Feeding Therapy/Picky Eaters

If your child only eats certain foods or dislikes trying new foods he/she may be considered a picky eater.   Sensory sensitive children may be hypersensitive to the way food looks, smells, feels, or sounds which can limit their overall diet and nutrition.  

Eating is not just about chewing and swallowing food.   The SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Feeding Therapy approach explains:

There are six major “Steps to Eating” – Eating does not begin at the mouth!

First, we must tolerate the physical presence or the look of the food. This might even include just being in the same room as the food. Then, perhaps, we can interact with the food without directly touching the food to your skin, maybe by using a kitchen utensil like a mini food chopper or a fork. Next, our body needs to process and manage the smell or odor of a food.  The play then expands to include touching the food with your fingers, hands, body, and mouth. Think about that baby first learning to eat! Tasting comes next, which might look like quickly poking the food with the tip of your tongue, or maybe putting the food in your mouth, and spitting it out. Finally, we are ready to practice chewing and swallowing. (Source: www.sosapproachtofeeding.com)