Having a picky eater in the family can be stressful, and while it can be a normal part of development at some ages, sometimes kids with special needs might have sensory issues or a disability that predisposes them to having sensory issues, which can ultimately lead them to struggle with expanding their diets to include more than a handful of foods.
As an occupational therapist expert at Understood.org, I’ve been called upon to participate in some really great opportunities. I’m so thankful I was asked by Amanda Morin and Gretchen Vierstra, the hosts of Understood’s In It podcast, to talk about picky eating.
We collectively discussed the sensory aspects of eating, and how smells, tastes, and even the sight of food can be enough for kids not to want to try new things. And while trying new foods can take time, I shared some of my secret tips on how to how to think differently about what is considered a food win, a game to help kids take more bites, and some strategies to change the size, shape, temperature or taste of a favorite food to expand their list of preferred foods.
I’m in a freelance role with Understood as an expert, and was compensated for my time taping the podcast, but all opinions expressed in the podcast are my own.