How to Chop Lettuce for Toddlers to Eat

Lettuce is a healthy snack for toddlers.

Lettuce is one of the most versatile vegetables available. It is used as the base for salads and adds just the right amount of flavor to a sandwich. High in vitamin C and fiber, there are several varieties of lettuce to choose from; however, getting your toddler to eat lettuce can prove difficult. Lettuce must be chopped into small bite sized pieces to ensure easy handling by tiny fingers and reduce choking hazards. Does this Spark an idea?

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Sink
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Salad spinner
Small bowl

Instructions

- 1
  
  Cut around the stem on the bottom of the head of lettuce and remove.
- 2
  
  Rinse the head of lettuce under running tap water to remove dirt and debris. Gently shake it over the sink to remove excess water.
- 3
  
  Tear off a few large leaves of lettuce and place in the salad spinner. Spin dry.
- 4
  
  Remove the leaves and stack into a pile as evenly as possible.
- 5
  
  Place the pile of leaves on the cutting board and make multiple vertical cuts.
- 6
  
  Turn the stack horizontally and cut in the opposite direction. The result is tiny cubes of lettuce.
- 7
  
  Fill a small bowl with the lettuce cubes and present it to your toddler.

Tips & Warnings

Add a small drizzle of salad dressing to give the lettuce cubes a bit of flavor.
Avoid adding acidic dressings comprised of lemon or vinegar, which could upset your toddler’s tummy.