THE SENSORY MADE SIMPLE PODCAST

Transcript

Today is gonna look a little different.

I hosted a live Food Explorers trivia game this past weekend, and so many of you reached out to me to tell me you were sad you missed it because the date didn't work, or because something came up and you weren't able to join live.

Well, I tried to record it, but the recording didn't come out so well.

So I actually thought this would be fun to add to the podcast.

This is how it's going to work.

We have two rounds of seven questions.

I'm gonna ask all those seven questions first in a row and give you some time to answer them.

And then we'll go over the first round before moving to the second round.

Give yourself one point for each question you get right.

You will be competing against our top score from our live event, which was seven points.

So let's have some fun.

The focus of this trivia is you.

My goal is to provide a space for parents to learn how to help their child explore new foods while having fun without any shame or judgment.

And I hope that this trivia will be just that.

My hope is that you leave today feeling confident and excited to try out some of the tips at the table.

You're gonna need a pen and paper, so if you don't have that, pause the podcast and go grab one now.

All right, let's get into round one.

Question number one.

How many steps are involved in the task of eating?

If you've been following me for a while, you've probably heard the answer to this one.

Question number two, where were French fries first invented?

And sorry guys, I might have ruined this one for you if you were on my email list, because I sent it out after the trivia.

Thank you.

Question number three.

What is the only fruit with seeds on the outside?

Question number four, what percentage of children grow out of picky eating?

Question number five.

How many different shapes of pasta exist?

Question number six, messy play is just bad manners.

And question number seven, how many times do you need to try a food before your brain decides if you like it?

All right, how do you think you did on round one?

We're gonna go over the answers, give yourself one point for each correct answer.

Question number one, how many steps are involved in the task of eating?

According to the SOS approach to feeding, there are 32 steps to eating, ranging from being in the same room as a food to biting and swallowing it.

Most of the time, we think that eating is just two steps, picking up a food and eating it.

But according to the SOS approach to feeding, eating has six main steps, tolerating, interacting, smelling, touching, tasting, and chewing.

And each of those have smaller sub steps.

Children progressively learn to eat new foods through these steps.

When we try to convince a child to take a bite of foods, we're trying to jump over those steps when we haven't even gotten them comfortable with the groundwork yet.

So your tip here, instead of focusing on taking a bite, focus on how can I get them to take one more step with the food?

I know you don't know all these steps yet, but how can I help my child become just a bit more comfortable with the food?

For example, if they're ignoring the food on their plate totally, maybe I can pick it up and bounce that food across the table.

If they'll touch it, but not taste it, maybe I can show them how to do a dinosaur lick versus a small snake lick.

In the Food Explorers membership, all the food exploration activities are designed for you with this in mind.

That way, you don't need to do all the planning and thinking about it.

You just can get right to implementing and practicing.

Every single activity contains levels that helps your child walk up these steps and progressively become more comfortable with the food.

Question number two, where were French fries first invented?

Although the name makes us think France, they were actually invented in Belgium.

So French fries are a food that is pretty commonly accepted by children with feeding challenges.

So I thought this would be the perfect time to tell you how French fries can be a wonderful branch to new foods.

What I'm talking about is something called a food chain.

This is when we make small changes to a preferred food to eventually chain to a new food.

So how you can do this with French fries?

You start with your child's favorite fast food French fries, maybe like McDonald's.

Then you try a new fast food restaurant that has fries, maybe like Five Guys.

Once they're eating that, you can buy the fries from the freezer section and put them in the air fryer.

After that, you make homemade fries with potatoes.

And last, you can make homemade fries with sweet potatoes and maybe even butternut squash down the road.

Now, each of these transitions may take time and practice, but kids are more likely to try a new food when it's similar to one they already know and love.

So your tip number two is to try to offer foods that are similar to foods that your child already knows and loves, but are just a bit different.

For example, if they like Cheerios, try another type of O-shaped cereal, then another type of cereal in a different shape.

These small changes eventually lead to bigger ones.

In the Food Explorers membership, we have an entire core training on this topic that teaches you how to do this for your own child and how to plan out your own food chain.

Question number three, what is the only fruit with seeds on the outside?

Strawberries.

I was super surprised, even Jayar got this one when I asked him, and he actually doesn't eat any fruit.

Strawberries have about 200 seeds on the outside of the fruit.

So even just a fun fact like that can help your child learn about and become more comfortable with foods.

And that is your tip number three.

Instead of focusing on taking a bite, focus on how can I help my child learn as much as possible about this food.

