Activities of Daily living, Children, Uncategorized

Can Occupational Therapy help in Picky Eating?

Saima Wasti

“I don’t want to eat this.” “I am full.” “Eww! This looks and smells funny; I don’t want to eat it.” These phrases are all too familiar to many parents. Encouraging healthy eating habits in children is challenging, especially when dealing with a picky eater.

It is rather disappointing if after trying your best to prepare healthy and good meals, your child does not want to eat. It not only raises a concern on the growth and development of the child but also on whether or not your child is a picky eater or a problem eater. Picky eating typically emerges around the age of 3 years, with several predictive factors influencing whether a child will develop this behavior.

Behavioral Differences of Picky Eaters vs. Problem Eaters

Picky Eaters:

The child consumes at least 30 foods per week recurrently and inclusive of all food groups.
Resists with family and tastes new foods during the family breakfasts and other family meals.
Revisits foods previously rejected.
Accepts various textures.
Looking forward to extend one’s hand and put it to the mouth with new foods.

Problem Eaters:

Eats fewer than 20 different foods.
Avoids family meals and prefers different foods.
Rarely tries foods previously rejected.
Prefers specific textures like only crunchy or only soft.
Sticks to foods of the same color or shape.
Gags on certain foods.
Gets cranky or throws food when new items are introduced.

Possible Causes of Picky or Problem Eating

Illness or fatigue.
Oral sensory issues / oral sensitivity
Excessive artificial sugar consumption
Lack of mealtime routine or structure.
Nutritional deficiencies.
Eating alone without family influence.
Distracting eating environments.
Parental bribery with treats.
Excessive pressure to eat healthily.
Large portions perceived as too much.
Frequent snacking before meals.

Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits

Let your child have his or her meals when he or she is hungry.
Juice and milk should be restricted throughout the day to elicit hunger at ‘times of eating’.
Minimize the use of electronic items such as mobile phones during meal time
Make meals fun with creative shapes and colorful arrangements.
Allow your child to join in meal preparation.
Spend quality time with each other; eat together as a family.
Establish a specific mealtime routine.
Offer a variety of foods with different colors, textures, and flavors.
Praise positive eating behaviors.
Serve smaller portions.
Avoid bribing with treats.
Modify favorite foods to include healthy ingredients.
Introduce new foods slowly and without pressure.
Be persistent and offer the same food multiple times in different forms.
Desensitize oral sensitivity by gradually introducing tastes and textures.

Gradually introduce new foods to the child and do not force the child to take food that they do not want to take.
Be consistent and present the same food in different ways so that even if the child refused to take it the first time around, it will surely take it when you present it in another way.

Signs You Should Seek Help from an Occupational Therapist:

While many children go through phases of picky eating, there are certain signs and behaviors that indicate it might be time to seek professional help. Understanding when to reach out for assistance is crucial in ensuring your child’s nutritional needs are met and any underlying issues are addressed effectively. Here are some detailed indicators of when to seek help:

Consider consulting an occupational therapist if your child exhibits any of the following signs:

Persistent Problem Eating Behaviors: Your child consistently shows limited variety in their diet, such as eating fewer than 20 different foods, or has strong preferences for specific textures, colors, or shapes.
Sensory Sensitivities: Your child has extreme sensitivity to certain textures, smells, or tastes, leading to significant disruption in their eating habits.
Oral-Motor Difficulties: Your child has difficulty chewing, swallowing, or managing food in their mouth, which may indicate oro-motor issues.
High Family Stress During Mealtimes: Mealtimes are highly stressful, affecting family dynamics and overall well-being.
Growth and Nutritional Concerns: Your child shows poor weight gain, nutritional deficiencies, or noticeable delays in growth and development due to their eating habits.

How Occupational Therapy Can Help:

Occupational therapy can play a vital role in managing picky eating and problem feeding behaviors through various interventions, such as:

Feeding Interventions: Addressing oral-motor and sensory processing issues related to eating, helping your child develop better feeding skills.
Mealtime Strategies: Creating strategies to make mealtimes more enjoyable and less stressful for both the child and the family.
Parental Guidance: Equipping parents with tools and techniques to encourage healthy eating habits at home, ensuring consistency and support outside of therapy sessions.

Online Occupational Therapy at Kikstart Rehabilitation

Kikstart Rehabilitation offers online occupational therapy services, making it convenient and accessible for families to receive help from the comfort of their homes. Here’s how Kikstart Rehabilitation can support your child:

Personalized Interventions: Tailored feeding interventions designed to meet your child’s specific needs and challenges.
Flexible Scheduling: Convenient online sessions that fit into your busy schedule, reducing the need for travel and allowing for more consistent therapy.
Expert Guidance: Access to experienced occupational therapists who specialize in pediatric feeding issues, providing professional and compassionate care.
Parental Involvement: Strategies and resources to involve parents actively in their child’s therapy, ensuring that progress continues at home.

Recognizing the signs that indicate a need for professional help is crucial in managing your child’s picky eating behaviors effectively. By seeking timely intervention from healthcare professionals such as pediatricians, occupational therapists, dietitians, and speech therapists, you can ensure your child receives the support they need to develop healthy eating habits and achieve optimal growth and development. Online Occupational therapy can be particularly beneficial in providing specialized strategies and interventions to address picky eating and support your child’s nutritional well-being.