Introduction: As a parent, it can be incredibly challenging when your child is selective with food. When my 3.5-year-old son went from eating a few staple meals to becoming even more restrictive, I found myself at a loss for how to encourage him to try new foods. This journey has been filled with ups and downs, but I’m learning that patience and support are key.

Understanding Food Selectivity: Food selectivity, especially in young children, is more common than many parents realise. My son’s diet had always been somewhat limited, but over time, it became increasingly restricted to just a few specific foods. As a parent, it’s easy to feel guilty or frustrated, but understanding that this is a phase many children go through can help ease those feelings.

The Role of Occupational Therapy in Addressing Food Challenges: One resource that has been particularly helpful is Occupational Therapy (OT). OT can provide strategies to help children who are selective eaters by addressing sensory sensitivities, promoting positive mealtime experiences, and gradually introducing new foods in a way that’s comfortable for the child. Our referral to a dietitian was also a crucial step in ensuring that our son gets the nutrition he needs while we work on expanding his diet.

Strategies for Introducing New Foods: Incorporating advice from our OT sessions, we’ve started to slowly introduce new foods in a low-pressure environment. One approach we’ve found effective is offering small portions of new foods alongside his preferred meals. Even if he only explores the food by smelling or touching it, we’re celebrating these small victories as progress.

Maintaining a Positive Mealtime Environment: Another important aspect is maintaining a positive mealtime environment. We’ve learned not to push too hard or make mealtime a battleground. Instead, we focus on making meals enjoyable and stress free, which has helped our son feel more comfortable at the table.

Conclusion: Dealing with food selectivity can be challenging, but with the right support and strategies, progress is possible. Occupational Therapy has been a valuable resource in our journey, providing us with the tools we need to help our son explore new foods at his own pace. While it’s still a work in progress, we’re confident that with patience and persistence, we’ll continue to see positive changes in his eating habits.

Thanks for reading, from one determined mum navigating picky eating with love and patience!