When Mealtime Becomes a Struggle: Feeding Therapy Can Help
For many parents, mealtime isn’t always the joyful family experience they had imagined. Instead, it can turn into a daily struggle filled with picky eating, refusals, and tears. If your child is consistently avoiding certain foods, gagging at the sight of new textures, or refusing entire food groups, it could be more than just typical picky eating. Sensory aversions and feeding challenges can significantly impact your child’s nutrition and overall well-being.
If this sounds familiar, feeding therapy might be the key to helping your child find more comfort and success at the table.
Understanding Picky Eating vs. Sensory Aversions
It’s normal for kids to go through phases of picky eating, especially as toddlers. They might reject certain foods based on taste or appearance, but over time, they usually outgrow these preferences. However, when food aversions are extreme or persistent, they may be a sign of sensory sensitivities or feeding issues that need more specialized support.
Sensory aversions occur when a child’s brain has difficulty processing the sensory input from certain foods. This could include:
Textures (e.g., mushy, crunchy, slimy foods)
Smells (e.g., strong odors like fish or cheese)
Tastes (e.g., strong, bitter, or unfamiliar flavors)
Children with sensory processing difficulties might gag, cry, or even refuse to eat altogether if they’re presented with foods that overwhelm their senses. This can lead to limited food choices, nutritional gaps, and stress for the whole family.
What Is Feeding Therapy?
Feeding therapy is a specialized service provided by occupational therapists or speech-language pathologists trained in helping children with feeding and swallowing difficulties. The goal of feeding therapy is to help children learn to eat a variety of foods in a safe and supportive environment. It addresses not only the physical aspects of eating (like chewing and swallowing) but also the sensory and behavioral challenges that can make mealtime difficult.
In feeding therapy, children participate in play-based activities that help them gradually explore and become comfortable with different foods. Therapists use a gentle, step-by-step approach, starting with non-threatening interactions with new foods (like smelling or touching them) before moving on to tasting and eventually eating.
Signs Your Child Might Benefit from Feeding Therapy
Here are some common signs that feeding therapy could be helpful for your child:
Extreme Picky Eating: Your child consistently avoids entire food groups or only eats a handful of specific foods.
Sensory Issues: Your child reacts strongly to certain food textures, tastes, or smells (e.g., gagging or spitting out food).
Meal-Related Anxiety: Your child becomes visibly upset or distressed when presented with new or unfamiliar foods.
Slow Weight Gain or Poor Nutrition: Your child’s limited diet is impacting their growth or health.
Difficulty Chewing or Swallowing: Your child struggles with the mechanics of eating, such as chewing or safely swallowing food.
If any of these sound familiar, it’s a good idea to seek an evaluation with a pediatric occupational therapist or speech-language pathologist who specializes in feeding.
How Feeding Therapy at Children in Motion Can Help
At Children in Motion, we understand that every child’s feeding challenges are unique, and so are our therapy solutions. Our family-centered approach ensures that parents and caregivers are involved every step of the way, making therapy a positive and collaborative experience.
Our occupational therapists and speech therapists work together to develop a customized feeding plan for your child. Using evidence-based techniques and a play-based approach, we help children:
Explore new foods in a safe, non-pressured way.
Gradually increase their tolerance to different textures, smells, and tastes.
Build the physical skills needed for effective chewing and swallowing.
Reduce anxiety and stress around mealtime.
One of our recent clients, a young child named Sam, initially struggled with sensory aversions to most fruits and vegetables. Through feeding therapy, Sam learned to tolerate and eventually enjoy new textures like smoothies and steamed veggies, significantly expanding his diet and boosting his confidence at the table.
Tips for Reducing Mealtime Stress at Home
While feeding therapy can make a significant difference, there are also steps you can take at home to support your child’s progress:
Create a Calm Mealtime Environment: Minimize distractions and keep the atmosphere relaxed. Stress can increase food aversions.
Offer a Variety of Foods Without Pressure: Allow your child to see and touch different foods without forcing them to eat. Exposure is key.
Make It Fun: Encourage your child to play with their food, whether it’s building a tower of carrot sticks or making a smiley face out of berries. This playful approach reduces anxiety.
Be Patient: Progress takes time. Celebrate small victories, even if it’s just your child touching a new food for the first time.
Final Thoughts
Feeding difficulties can be stressful for both children and parents, but you don’t have to navigate them alone. With the right support, your child can learn to overcome sensory aversions, expand their diet, and enjoy a healthier relationship with food.
If you’re concerned about your child’s eating habits, Children in Motion is here to help. Our experienced therapists will work with your family to create a personalized plan that meets your child’s unique needs. Contact us today to learn more about our feeding therapy services and how we can support your family.
References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). "Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Children."
STAR Institute for Sensory Processing. "Sensory Challenges and Feeding Therapy."
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). "Addressing Feeding and Eating Issues in Pediatric Therapy."
