How do I help my child try more foods?

While almost every child (neurotypical and otherwise) goes through a phase where they’re very picky about what they’ll eat, some kids may need the additional support of feeding therapy to get the nutrition (and broader palate) they need as they grow.

Depending on diagnosis, it’s important that parents seek out professional guidance to find out if their child is really a picky eater. Children with Down syndrome, for example, often have low muscle tone or generalized muscle weakness, which can affect their chewing strength. In this case, they are treated from a sensory and motor perspective. Some children also have swallowing issues, so you’ll want to rule out sensory/motor or physical issues first.

If your child is a picky eater, here are some tips from an occupational therapist to increase the foods they’re willing to eat:

• Try exposure/desensitization, where the child can see and interact with food without being pressured to eat it.
• Try food chaining, a technique where you chain together foods through the use of similar properties.
• Pay attention to the presentation of food.
• Work on sneaking less preferred foods like vegetables into foods they already like.

For plenty of ideas on how to incorporate these tips, see our article Expand Your Picky Eater’s Diet the OT Way.