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Tag Archive for: Picky Eating

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Patience, not Pressure Help A Picky Eater

Occupational therapists often help to address the common issue of picky eating.  An important strategy used to help expand a child’s food repertoire and make mealtime more enjoyable is to remove the pressure!   All meal time experiences should be kept positive to allow for the development of a positive association with food. Keep meal time playful and fun with no coercion or pressure to consume anything and this positive meal time environment will create the necessary foundation for food exploration.

The following article written by Casey Seidenberg, a Mother and Nutrition Counsellor, discusses how lifting the pressure worked for her family.  Check it out here and learn more of her secrets to success!

Independent:  Why you shouldn’t lecture your children about healthy eating

Learn more about resolving the picky eating problem in our informative OT-V Video:  Solutions For Picky Eaters.

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The Picky Eating Problem

Do you have a child that is a picky eater?  For many this is a common issue and another reason that parents seek OT services for their child. While it is normal for kids to have food preferences and dislikes, picky eating can be very concerning for parents.

Occupational Therapists can work with families to create solutions tailored to the individual child. In general we suggest some of the following tips:

– Remove the pressure
– Allow the child to “play with their food”
– Encourage food exploration on their own terms
– Maintain a consistent meal-time routine
– Introduce changes and new foods slowly – overcoming picky eating is a very gradual process

Watch our video below to learn more on how an Occupational Therapist can help families overcome the picky eating problem and raise healthy, happy eaters.