Helping Your Picky Eater: An OT Perspective

Picky eating is common in childhood, but for some children, it goes beyond typical food preferences. Occupational therapists can help when eating challenges are related to sensory processing, oral motor skills, or anxiety around food. Why Some Children Are Picky Eaters: - Sensory sensitivities to textures, smells, or temperatures - Oral motor difficulties affecting chewing or swallowing - Negative past experiences with food - Need for control and predictability - Medical issues like reflux or allergies Strategies to Help: 1. Remove Pressure Avoid forcing, bribing, or punishing around food. Pressure often backfires and increases anxiety. 2. Offer Variety Without Expectation Include one "safe" food at every meal alongside new foods. Let your child decide what and how much to eat from what's offered. 3. Food Exploration Before eating, let children explore foods through play—touching, smelling, and even playing with food reduces anxiety. 4. Small Steps Expanding food acceptance is gradual. Celebrate small wins like tolerating a new food on the plate. 5. Family Meals Eating together as a family provides modeling and positive mealtime associations. 6. Involve Children Let kids help with grocery shopping, meal prep, and cooking. Involvement increases willingness to try foods. When to Seek Help: If your child eats fewer than 20 foods, has nutritional deficiencies, experiences significant distress at mealtimes, or has difficulty chewing/swallowing, consult with an occupational therapist or feeding specialist.