The toddler stage of development introduces more foods during the transition from breast or bottle feeding to eating primarily solids. Grapes, when sliced into small pieces to prevent choking, offer nutrients important for developmental health. Sweet table grapes come in white and black--also known as red--varieties that provide snacks and juice for children who love the fruit’s natural sweetness.
Fiber
A fiber-rich diet is important for your toddler because it regulates her digestion, prevents constipation and makes her feel full after she eats. A serving of 10 grapes provides her with .4 g of fiber, which is 3 percent of the 14-g American Dietetic Association’s (ADA) daily recommendation for 2- to 3-year-olds.
Vitamin C
The vitamin C in grapes offers 5.3 mg of vitamin C, which is 33 percent of the 15 mg the ADA recommends toddlers consume daily. Vitamin C is a nutrient that helps your child form skin tissue and fortifies her immune system against pathogens that can cause bacterial or viral infections. Any parent who has stayed up at night with a sick child understands the importance of vitamin C.
Calories
The calories in 10 grapes are minimal--only 34, or 2 to 3 percent of the 1,000 to 1,400 calories the ADA recommends toddlers consume each day. Most toddlers graze their foods rather than eat regular, full meals, because the appetite becomes accustomed to scheduled meals gradually. Eating small snacks, such as grapes, throughout the day is a normal way to acquire energy.
Water
The composition of grapes is 80 percent water. A serving of 10 provides 1.4 oz., which is a portion of hydration children obtain from foods in addition to the 8 oz. the U.S. Womens, Infants and Children organization recommends toddlers drink in a day. Consuming water is essential for preventing constipation and maintaining hydration.
Choking
The American Academy of Pediatrics identifies whole grapes as one of the top choking hazards for children fewer than 4 years old, who are particularly vulnerable because a small airway prevents objects from passing through the trachea. Hospital emergency rooms admit an estimated 17,000 infants and children annually for choking-related crises, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Nonfatal Choking-Related Episodes Among Children---United States, 2001
- USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory: Grapes, Red or Green (European Type, Such as Thompson Seedless), Raw
- Baylor College of Medicine: How Do the Daily Values Found on Food Labels Compare to the Nutritional Recommendations for Children?
- Hernando County Health Department: Feeding Tips from 12 months to 24 months
