#27 - Reframing the Term "Picky Eating"

Welcome back to episode #27 of "the Food Explorers podcast. Today we're going to explore an important topic: why the term "picky eater" might not accurately capture what's truly going on with a child.

When we label a child as a picky eater, it suggests that they are intentionally being difficult or that they have control over their eating habits. But the truth is often far more complex.

There are usually underlying reasons why a child exhibits certain eating patterns, and it's essential for us as adults to understand and empathize with their experiences.

The term "picky eater" can be really misleading and unhelpful. It doesn’t recognize that there are often biological or mental factors at play that affect a child's relationship with food. These factors can include medical conditions, oral motor skills, sensory processing issues, and more.

Every single child is unique, and their eating habits can be influenced by a variety of factors. It's important for us to approach this issue with sensitivity and a genuine desire to understand your children's experiences. 

In my opinion, children are naturally motivated to please their parents. They want to connect with you, they want to  make you happy, including trying new foods or eating foods that we serve them. However, for some children, that pressure to eat these certain foods can trigger overwhelming emotions and anxiety.

It's crucial for us to acknowledge and validate those emotions. Our children aren't trying to be difficult or stubborn; they are genuinely struggling with these feelings.

It's not you vs them at the table. It's you and them conquering these challenging moments together.

When they attempt to eat a challenging food, their fight-or-flight response may kick in as a protective mechanism.

This fight-or-flight response is their body's way of reacting to perceived threats. It's a biological response, and it can be incredibly challenging for children to overcome, no matter how hard they try. The fear and anxiety they experience can be HUGE be a barrier to expanding their diet. Of course, as adults we know that broccoli isn’t a massive threat, but it might not seem that way to your child’s brain.

So, rather than labeling our children as picky eaters, it's important for us to support and work with them. Creating a positive mealtime environment, free from pressure or negative associations, can make a huge difference. We can introduce new foods gradually and encourage our children to explore them at their own pace. It's important to celebrate small victories and focus on the progress they make, no matter how small it may seem. This progress may SEEM really small, but we want to focus on movement in a positive direction, no matter how tiny. And of course, seek professional help if necessary, to help identify any underlying issues that may be contributing to or resulting from your child's eating challenges. 

But let's not forget the power of empathy and patience.

Understanding that children are not intentionally being difficult, but are struggling, can help transform our mindset and help us approach mealtimes with compassion and reduce those mealtime battles.

If you’re ready to embrace this mindset, to break that cycle of mealtime battles, and to introduce new foods in a non-pressure and fun way then I really recommend you come over and take a look at my Food Explorers Membership.

Each month, the membership focuses on one new food. Parents gain access to a short private podcast training dedicated to understanding and exploring that specific food. Then throughout the month you are provided with 3-4 SIMPLE activities that gradually help children become more comfortable with the food and encourage positive interaction.

The Food Explorers Membership takes the stress out of introducing new foods and replaces it with excitement and curiosity. It empowers parents with the knowledge and tools to break free from mealtime battles and foster a better relationship between their child and new foods.

So if this sounds good to you, head over to www.drsamgoldman.com/food-explorers-membership to join us

To summarize this episode - I don’t love the term picky eater. I don’t think it sends the right message to you or you child. Instead, I believe a much better strategy is to realize they are struggling and work as a team to over come that struggle.  I’ll see you back here next week where we will talk all about how to start this process with food play.

References: The SOS Approach to Feeding

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