THE SENSORY MADE SIMPLE PODCAST

Transcript

Welcome back to episode number 33 of the Food Explorers Podcast.

I really hope you enjoyed last week's episode with Malia about homeschooling and the power of using play for learning.

This week, I want to shift back into the eating realm with one of the most common questions that plagues parents.

Is it just picky eating or could it be something more?

As a parent, you might find yourself comparing your experience to others and wondering if you're overreacting.

Your spouse might think there's no issue as your child eats fine with them.

Or your family may suggest that more discipline is the solution.

Yet when it's meal time with you, it becomes draining and exhausting, leading you to believe that something more might be at play.

In this episode, we'll shed light on these concerns and help you understand the differences between picky eating and what I call something more, aka a problem feeder.

Let me clarify that I don't personally love the terms picky eater or problem feeder, because they imply that the child is the problem.

In reality, there is almost always a reason why a child struggles with eating, and it's not merely to be difficult.

This is especially true for children with conditions like sensory processing disorder, autism, and other diagnoses.

So throughout this episode, I'll be using these terms as they have specific meanings in the feeding industry.

But rest assured that I don't believe any child is choosing to be difficult at meal time.

Now let's explore these two categories we use to assess the intensity of feeding challenges.

According to the SOS approach to feeding, we have number one, picky eaters.

Picky eaters typically eat more than 30 foods, may tolerate new foods on their plate and may even touch or taste them, eats at least one food from each food group, may get bored of certain foods but can reintroduce them after a couple weeks, may eat different foods than the family but can usually eat meals with them, and feeding problems have typically been going on for less than two years.

Second, we have problem feeders.

Problem feeders eat less than 20 foods, struggle significantly when new foods are introduced, eliminate entire food groups from their diet, often eat different foods from the family, and avoid eating with them, and feeding problems have usually been persistent for more than two years.

But some children may still fall into this category even if it's been less than two years.

Another question that arises is whether it's picky eating or related to sensory issues.

From my perspective, this is not an either-or scenario.

As I mentioned, in my experience, there's often a reason behind the eating challenges, and sensory processing is just one of these factors.

As are oral motor challenges, allergies, GI-related concerns, and other medical diagnoses.

To pinpoint exactly what's affecting your child's eating, I highly suggest consulting with your medical team and a feeding specialist.

By doing so, you can identify any underlying medical conditions and cater to your child's specific needs.

For example, if allergies, oral motor issues, or GI concerns are present, it's crucial not to push foods that make your child feel uncomfortable or are causing them pain.

By ruling out these concerns, you'll have a better understanding of how to move forward.

For instance, the approach would drastically differ if the cause is allergy-related versus sensory-related.

I do want to emphasize here that just because a child falls under that picky-eat-your category doesn't mean you shouldn't seek help or help them.

If meal times are constantly miserable, if your child is struggling to try new foods, and if their diet lacks variety, you and them might very well benefit from some support.

Sometimes parents may hesitate to seek assistance because they think their child's picky eating is just a phase or that they will eventually grow out of it.

While that can be the case for some children, for others it may require additional guidance and support to overcome these challenges.

Remember, seeking help in education is not a sign of failure or incompetence as a parent.

It's an act of love and care for your child's well-being.

Now, of course, I'm not a medical doctor, so I can't speak to how medical-related concerns would be handled.

But as an occupational therapist by heart and by training, sensory is truly my jam.

Of course, everything I chat about on here is general info and not meant to be medical advice.

My programs are meant to be a support to your medical team.

When it comes to sensory processing, my goal is usually to create a safe and supportive sensory environment at the table.

This can involve making changes to the meal time environment, presenting foods in different textures, or helping children learn about and make progress with foods in a way that aligns with their sensory needs.

If you have been struggling to help your child overcome their sensory-related eating challenges, I want you to know that my programs are here to support you.

And if you're ready to take action and start introducing new foods without the fight, now is the perfect time.

Before I tell you why, let me tell you a bit more about the membership and an exciting bonus I've recently added.

The Food Explorers membership is my exclusive community for parents of children with sensory-related eating challenges.

Each month, we focus on introducing one new food together in fun and non-pressure ways, so you can bring the joy back into mealtime.

When you join the membership, you'll gain access to monthly bite-sized private podcast trainings about the featured food of the month, food activities specifically designed to help you introduce and explore new food, access to our food library, which contains all past activities for reference, a comprehensive training library with recorded sessions on mealtime structure, choosing the right foods for your child, and more.

And here's the exciting new bonus.

You'll now receive unlimited access to all of my future digital products, as long as you remain an active member.

Additionally, our Mealtime Handbook is coming soon, providing answers to your latest mealtime questions and struggles.

And you get all of this for only $19.99 a month.

Honestly, I think that's a no brainer.

But to sweeten this even more, because you know I love me some sprinkles, I'm excited to announce that I'm currently offering a special discount of 25% off your first month in the Food Explorers membership.

This means that when you join and use the code sprinkles, all capital, at checkout, you'll pay just $14.99 for your first month.

Again, use the code sprinkles at checkout, all capitalized, and you'll pay just $14.99 for your first month.

Don't miss out on this opportunity as it is a limited time offer.

Go to www.drsamgoldman.com forward slash food dash explorers dash membership.

Again, that's www.drsamgoldman.com forward slash food dash explorers dash membership, and take the first step to making introducing new foods fun and exciting.

I'll see you there.