Toddlers just learning how to chew and feed themselves can still handle a variety of healthy foods. "You want to instill a good appetite for these foods right away," says Chloe Devening, a registered dietitian in Glen Allen, Va.
Some of her ideas:
Serve small bites. Food should be pea-sized or smaller to prevent choking. Cut up rounded items such as grapes and melon balls, grate firm foods such as apples and don't give anything hard (candy, nuts, popcorn) or sticky (marshmallows, gummy candy).