Occupational Therapists (OTs) are uniquely positioned to address picky eating due to their training in analyzing activities. OTs also understand how to facilitate lasting behavior change. Looking at your mealtime environment, an OT will help you identify which aspects facilitate a positive interaction. They will also identify which factors could potentially be contributing to imbalances, power struggles, and/or negative behaviors. They can also help you problem-solve and experiment with different strategies. An OT works with you until you find something that works best for your specific situation and family dynamic.
Eight ways an occupational therapist can help with picky eating
Identify Why
Help you identify why your child might be exhibiting picky eating, to begin with. When reviewing your specific eater picky eater situation, an OT might raise several questions. The answers to these questions will help them suggest strategies that will best manage your situation. Here are some examples:
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- Do they not like certain textures in their mouth?
- Do they not like to touch the food?
- Do they not like the way the food looks or is presented?
- Do they not feel stable in their chair or seating arrangement while eating?
- Do they not understand mealtime expectations?
- Do they feel respected and supported?
- Do they feel hungry, or can they recognize their internal hunger cues?
- Do they feel pressured to eat?
Modify Environment
Provide suggestions to modify the environment to allow for a set-up conducive to eating. This might look like introducing new tools or utensils to your child to help them independently feed themselves, position them in their chair to feel balanced, create a mealtime routine, etc.
Explore Foods
Provide you with creative ideas for exploring new foods and decreasing food anxiety for the family through food play and fun, engaging games for your kids that will get them excited to learn about how food affects their little bodies.
Sensory Needs
Address the sensory aspect of eating by getting to know your child’s specific sensory needs and helping you develop a sensory diet for optimizing the eating experience.
Meal Modification
Help you with suggestions to modify certain meals and recipes to allow for the acknowledgment and inclusion of different preferences within your family, but without placing the burden on you that short-order cooking and catering to every family member can create.
Divide Responsibilities
Focus on Ellyn Satter’s “division of responsibility in feeding” to put the power back in your hands.
Feeding Therapy
Some OTs have specific feeding therapy training and can help you expand your child’s food repertoire in a meaningful and purposeful way through behavior change techniques and strategies such as food chaining, oral motor exploration, etc.
Nutrition Training
Some OTs also have nutrition training and can help you learn new ways to incorporate more nutritious options for your picky eater to meet them where they’re at in their food preferences while also being confident that they are getting the nutrition they need to thrive.
Related Articles on Picky Eating
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