Picky Eating & Feeding Aversion Therapy
Your child's picky eating isn't your fault - and there IS help.
When your child only eats five foods, gags at the sight of vegetables, or has a meltdown if their chicken nuggets look different, you're dealing with more than typical pickiness. This is a real challenge that affects your child's nutrition, your family's stress levels, and mealtimes that should be enjoyable. At BSPS, we specialize in helping children with extreme picky eating and feeding aversions expand their diets safely, gradually, and without force.
Who This Helps
This therapy is designed for children who:
- Eat fewer than 20 different foods
- Refuse entire food groups (proteins, vegetables, fruits)
- Only accept specific brands or preparations
- Gag, vomit, or show extreme distress around new foods
- Have tantrums or meltdowns at mealtimes
- Show signs of sensory sensitivity to food textures, colors, or smells
- Have anxiety about eating in social situations
- Have been diagnosed with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)
Signs Your Child Has More Than "Typical" Pickiness
Normal picky eating:
- Comes and goes in phases
- Child still eats 20-30+ foods
- New foods are eventually accepted with repeated exposure
Extreme picky eating that needs intervention:
- Has lasted more than 2 years
- Diet is limited to fewer than 20 foods
- Eliminates foods and doesn't add new ones
- Strong reactions (gagging, crying, leaving the table) to certain foods
- Affects family meals and social situations significantly
- Causes worry about nutritional intake
Why Treatment Matters
Children rarely "grow out of" extreme picky eating on their own. Without intervention:
- Nutritional deficiencies may develop
- The list of accepted foods often shrinks over time
- Anxiety around food increases
- Social situations become increasingly difficult
- Family stress continues to build
With the right therapy, most children can significantly expand their diets and develop a healthier relationship with food.
What to Expect at BSPS
We start by understanding the "why."
Your child's picky eating has a reason - often sensory sensitivity, oral motor challenges, a negative experience with food, or anxiety. Our evaluation identifies the underlying causes so we can address them effectively.
Therapy is gentle and play-based.
We use the SOS Approach to Feeding and other evidence-based methods that introduce new foods through play, exploration, and positive experiences. We never force eating. Progress happens when children feel safe.
You're part of the team.
We coach you on strategies to use at home - how to set up mealtimes, respond to refusal, and create opportunities for success. Change happens in everyday life, not just in the therapy room.
Our Approach
- Systematic desensitization - gradually increasing comfort with new foods
- Sensory exploration - touching, smelling, and playing with food before eating
- Oral motor development - building the skills needed for safe chewing
- Anxiety reduction - removing pressure and building positive associations
- Food chaining - using preferred foods as bridges to new ones
What we don't do: Force feeding, bribes, punishments, or pressure tactics that increase anxiety and make things worse.
Success Stories
"Our son would only eat 8 foods when we started. After 6 months of therapy, he's eating over 30 foods and actually asks to try new things. Mealtimes are finally enjoyable for our family."
- Parent of 5-year-old
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my child just a picky eater or is this something more?
If your child eats fewer than 20 foods, refuses entire food groups, gags on new textures, or has meltdowns at mealtimes, this may go beyond typical picky eating. A feeding evaluation can help determine whether therapy would benefit your child.
How does feeding therapy work for picky eaters?
Feeding therapy at BSPS uses a gentle, play-based approach to gradually introduce new foods. We work on sensory tolerance, oral motor skills, and positive mealtime experiences — never forcing a child to eat.
How long until we see progress?
Many families notice increased willingness to interact with new foods within the first few weeks. Meaningful expansion of the diet typically takes 3 to 6 months of consistent therapy and home practice.
Do you work with children who have sensory processing issues?
Yes. Many picky eaters have underlying sensory sensitivities that affect their relationship with food. Our therapists are trained to address these sensory factors as part of the feeding therapy process.
Can feeding therapy help with weight or nutrition concerns?
While we are not nutritionists, feeding therapy can significantly improve the variety and volume of foods your child accepts, which supports better nutrition. We can also coordinate with your pediatrician or dietitian.
Ready for Easier Mealtimes?
You've tried everything. Let us help with something different - an approach backed by research and delivered with compassion.