Many parents know the stress of preparing a meal only to have their child refuse it, push it away,
or insist on eating the same few foods over and over again. While picky eating is common
during childhood, some children experience feeding challenges that go beyond typical
preferences.
If mealtimes feel like a daily battle, Occupational Therapy (OT) may be able to help.
At Crawl Walk Jump Run Therapy Clinic (CWJR), our Occupational Therapists work with
children and families to identify the underlying reasons behind picky eating and develop
strategies that make mealtimes more positive, successful, and enjoyable.
What Is Picky Eating?
Picky eating refers to limited food acceptance, strong food preferences, or refusal to try new
foods.
Many children go through phases of picky eating. However, some children have feeding
challenges that significantly impact:
● Nutrition
● Growth
● Family mealtimes
● Social participation
● School lunches
● Overall quality of life
These children may have a very limited diet, experience anxiety around food, or become
distressed when presented with unfamiliar foods.
Signs Your Child May Need Additional
Support
Consider a feeding evaluation if your child:
● Eats fewer than 20-30 foods consistently
● Eliminates foods from their diet without replacing them
● Refuses entire food groups
● Gags, coughs, or vomits when trying new foods
● Becomes upset when unfamiliar foods are presented
● Has difficulty transitioning to new textures
● Refuses foods based on color, temperature, or appearance
● Has significant anxiety during meals
● Eats differently than peers their age
● Struggles with family meals or eating in public settings
Why Are Some Children Picky Eaters?
Picky eating is often more complex than simply not liking certain foods.
Several underlying factors may contribute to feeding difficulties.
Sensory Processing Challenges
Many children with feeding difficulties have sensory sensitivities.
They may be highly sensitive to:
Texture
Examples:
● Crunchy foods
● Mushy foods
● Mixed textures
● Foods that feel “slimy”
Smell
Strong food odors may feel overwhelming.
Appearance
Some children refuse foods based on:
● Color
● Shape
● Brand
● Presentation
Taste
Children may be especially sensitive to:
● Bitter flavors
● Sour flavors
● Strong seasonings
For these children, trying a new food may feel genuinely uncomfortable rather than simply
unfamiliar.
Oral Motor Difficulties
Eating requires coordination of many muscles in the mouth, jaw, tongue, and cheeks.
Some children avoid certain foods because they have difficulty:
● Chewing
● Moving food around the mouth
● Managing different textures
● Coordinating swallowing
Harder-to-chew foods may feel frustrating or exhausting.
Anxiety Around Food
Children who have had negative experiences with food may become anxious around mealtimes.
This can happen if a child has:
● Experienced choking
● Frequently gagged on foods
● Been pressured to eat
● Developed fear of unfamiliar foods
Over time, anxiety can lead to greater food refusal and an increasingly limited diet.
Difficulty with Routine Changes
Some children thrive on predictability.
Trying new foods introduces uncertainty, which can be challenging for children who prefer
routines and familiarity.
This is particularly common among children with:
● Autism Spectrum Disorder
● ADHD
● Sensory processing challenges
● Developmental delays
How Occupational Therapy Helps Picky
Eaters
Occupational Therapists look beyond the behavior and identify the underlying reasons a child is
struggling with food.
Rather than focusing on forcing children to eat, OT focuses on building comfort, confidence, and
positive experiences around food.
Creating Positive Food Experiences
The first goal is often helping children feel safe around food.
Therapy may involve:
● Exploring foods through play
● Touching foods
● Smelling foods
● Interacting with foods without pressure to eat
Children often need to become comfortable with a food before they are ready to taste it.
Addressing Sensory Challenges
If sensory processing is contributing to picky eating, Occupational Therapists use strategies that
gradually help children tolerate new sensory experiences.
Children may work on:
● Exploring different textures
● Increasing tolerance of smells
● Handling messy foods
● Expanding food variety
Therapy progresses at a pace that feels manageable and successful for the child.
Improving Oral Motor Skills
For children who struggle with chewing or managing food textures, therapy may target:
● Jaw strength
● Tongue coordination
● Lip closure
● Chewing patterns
● Oral awareness
Improved oral motor skills often increase confidence during meals.
