Tips for Picky Eaters

If your child is a picky eater, there is a chance that they will need pediatric feeding therapy if things don’t improve on their own. To help parents navigate this challenge, our SLPs that specialize in feeding therapy have put together some helpful tips to common questions they get.

Is Picky Eating Normal?

This is probably the most frequently asked question we receive from parents.

The short answer: Yes!

It’s developmentally appropriate for children to go through a stage of picky eating as they learn about food preferences and build independence during mealtimes. So, if you have a picky eater on your hands, no need to worry quite yet.

Common Questions from parents about Picky Eaters

  • There are a variety of methods to help your child who is a picky eater. We typically recommend that families:

    • Keep mealtimes fun and low-pressure—invite your child to help prepare the meal or set the table.

    • Offer new foods regularly without expecting your child to try them right away.

    • Use objective language when describing food. Instead of saying “yummy” or “gross,” try words like soft, crunchy, warm, or green. This helps reduce emotional reactions and builds food vocabulary.

  • You may want to seek support if you notice any of the following:

    • Your child eats fewer than 20 different foods.

    • They consistently refuse entire food groups or textures (e.g., meats, vegetables, purees).

    • Picky eating has persisted for more than 2 years.

    • They often eat a completely separate meal from the rest of the family.

  • Instead of trying to persuade, focus on creating a positive and low-pressure environment. Here are a few helpful strategies:

    • Stick to a routine: Offer meals and snacks at the same times each day so your child knows when to expect food.

    • Let them play and explore: Let your child touch, smell, lick, bite/spit and help prepare food without needing to eat it. Comfort builds confidence!

    • Avoid bribes or rewards: Encouraging bites with treats can backfire. Instead, stay neutral and let curiosity do the work. The goal isn’t to get them to eat right away, but to build a healthy, trusting relationship with food over time.

  • If your child shows any of the above characteristics, schedule a formal feeding evaluation with one of our SLPs who specializes in pediatric feeding and eating disorders.

    Early support can make a big difference!

    Feel free to reach out to our team of feeding therapy specialists by filling out this form.

Tips for Parents Who Have Picky Eaters

Instead of trying to persuade your kids to eat, we recommend focusing on creating a positive and low-pressure environment. Here are a few helpful strategies our feeding therapists recommend.

Stick to a Meal Time Routine

Offer meals and snacks at the same times each day so your child knows when to expect food.

Let them play & explore foods

Let your child touch, smell, lick, bite/spit and help prepare food without needing to eat it. Comfort builds confidence!

Avoid bribes or rewards for eating

Encouraging bites with treats can backfire. Instead, stay neutral and let curiosity do the work.

The goal of feeding therapy isn’t to get them to eat right away, but to build a healthy, trusting relationship with food over time.

Tried it all? Feeding therapy can make a BIG difference!

If your child is having ongoing challenges with eating, it might be worth scheduling a formal feeding evaluation with one of our SLPs. We specialize in pediatric feeding and eating disorders, who will be able to detect if early intervention is needed.