Sensory vs. Food

Both of my children are picky eaters because both of them are very particular about the textures of food they put in their mouths. If they do not like a certain texture, they will gag. My son will also begin to shake his head side to side, while my daughter has even thrown up. Meal time becomes a struggle when trying to get everyone to eat a healthy family balanced meal. Currently, we are working with both a speech therapist and an occupational therapist to help both children with eating. Here are some tips they have given me that have really helped us at meal time:

 

1.      Limit the amount of change- Since the food will be changing every meal, try to limit the amount of change the child is exposed to by providing the same plate, bowl, utensils, and drink.

2.      Make a food menu- Allow your child to feel in control of their eating by allowing them to choose from a menu what they want to eat.

3.      Separate food items- So the child doesn’t get overwhelmed, place each item you want them to eat in separate bowls (veggies in red bowl, chicken in green bowl, fruit in blue bowl, bread in yellow bowl). Let the child feel in control of their eating by picking which bowl they want to eat out of first. Eventually, change from a child’s bowl to a plate with dividers. I have also seen parents use ice trays to separate food at mealtime.
 
4.      Turn eating into a game- Have the child roll the dice to see how many bites they need to take.
 
5.      Pairing foods- Ease the stress of trying a new food by pairing it with something they already love. For example, if the love chips and you want them to eat turkey meat, place the turkey on the chip and have them take a bite.

6.      Use similar foods- When trying something new, pair it with something similar that they enjoy. This way the new item doesn’t seem so different. The similar food could have the same texture, flavor, color, or consistency. I put the new food by the liked food and talk to my child about how they are the same.

7.      Food play- Let your child play with their food. If they won’t touch it, they are less likely to put it in their mouth.

8.      Food thought- Never force your child to eat, or they might associate meal time with negative thoughts. When eating, sing songs and talk in a happy tone to make meal time fun and inviting.

9.      Model- Children are always watching you. Model good eating habits for them. Sit down and eat with them. Talk about how yummy the food is as you put it in your mouth.


I do not want my children to be limited on the types of food and liquid they will take. That is why it is so important for me to continue to introduce them to new foods and expose them to different food textures frequently. These tips have really eased the stress in our house during meal time. I have also found the books, Just Take A Bite by Lori Ernsperger and Food Chaining by Cheri Fraker very helpful.  I will continue to find new and innovative ways to help my children with eating. If you have any ideas, please share!