Picky Eaters

Are you the parent of a picky eater? Does your child consume more than 10 different foods, including fruits, vegetables, and proteins? Did you know that a qualified pediatric therapy team can address picky eating even in typically developing children? Evidence-based approaches to help foster healthy, functional eating habits can be used among all children – that is – those who are typically developing and those with developmental delays.

Many parents report their children to be “picky”, explaining how they eat only a handful of foods and refuse to expand their palettes. It’s not uncommon to hear stories of children who can only eat chicken nuggets, chocolate milk, and saltine crackers. This is called a food jag. Food jags vary in duration. Some children will food jag for days at a time, others for months. Eventually, the child will begin to refuse the foods that were once staples in their diets, creating a sense of panic among those who prepare their meals.

Often, parents, siblings, and peers exacerbate the situation. Unknowingly, we provide verbal and nonverbal cues that reinforce inappropriate food-related behaviors. Consider the typically developing infant. When the infant is presented with a spoon of a non-preferred food, it turns its head and extends its arms in a desperate attempt to block the spoon (a nonverbal signal of anxiety). What do the parents do? Recognizing the importance of consuming _______ calories per day, the parents immediately grab the preferred food, which the child will eat. This is the reinforcement. Fast forward 8 years. Any time this same child is presented with a non-preferred food, what do they do? They turn their head and extend their arms in a desperate attempt to block the spoon. ‘Kids who are already anxious about eating may be more predisposed to being more anxious in general or developing an anxiety disorder later. ’

—Scott Pentiuk, pediatric gastroenterologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

There’s no evidence to suggest one feeding program is successful for all children. To determine the root of the picky eating (which could be anxiety, motor skill deficits, behavioral issues, sensory processing issues, or many others…), schedule a comprehensive feeding evaluation at Total Pediatrics. Sometimes a small change can make a huge difference.