Picky Eaters!
By Stacey | Leave A Comment

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We either are one, have one, or know one! They exist in all genders, sizes, and degrees of pickiness!

In General:

This can be a very normal part of development. It is most commonly discovered between the ages of 2-3 years, but can begin and end at any time.
Consider genetic disposition! We all have preferences and the same holds true for our children.
Try to be more concerned with the "what", not the "how" of their food and beverage intake. If you have a picky eater, start thinking outside of the box. Get creative! More on that later!
Don’t lose site of the big picture. Keep in mind what your child is eating from day to day, over time. The situation may not be as bad as you think!

Apron string Ideas:

Set a good example. While it is important to teach our children that everyone has different preferences, be aware how quickly and early they will pick up on your bad habits.
Give your child the opportunity to "help" you as much as possible. Depending on their age, that could mean anything from grocery shopping to actual meal prep.
Make food FUN! Use cookie cutters, become a food artist by creating new masterpieces, and let them dip, dip, and dip some more! Check out your local library for books on cooking for and with kids.
Play food games when appropriate. This can be most helpful when introducing new foods.
Let go of your sneaky guilt! Some days it is not worth the battle, so save your sanity and just be sneaky. Remember, their tastes change almost daily at a young age. What you sneak today, they will probably request a plateful of tomorrow! Try making your own veggie and fruit purees to hide in their food. No time? I use pre-made organic baby food and it works just fine!

Special Considerations:

Many children I work with have limited food preferences secondary to underlying influences. These can include gastrointestinal sensitivities, decreased muscle tone or strength, decreased oral-motor coordination, and sensory defensiveness issues (this can come in the form of smell, taste, or texture, or all three!). If your child exhibits any of these, either alone or in combination with other problems, it is best to seek help from either a pediatric occupational therapist or speech therapist.
If your child has severe food limitations, consider the nutritional implications. Many times, a consultation with a registered dietitian or nutritionist can be helpful as you search for new ideas or food sources for your child.

A Therapist’s Insight:

When working with children with food limitations, it is important to manage the problem by keeping the whole child in mind. It is not just a picky eating problem.
We typically have to approach the food choices and eating from both an oral-motor and a sensory frame of reference.
When helping a parent identify whether their child is a picky eater or a resistant eater, we help them consider the intensity, frequency, and duration of their food preferences.
Typically, we don’t start with the food! We play mouth games with whistles, straws, special vibrating mouth toys, and special flavors to stimulate the mouth and ready it for food.
We may have to implement a behavioral approach in conjunction with the physical goals we are addressing. For example, we will use a sticker/reward chart which is broken down into the many aspects of eating. And there are a lot! Sitting in the presence of food, touching food, tolerating food on the plate, and smelling the food just to name a few!
I like to experiment with several good games. One allows the child to be my "lab assistant". Together we investigate the different properties of our trial foods for the day. Is the food crunchy or chewy, is it sour or sweet, do you need to bite it or suck on it? The other involves "taste it, smell it, kiss it, lick it, bite it, chew it, eat it". Original title, huh?! We try to make it through the process with a food, remembering all along that it is a game.