Describe the colors, the shape, the feel, read books about it, check it out at the farmer's market.

In one of our recent coffee chats, one of the members asked me about this.

She was having a hard time finding more words to describe the foods and kind of felt lost with how to explain them.

So we talked in depth about how we can do this in an objective way, and how we can do this using the senses to help her child's senses get more comfortable.

Question number four, what percentage of children grow out of picky eating?

Only one third to one half of children will outgrow eating challenges.

So I think it's important to note here that many people say that all kids are picky.

In fact, only 20 to 30% of children will struggle with eating in their first five to six years of life.

And out of those, one third to one half outgrow them.

So I tend to be one of those people who recommends getting help or working on it sooner rather than later.

That's just me, I do that in my own personal life too.

Because if they don't grow out of it and you waited and waited, that's a whole bunch of time you could have spent learning.

So my tip number four, if you're just waiting to see, maybe think a little bit more about that.

Is there things you can do while you're waiting that can still support them and continue learning and improving?

I think this is one of the things that is most wonderful about the Food Explorers membership.

It's kind of that middle area where you can start to learn and work on skills, even if you're not ready to fully dive in.

Question number five, how many different shapes of pasta exist?

600, this one blew my mind.

So this is a prime example of how you can create so much variety, even just from one food.

Even if your child is only eating pasta right now, you can start by offering them new shapes, 600 different ones.

Variety is important to help prevent burnout and dropping of food.

Even something as small as changing the shape is helpful.

If you leave here with anything today, please let it be this, that small changes matter, and no win or change is too small.

So even if you have no time, no mental energy, even just changing the shape can help improve their mental flexibility with food.

As a reminder, I would add this as an addition to their safe food at first, not as a replacement, so you don't lose that safe food.

Question six, true or false?

Messy play is just bad manners.

False, sensory play and messy play is part of the touch step of eating.

It can help kids become more comfortable with tasting foods.

Okay, so as you guys know, my background is as an occupational therapist.

So messy play is my jam, pun intended.

It's an important part of the developmental process that helps them become more comfortable with that food before putting it in their mouth.

This is partly because we have the same touch receptors in our hands as we do in our mouth.

So it helps them predict what it will feel like.

Now, kids don't need to do this for all foods all the time.

Sometimes they'll feel more comfortable depending on the look of a food, but other times they need more of this to help them gain confidence.

Your tip number six is that messy play doesn't need to be fancy.

You can literally take any food, put it in a bowl, put it in a bin, and call it sensory or messy play.

For example, pumpkin puree can be used to practice measuring and scooping.

Pudding can be mud to drive trucks through.

You can squash your blueberries to see how much juice they have.

Or you can put leftover spaghetti in a bin and hide toys inside.

It doesn't need to be fancy.

Just put something in a bowl or something in a bin and add some toys or kitchen utensils.

All of our food exploration activities in the membership are sensory activities.

They all encourage exploring foods through the senses, but I take care of the planning for you.

Question number seven.

How many times do you need to try a food before your brain decides if you like it?

So the research on this varies.

Anywhere from eight to 30 times per the research.

Overall, in the food field, the accepted average seems to be about 20.

So if you had any number from eight to 30, give yourself a point.

Most parents only try between three to five times before giving up.

So that's pretty far below these numbers.

And sometimes I think that's where you need the support.

When it's not working, you need that cheer to keep you going.

And you might also need to adjust or change it up a little bit.

The way it's being presented might be too hard or too easy.

So members can ask these questions in our app and receive that feedback from me.

So you can probably predict your tip here.

Don't give up.

Keep trying, keep offering, and keep exposing.

Each kid is different and needs a different amount of time with each food.

And give yourself some grace.

It's not your job to make them like it.

It's your job to provide them with the opportunities to do so.

Again, I am here to cheer you on through every single step.

All right, get ready for round two.

Question number eight.

Who was the first kid to win the Food Network Kids Baking Championship?

Question number nine.

What food did Ninja Turtle, Michelangelo, love to eat?

Thank Question number 10.

Which fast food restaurant has the largest number of retail locations in the world?

Question 11, what type of fruit is sometimes referred to as pink lady?

Question 12, what was the original color of carrots?

Question 13, what is the body's number one priority before anything else?

And the very last question, question 14.

Which fast food chain was the first to introduce the drive-thru window?

No.

All right, time for our answers.

Question eight, who was the first kid to win the Food Network Kids Baking Championship?

