Picky Eating & Feeding Aversion
Your child's picky eating isn't your fault — and help can start here.
When your child only eats five foods, gags at the sight of vegetables, or melts down when their chicken nuggets look different, you're dealing with more than typical pickiness. We help children expand their diets safely, gradually, and without force.
For: Toddlers through school-age children
Some picky eating is developmental. But when a child's diet is very limited, foods are dropping out without being replaced, or eating causes major distress, an evaluation can clarify whether this is a pediatric feeding disorder, sensory-based feeding challenge, oral motor issue, anxiety-related pattern, or a concern that needs referral to another provider.
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, using responsive feeding principles, sensory learning, food chaining, and structured practice to help children build comfort and skill. And you're part of the team — we coach you on how to set up mealtimes, respond to refusal, and create opportunities for progress at home.
Normal pickiness — or something more?
- Picky eating 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
- Affects family meals and social situations significantly
- Causes real worry about nutrition
Typical picky eating comes and goes in phases, and new foods are eventually accepted. If your child's eating looks more like the list above, an evaluation can help.
How we expand your child's diet
Systematic desensitization
Gradually increasing comfort with new foods — looking, touching, smelling, and playing before tasting.
Food chaining
Using the foods your child already loves as bridges to new ones.
Anxiety reduction
Removing all pressure from eating and building positive associations with the table.
Caregiver coaching
What we never do: force feeding, shaming, or pressure tactics. What we always do: equip you with strategies that fit real meals at home.
Common questions
Is this just a phase my child will outgrow?
Typical picky eating comes and goes. More concerning patterns — very limited variety, dropping foods without replacing them, gagging, distress, or nutrition concerns — are good reasons to seek an evaluation.
Will you force my child to eat?
Never. We don't force-feed or shame children. Pressure can increase distress and avoidance, so our play-based approach builds safety, skill, and trust with food.
Related services
Wondering if picky eating & feeding aversion is right for your family?
Start with an evaluation. You'll get clear answers, a plain-language report, and an honest recommendation — therapy, referral, monitoring, or no treatment right now.
- No referral needed to start
- Most major insurance accepted
- A real person replies within one business day