Building Food Flexibility
Many picky eaters prefer foods that look, feel, and taste exactly the same every time.
Therapists help children gradually expand flexibility by introducing small variations in foods they
already enjoy.
For example:
● Different shapes of the same food
● Similar brands
● New flavors
● Slightly different textures
These small successes can build toward accepting a wider variety of foods.
Supporting Family Mealtimes
Feeding therapy isn’t just about helping a child eat more foods.
It’s also about helping families enjoy mealtimes again.
Occupational Therapists provide strategies to:
● Reduce mealtime stress
● Create positive routines
● Encourage food exploration
● Avoid power struggles
● Support healthy eating habits
The goal is to make meals a positive experience for everyone involved.
What Feeding Therapy May Look Like
Every child is different, but feeding therapy sessions may include:
● Food exploration activities
● Sensory play
● Oral motor exercises
● Gradual food exposure
● Parent education
● Mealtime strategy development
● Building tolerance for new foods
Therapy is individualized based on each child’s needs, goals, and comfort level.
The Importance of Early Intervention
The longer feeding challenges persist, the more difficult they can become.
Over time, children may:
● Eliminate more foods
● Develop stronger food anxieties
● Experience nutritional concerns
● Miss out on social opportunities involving food
Early intervention can help prevent feeding difficulties from becoming more restrictive and
disruptive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is picky eating normal?
Some degree of picky eating is common in childhood. However, if your child’s diet is extremely
limited, causes significant stress, or impacts nutrition and participation, an evaluation may be
beneficial.
Will therapy force my child to eat foods?
No.
Effective feeding therapy focuses on building positive experiences with food and helping
children feel comfortable exploring new foods. Therapy should not involve forcing children to
eat.
How long does feeding therapy take?
Every child is different. Progress depends on the underlying causes of feeding difficulties, the
child’s comfort level, and consistency of strategies at home.
What if my child only eats a handful of foods?
Many children begin feeding therapy with a very limited food repertoire. Occupational Therapists
help children gradually expand food acceptance through individualized treatment approaches.
Can sensory issues cause picky eating?
Absolutely.
Sensory processing challenges are one of the most common contributors to feeding difficulties
and food refusal.
Next Steps: Starting Feeding Therapy at
CWJR
Step 1: Contact Our Team
Call our office to discuss your concerns about your child’s eating habits and feeding skills.
📞 586-323-2957
Step 2: Schedule a Feeding Evaluation
An Occupational Therapist will assess:
● Feeding history
● Sensory processing
● Oral motor skills
● Mealtime behaviors
● Food preferences
● Family concerns
Step 3: Develop an Individualized Treatment Plan
A personalized plan will be created based on your child’s unique feeding needs and goals.
Step 4: Begin Therapy
One of the ways Crawl Walk Jump Run Therapy Clinic differs from many providers is that
we schedule appointments from evaluation through discharge whenever possible. This allows
for consistency in treatment and helps families maintain momentum toward their goals.
Step 5: Celebrate Small Wins
In feeding therapy, every step matters.
Touching a new food, smelling a new food, licking a new food, or taking a small bite can all
represent meaningful progress.
How CWJR Can Help
At Crawl Walk Jump Run Therapy Clinic, our Occupational Therapists help children overcome
feeding challenges and develop healthier, more positive relationships with food.
We can help children:
✅ Expand food variety
✅ Improve tolerance of new textures
✅ Address sensory sensitivities
✅ Strengthen oral motor skills
✅ Reduce mealtime anxiety
✅ Improve family mealtime experiences
✅ Build confidence around food
✅ Develop lifelong healthy eating habits
Helping Children Grow Through Positive
Mealtime Experiences
Picky eating can be frustrating, stressful, and overwhelming for families. However, many feeding
challenges have underlying sensory, motor, or emotional factors that can be addressed through
Occupational Therapy.
With the right support, children can learn to explore new foods, develop confidence during
meals, and expand their diets in a positive and meaningful way.
At Crawl Walk Jump Run Therapy Clinic, we’re passionate about helping children and families
transform mealtimes from stressful to successful—one bite, one food, and one victory at a time.
