Let picky eaters play with their food, and don’t force ‘thank you’ tastes
Once upon a time, not too long ago, in a land not far from here, parents would force children to clean their plates during meals, regardless of their hunger level. We now know that this feeding strategy can teach children to ignore their own hunger cues and subsequently overeat as adults, and thankfully this practice has declined.
Hi! How do you feel about this article in regards to working with children as an SLP focused on feeding? Do you agree? Is this the approach you would recommend for parents of children that will only eat beige foods, or aren’t willing to try new foods/have a severely limited diet? What about to another SLP working with kiddos with autism?
Thanks:)
I think this article represents one perspective on picky eating. For some kids, this type of repetitive exposure with a no pressure approach might work. I also like the work of Ellen Satter which is referred too if not by name. I have to assume, the article is referring kids who are generally healthy but picky eaters. If you’re asking me if this is what I recommend with the children I work with or for a child who only eats brown foods? I would have to say in general , no. Many of the children I work with have underlying medical and nutritional issues that contribute to their feeding issues. These kids (and kids with a severely limited diet) need a more comprehensive approach with team evaluation, medical and nutritional support, stable weight gain, and feeding therapy. I personally use more of a gentle behavioral approach to encourage acceptance adding in sensory aspects such as controlling for texture, taste, temperature, etc. I love manipulating schedules to encourage appetite and hunger. But there is no one size fits all approach in the world of picky eating.