My one year old will eat anything. I know that certain foods, like citrus and egg whites, are often avoided in the first year of life to avoid allergies. Are there any foods I should still be avoiding during this toddler phase?
Simone M. e-mailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca; our kids’ cooking expert, Annabel Karmel, answered:
Introducing foods to your child should be a fun and exciting stage in your child’s development. Yet many parents regard this as a potential minefield, so anxious are they about allergic reactions to different foods.
The reality is that only a small proportion of people are affected by allergies and there is no need to worry unduly about food allergies unless there is a history of allergy in your family or your child suffers from eczema.
Egg allergies are less common than most people think. Like any potentially allergenic food, an egg can cause a reaction, but if it does, the effect is immediate and striking, leaving no question and warning you to keep your little one away from eggs -- at least for a while. Eggs are very nutritious and provided they are cooked until the white and yolk are solid and there is no history of allergy in the family, they can be given from seven months.
Citrus fruits rarely cause a true food allergy but can sometimes cause a reaction in susceptible children. But again, there is no need to withhold citrus fruits, as it will be obvious if your child has a reaction and the chances are that your child will be fine.
As to which foods to avoid in the toddler phase, your child should really be able to eat most foods. The only foods I would naturally be careful not to give are foods that might cause choking like whole nuts, fruits with pits, whole grapes, popcorn, whole hot dogs, etc.
Annabel Karmel is the mother of three children, a bestselling author of books on nutrition and cooking for babies and toddlers, and a familiar face on British television. Annabel recently released a Canadian edition to her hugely popular baby recipe book More First Meals. You can also find resources and recipes at her website www.annabelkarmel.com