Food fussiness is something many parents deal with. From the early stages of introducing your baby to food, right through to teen and even adult years, mealtimes can be hard. Maybe you spent hours in the kitchen preparing a meal you thought your child would love, only to have it thrown back at you (literally in the case of babies and toddlers).
This process of selecting and rejecting food is quite normal and helps children to learn about feeding and food. You see feeding, and the processes associated with eating food are not innate. Feeding, eating and swallowing are of course important ‘occupations’ or activities of daily living for us all, but they are skills we must learn and master. This can be harder for some children than it is for others.
To tackle the topic of food fussiness, we will look at the ways in which Occupational Therapists work with children to develop essential skills associated with feeding and eating, bust some myths about meal time and provide some tips on how you can help your child build positive eating skills.
How Do Occupational Therapists Help with Feeding and Food Fussiness?
As mentioned above, eating is a learned activity. There are many complex steps involved in eating, including the development of neural pathways in the brain that help us perform many of the tasks associated with selecting and eating foods. And with these complex steps comes physical skills which include:
- Oral motor skills – the different movements within the mouth
- Sensory processing skills – processing all the sensory information associated with eating (smell, taste, texture etc)
- Fine motor skills – the ability to pick up and grasp objects / items
- Core strength – the ability to sit up and maintain position
The skills associated with feeding begin to build before a baby is born and continues to develop as a child is exposed to new experiences. If your child is perceived to be a ‘picky eater’, has a limited diet or struggles to chew, suck and swallow, you may consider seeking the assistance of an Occupational Therapist.
Because feeding and eating are basic activities or ‘occupations’ of our daily lives, Occupational Therapists play a key role in helping those with feeding challenges and food fussiness. Through thorough assessments of a child’s skills associated with feeding, food profiles and any accompanying diagnosis (e.g. Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Developmental Delays, Dysphagia), an Occupational Therapist will be able to develop a plan that will help your child explore all aspects of feeding and food in a fun and engaging way.
The Rainbow Clinic utilises the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) approach to feeding, an evidence-based method to assist children with feeding difficulties and support parents. Through specific steps, our goal is to help your child try new foods on their own terms and without force. Some of the steps include:
- Looking at the food
- Smelling the food
- Touching or kissing food
- Licking the food
- Tasting the food
- Eating the food
We also work closely with parents to help them understand the steps involved in eating, their child’s limits, how to set up a feeding routine, and of course, encourage ways for parents to make food fun and interesting at home.
Mealtime Myths
Because a big part of food therapy is about helping parents understand the complexities of eating, busting the common myths associated with mealtime is important.
As adults we can become blinded by what seems to be so natural to us. Afterall, we have been eating for a long time. We know what we like and dislike, and we know how to cope with new foods. Which brings me to the following mealtime myths. By understanding these myths associated with mealtime, you might be able to reduce your own stress and support your child in their exploration of food.
Myth 1 – Eating is the Body’s Number 1 Priority
Breathing is actually the body’s number 1 priority. Believe it or not, eating is number three.
Myth 2 – Eating is Instinctive
We are only instinctive eaters for about the first month of life. After that we utilise our primitive motor reflexes (sucking, swallowing) to lay down some guidelines for the brain which evolve into ‘learned behaviours’ after six months of age.
Myth 3 – Eating is Easy
Hopefully I have already shared enough info to debunk this one, but just in case it is not clear – eating is one of the most complex physical tasks a human engages in. Eating is the only task which involves all of the muscles in our body. And for children, it requires simultaneous coordination of all eight sensory systems.
Myth 4 – Eating is a two-step process – Step 1: Sit, Step 2: Eat
There are actually 32 steps in the SOS approach to feeding.
Myth 5 – It is NOT OK to Play with Your Food
Touching, smushing, wearing and all of those fun and tactile experiences with food are what help babies and children learn the physics of food before it even hits their mouth.
Myth 6 – If a child is hungry, they will eat. They will NOT starve themselves
Sure, most children probably won’t go without food if they are hungry, but for the 4-6% of children that have feeding problems, ‘starving themselves’ can seem like a better option. Children with feeding challenges can often find eating painful and unpleasant, and because they are young, their response to something that hurts is to cry and run away.
Myth 7 – Children only need to eat three times a day
Would you deprive yourself of snacks? Of course not, and children shouldn’t go without snacks either. Eating smaller, nutritious amounts of food frequently throughout the day can be healthier.
Myth 8 – A child who won’t eat has either a behavioural or organic problem
Up to 98% of children with feeding challenges have a combination of behavioural and organic problems. If you start with an organic problem with eating, you are going to quickly learn that eating doesn’t work/hurts and behaviours to avoid the task will emerge. If you start with a purely behavioural/environmental reason for not eating, your compromised nutritional status or lack of experience will quickly begin to cause organic problems.
Myth 9 – Certain foods are only to be eaten at certain times
Have you ever heard of ‘brinner’ (breakfast for dinner)? There is no reason to limit specific foods to certain times of the day. Your child may love cereal, and if it means they gain a reasonable amount of nutrition by eating this in the morning and at night, then go for it.
Myth 10 – Mealtimes are proper social occasions. Children are to ‘mind their manners’
Actually, eating comes first, manners second. Sure, we would like our children to behave at the dinner table, use their cutlery and all of that. But if your child has a feeding challenge, getting food into their mouth and swallowed is the priority. It really doesn’t matter how it gets there, as long as they are learning and enjoying the experience.
How You Can Help Your Child with Feeding at Home
Now that we have busted the myths associated with mealtime, you are probably in a better position to see how you can help your child with feeding at home. The most important thing to remember is that food and feeding can be fun. And if we can show our children that food is not scary, it is fun, they will be more likely to give it a go.
Following are our top tips to help eliminate the mealtime madness in your home, and build a positive feeding skills:
- Try to keep mealtimes fun and enjoyable. Positive mealtimes can have long-term benefits and help your child build a positive relationship with feeding and food.
- Ensure mealtimes feel safe for your child. They shouldn’t feel as though they are being forced into doing something that can hurt or scare them as this can have a negative impact on their behaviour. Mealtimes can and should be a fun experience for your child where they feel supported in their exploration of skills associated with eating.
- Provide opportunities to eat together. Let’s face it, eating food together feels great and your children will enjoy sharing the experience with their family. It also offers an opportunity for your child to witness positive behaviours towards food and what you do when you try something new.
- Try limiting eating time to 5 – 20 minutes. If your child is stuck at the table for longer, it could have a negative impact on their experience with food. You can always come back in two hours and try again.
- Provide opportunities for your child to explore new food with their fingers, hands, body, face and mouth. Sure, this might be messy, but it is a very good way for them to learn the physics of food before they attempt to eat it.
- Take the time to acknowledge your child’s feelings associated with mealtime and offer support to help them be calm before, during and as they finish their meal. This will create a positive experience for the whole family.
- Remember to have fun with your child’s development and find ways for your child to be exposed to foods in other ways then mealtime. For example, your child could create funny faces with cut veggies, fruit and bread. It doesn’t always have to be about eating.
If your child has challenges with feeding or a limited a diet, talk to us today. Early intervention will help your child develop positive eating skills and build their independence and confidence.