Exactly How to Cut Up Carrots, Strawberries, and More For Toddlers

For a young toddler, cutting up bananas in small chunks will prove easier to grab onto than thin slices, while also lowering the risk of choking. Cut bananas lengthwise in quarters, and then roughly dice them to create cube-like pieces.

Papayas contain vitamin C, A, and E, while also containing an enzyme that helps the digestion system, so giving the fruit to your toddler is a great idea. Start by cutting the papaya in half, scooping out the seeds from each side with a spoon, and peel the skin off each side with a sharp knife. Cut the papaya into rough wedges, and chop the wedges into smaller chunks for your little one.

Cheese is another simple, nutritional snack to give to toddlers, and most love it. The safest, most convenient way to serve cheese to toddlers is by shredding it with a box grater (the bigger holes work best). It should take you just a couple of minutes, and you can change it up weekly by serving mozzarella, Swiss, or other kinds.

If you’re wondering the best way to serve pineapple to your kiddo, it’s easiest to just buy the whole pineapple, cut it up in advance, and store it in the fridge to serve little by little. First, slice off the crown and bottom, peel the skin with a sharp knife, core it, and chop into rings (you can also cut the pineapple in quarters around the core). Once that’s done, roughly chop the rings into small wedges.

A great (and adorable) way to serve sandwiches to your curious little one is by taking a slice of bread, trimming off the crust, and cutting it up into eight rectangles. Make four different kinds of finger sandwiches with the cut-up bread, loading them with apples and peanut butter, sweet potato and cheese, or your preferred option.

Mango is another fruit that toddlers love, especially when it’s ripe and sweet, and its high dose of vitamin C makes it great for their immune systems, too. Slice up the tropical fruit by first cutting away the sides from the pit, and then making crosswise cuts in each side. Invert the mango so the little cubes stick out, and cut them off the skin with a knife.

Baby carrots are a fantastic way to include veggies in your toddler’s diet, as their somewhat-sweet taste, crunch, and bright color make them an exciting option for littles. Even though baby carrots are already small, they can present a choking hazard. Cut the carrots in lengthwise quarters, and if you feel like they’re too long, cut the quarters in half to create chunkier, smaller pieces.

A surefire option that never disappoints, sweet strawberries are a toddler favorite. Cut the vitamin C-rich fruit in the same way you cut baby carrots: after slicing off the stem, cut the strawberries in lengthwise quarters, and then cut them in half crosswise for even smaller pieces.

Celery is a great veggie for toddlers to munch on, giving them a crunch they love. Cut celery stalks lengthwise in half to make two thinner stalks. Once that’s done, roughly chop the stalks to create chunky pieces they can easily grab.

Although blueberries are already pretty small, their round shape can make for a possible choking hazard, so quickly cutting them in half is the safest way to serve them to toddlers. The antioxidant-rich superfood is even easier to pick up this way.