Sensitivity to textures, smells, and appearance to foods 

Sometimes children are picky eaters.  Sometimes, food aversions (dislikes) become significant and professional help from a speech or occupational therapist is advised.  If a child will eat fewer than 10 foods, please seek a referral to a feeding program from your child’s pediatrician. 

Pediatric feeding programs are designed to diagnose and address severe food aversions. 

Sometimes children with sensory processing or developmental problems are resistant about trying new foods. 

Here are some tips for introducing new foods to your child: 

1.  Children learn to try new foods by watching others eat them.  Consider sitting down to a meal as a family on a regular basis.  

2.  Avoid cooking a separate meal for your child beginning at an early age.  When cooking the meal for the entire family, try to include something your child likes that everyone at the meal will be eating.  

3.  Place a small serving of each food available onto your child’s plate.  If your child gets upset about this, it can be placed near the child in a separate bowl.   

4.  Even getting a child to touch, smell, or lick a new food is a victory.  Celebrate it with praise! 

5.  Encourage “mouse bites” if the child is reluctant to try a normal sized bite. 

6.  Make eating fun; for example, pretend to be dinosaurs eating trees when you have broccoli. 

7.  Even if a child does not want to eat a food after 10 times, keep presenting the food. 

8.  Do not get upset at your child or try to force them to eat something they don’t want to. 

It is a parent’s job to offer the food and the child’s decision as to whether they will eat it. 

Consider a referral to an occupational therapist or speech therapist for a more customized program if these strategies are not working.