Hollis Johnson.

By three years old, she was in the kitchen and doing advanced cooking skills.

Now, you guys probably already know my tip here, but tip number eight is encouraging your children to cook in the kitchen with you.

You've probably heard this before, and I know this tip sometimes feels like a lot of work with very little improvement.

But just because it's not obvious doesn't mean it's not helping.

In fact, I recently read a study that reviewed 120 other studies, and it found that even just going to cooking classes can change the preference and the intake of vegetables.

And it also helps your child develop self-help and life skills from an early age.

It doesn't need to be something that's really messy or time-consuming.

It can be as simple as throwing the veggies in the bowl of water or the sink and having your child help you wash them.

But again, this connects back to the steps to eating.

It helps them get used to it at the tolerating, interacting, and touching step.

So we can progress to the tasting and chewing steps at the table.

Question nine, what food did Ninja Turtle Michael Angelo love to eat?

Pizza.

My 90s kids, I'm guessing you were with me on this one.

I was super excited for this fun fact.

So I don't know about you, but watching Michael Angelo love pizza made me want to love pizza and totally more excited about eating it.

Research shows that televised mascots for foods can affect not only how much a child chooses to eat a food, but also how much a child likes that food.

So historically, these characters tend to be on less nutrient-dense foods, but there's no reason we can't use these to encourage fruits, veggies, and proteins.

So one way to do this is to look for TV episodes or books that have positive food messaging about these foods.

So for example, the Cocomelon Yes Yes Vegetables book.

We all know the love for Cocomelon.

And this book introduces a ton of veggies and uses no negative food messaging, which I love.

Side note, the YouTube video does have the words yuck in it, so that one is not personally my favorite.

But introducing foods in this way, along with their favorite characters, can make them more interested and excited to try these foods.

They may not love it at first, that's okay.

We don't expect them to.

But it's how we start learning to like it.

Another example is that my sister has been reading the Pete the Cat pizza party book.

And now her daughter is dying to try pickles.

She's never seen them before, she doesn't know anything about them, but she keeps pointing to it in the book and asking for it because Pete the Cat eats it.

Question number 10, which fast food restaurant has the largest number of retail locations in the world?

Subway.

So I wanted to include a travel tip here.

Many families really struggle with travel.

So something I love to do is practice foods that I know will be readily available most places you travel.

So if we know Subway is readily available in a lot of places, that might be a good food to practice.

Some foods that I like to introduce with families are rice, pasta, and chicken nuggets, because that's available most places that you travel.

Practicing these types of foods now will help your child be more prepared for travel when the time comes.

And I know travel is really nerve wracking for parents, and that's why one of the months of the Food Explorers membership is dedicated entirely to travel and helping you figure out how to support your child during your fun trips.

Question 11, which type of fruit is sometimes referred to as pink lady?

Apples.

Since the next question is kind of similar to this one, I'm going to give you my tip after we answer the next question.

Question 12, what was the original color of carrots?

Purple.

How cool is this?

Before the 17th century, carrots were purple, and then Dutch farmers started cultivating orange ones for William of Orange.

And did you know purple carrots are still around?

You'll find them as rainbow carrots in the grocery store.

My tip here, these are two foods that are wildly similar to other foods your child might already know and love, but they're just a bit different.

So you can help your child learn to eat new produce just by starting to add variety within a type of produce they already like.

So for example, with apples, you can try the yellow apple, the green apple, the Fuji apple, and the pink lady apple.

All of these are going to be a little bit different from each other, and they're going to help your child open up to different colors of produce.

The same with carrots.

If your child eats orange carrots, you can try the white carrots, then the purple.

Because they're already eating a purple food, they might be more open to something like purple potatoes.

This goes back to food chaining we mentioned earlier.

Again, we have an amazing training in the membership all about food chaining.

And the really cool thing is, when you join the membership, you have access to ask me questions all the time, so you can submit the food your child eats, and I can help you brainstorm ideas that might be fun for them.

Question number 13, what is the body's number one priority before anything else?

Breathing.

But after breathing is postural stability, or keeping our body upright.

Only after our body feels good breathing and keeping our body upright, can it move on to eating.

And that's why it's important to make sure that your child is able to maintain their posture in their chair, because only once are they stable, can they focus on eating well.

So what we like to look for when your child is sitting in a chair, is for their feet to be flat on a surface with their hips and knees at 90 degrees.

Ideally, our elbows will rest about two inches above the table, and your child will be able to sit upright without leaning.

