts we spoke to say cucumbers are perfectly fine for toddlers when sliced into large, thin rounds—all the better if you also peel them to reduce tough skin. Dicing gives you one more option; McNamee says either shape is ideal for babies too. “Avoid preparing them in long sticks that could cause a child to choke,” adds Salama.

Chia seeds, I recently learned, help fortify the immune system. With my 4-year-old in preschool during flu season, I have no further questions—besides the obvious one: Can my 2-year-old eat chia seeds too?

The answer, McNamee tells me, is yes: She recommends mixing them into foods like yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies or baked goods for a dose of omega-3 fatty acids, protein and fiber.

The other experts agree, but Salama adds: “Because they expand when they come in contact with liquid and form large clumps, which increases the risk of choking, I always recommend preparing chia seeds several hours in advance.”

The last time I hit the grocery store to replenish my slivered almond supply and came up with only whole almonds, I briefly faltered. The potential for an allergic reaction, it turns out, is a great concern among the experts I polled: Research suggests that early, frequent exposure to the top nine allergenic foods—that is, peanuts, tree nuts, finned fish, shellfish, soy, dairy, eggs, wheat and sesame—can lower a child's individual risk of an allergy, McNamee tells me.

“Allergies can be very scary, but we increase our child's risk of an allergic reaction by delaying allergenic foods,” she says, suggesting you talk to your pediatrician about your child’s family history and risk factors and derive a plan for gradual exposure. “It's best to offer nuts as soon as your baby starts eating solid foods and continue to offer them regularly if possible, as long as they can tolerate them.”

Signs of a food allergy in a child include hives, rash, vomiting, wheezing and facial swelling, Altmann notes, so you should call your pediatrician or visit an emergency room if any of these symptoms crop up.

In the absence of nut allergies, you should still avoid serving whole nuts to your toddler until age 4 to prevent choking: A bit of nut butter spread thinly on fruit or toast or stirred into oatmeal or yogurt is the safest way to serve it, according to McNamee. You can also chop or grind them up.

Yes—and it’s a great source of protein. Assuming your child’s not allergic—remember: shellfish is a common allergy—Salama recommends dicing or chopping fully cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp for toddler consumption. Just make sure it’s soft, says McNamee, who likes to steam shrimp in a covered pan with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and low-sodium broth.

If protein bars present a convenient way to satisfy an adult-sized appetite on the go, reason follows that the same snack could stop a hangry toddler’s tantrum in its tracks. “Technically, toddlers can have protein bars,” McNamee says. “But they're not necessary for toddlers to get enough protein unless directed by their doctor for a specific medical or nutritional issue.” She notes that toddlers only need about 16 to 18 grams of protein per day, and most get enough through dairy foods, meat, poultry, beans, eggs, peanut butter and grains.

While bars made from fruits and nuts can help with constipation, Salama isn’t a fan since many are highly processed and contain both excess sugar and artificial ingredients. “They’re also often very dense and sticky, which makes it difficult for toddlers to chew and digest,” she adds.

Altmann backs her up: “I always prefer when toddlers and kids eat real food, compared to processed and packaged,” she says. The exception is bars made with few ingredients and/or that are specifically for children, which can make a great emergency snack on the go.

My 2-year-old daughter has a tendency to request foods in their whole form: “Whole thing!” she pleads with me, whether she’s asking for an apple to desert after one bite or—eek—a bunch of grapes. McNamee says toddlers can safely eat grapes that are quartered lengthwise. However, whole grapes—and even halved ones—can spell danger for the youngest eaters.

If a visual helps you hold your own when reasoning with a whiny toddler: “The size of a toddler’s trachea”—that is, their windpipe or breathing tube—“is the same as the diameter of a drinking straw,” Salama explains. “If a grape gets stuck there, it occludes the entire airway, causing a medical emergency.”

Raw vegetables are typically considered a choking hazard for toddlers. To minimize choking risk, make sure to cook your veggies and cut them into age-appropriate pieces. But are there veggies toddlers can eat raw? According to Solid Starts, you can offer grated carrots (and other veggies) starting at 9 months old. If you feel comfortable with your toddler’s eating skills closer to age 2, you can offer items like raw carrot that’s been cut into sticks by quartering raw carrots lengthwise.

Hard pretzels are considered a choking hazard for toddlers, so you should avoid giving them to your little one until at least age 4. And the chocolate, more likely than not, contains added sugar—which is advised against for toddlers.

The AAP recommends avoiding food and drinks with added sugar for children under 2 years of age, and aiming for less than 25 grams (or about 6 teaspoons) a day for those 2 years and older. That said, we know that life (ahem, birthday parties) happen. So when it comes to chocolate and all sugar, use your best judgment and be sparing—but don’t beat yourself up if you’re not perfect.