That is the ideal position for sitting and eating.

Kids who don't have the postural stability for eating, may not want to sit at the table.

They may lean on you, constantly shift their position, or be very distracted.

I like to put a stool under kids' feet and pillows or blankets at their side if they need some help to sit up.

So tip number 13 is check your child's eating and make sure they have their feet supported and can sit fully upright in their chair.

A lot of regular adult chairs aren't really the most supportive for kids, but there are options.

In the Food Explorers Community app, you can actually add pictures, so if you submit how your child is sitting at the table, we can always problem solve solutions together for how to better support them.

And last, question 14.

Which fast food chain was the first to introduce the drive through a window?

Wendy's.

Many kids with feeding challenges love fast food.

Why?

Well, one reason is because it's very consistent.

They know what they will get every single time.

Companies thrive on this.

You wanna know you're getting the same amazing chicken nuggets every time you go to Chick-fil-A or McDonald's.

Versus at home, it's usually a little different every single time.

So what can you do to help?

I like to start by not going to the same fast food restaurant every time.

Instead, try Burger King, try Wendy's, change it up by adding a new dip, a piece of cheese, or change what you order at the restaurant.

Add a small amount of variety, so they get used to variety.

Then when you work on it at home, they're a little more flexible to things being different.

And in March, I believe, it will be protein month in the Food Explorers membership, and I'm gonna walk the members step by step in how to explore ground meat with their kids in a fun way, because ground meat is one of the proteins that is easier to eat and chew from an oral motor and sensory standpoint.

So we'll be exploring it together to set the groundwork for eating things like burgers, meatballs, and meatloaf at home.

Okay, so I want you to add up your points, and as you do that, I wanna talk to you a little bit about my Food Explorers membership and the really amazing bonuses, surprise, that are available to you this week.

So the Food Explorers membership is my membership-based community for parents.

Every single month, we focus on a new topic, and each week I provide you with done-for-you resources that quickly teach you how to explore new foods with your child every single month.

Every month, you get a quick tips guide, a grocery list, a recipe, and a food exploration activity.

And as a bonus, we also have a monthly coffee chat as a get-together, where we problem-solve struggles that are happening at the table.

The coolest part is that all these parents are going through exactly the same thing as you are, and are all here for the same reason, to explore foods with their kids the fun way so their child can become a more confident and happier eater.

So how do you know if it's the right place for you?

If you consider yourself a foodie and you really want to help your child find that same love of food, if you live a fast-paced, busy life with kids and you want done-for-you planning so you can focus on practicing and implementing, if you are feeling alone or ashamed in this process and need to connect with other families going through exactly the same thing, if you are finally ready to learn and stay up to date on the best practices and food trends, then say hello to the Food Explorers membership.

The Food Explorers membership is based on three main pillars.

Community, because connection with other people going through the same thing is essential.

Education, because you want to make sure you're learning techniques and strategies that work.

And accountability, because as a parent, life is so busy, and you often need those reminders and accountability to keep trying and to keep the magic alive in mealtime.

You might be feeling a little overwhelmed, hopefully in a good way, but I've created this space that really does help make sense of all of this and grabs you by the hand to help get you started.

Once you decide you are committed to helping your child explore new foods without the battles, the Food Explorers membership is the magical place you want to be, surrounded by other parents that get it and diving into learning that finally helps you take steps forward instead of waiting to see.

And finally, that amazing bonus that I mentioned, if you decide today that this is the right fit for you, you're going to get two really special bonuses.

The first is an invite to a private housewarming party with only the members who are new this week.

So you'll really have a chance to chat directly with me face to face and ask your burning questions.

And number two, this is a huge one because it's never been released to my community before.

I think it's about 20 pages, and it is an ebook with 101 ways to play with your food.

So one of the most challenging things for parents when we talk about having fun at the table is how to play with food.

They can't think of ideas, they feel silly.

Well, this ebook gives you 101 simple, easy, quick ways to help your child play at the table.

And it offers options all the way from that interacting step to smelling, touching, tasting, and chewing at the table.

So if you're ready to claim these two amazing bonuses, go to the link in my bio, at Dr.

Sam Goldman on Instagram, and click Food Explorers membership to get started.

So I would love to know what you thought of this Food Explorers trivia.

I'd love to do it more if it's something you enjoyed.

So head on over to at Dr.

Sam Goldman on Instagram and send me a message.

I hope you had as much fun as I did, and I'll see you next week on the podcast.