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Overcoming Picky Eating: Occupational Therapy Tips for Lunchbox Success

by | Feeding Therapy, Occupational Therapy

Packing a lunchbox for a picky eater can feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re juggling the need for balanced nutrition with your child’s limited palate. Fortunately, with insights from feeding therapy and occupational therapy, you can create lunchboxes that not only meet dietary needs but also make mealtimes less stressful and more enjoyable for your child. Michigan Pediatric Therapy (MPT) in Farmington Hills, Michigan, is here to help you understand picky eating from an occupational therapy perspective.

Picky eating is a common issue among children and can be influenced by various factors, including sensory sensitivities, oral motor skills, and psychological elements. Occupational therapists (OTs) play a crucial role in addressing these challenges by working on the underlying issues that contribute to picky eating.

feeding therapy picky eating

Sensory Sensitivities

Children who are picky eaters often have heightened sensitivity to the textures, smells, and tastes of food. An OT can help desensitize these sensory aversions through gradual exposure and positive reinforcement, making it easier for the child to accept a wider variety of foods.

Oral-Motor Skills

For some children, picky eating is related to difficulties with chewing, swallowing, or managing different textures in their mouths. Our occupational therapists can help improve these oral-motor skills through targeted exercises and techniques, ensuring that your child can safely and comfortably eat a broader range of foods.

Psychological Factors

Anxiety and negative experiences around food can also contribute to picky eating. Our OTs work on creating positive mealtime experiences and reducing anxiety through strategies such as play-based therapy and creating a supportive eating environment.
picky eating feeding therapy

Tips for Packing Your Picky Eater’s Lunchbox

When packing a lunchbox for a picky eater, it’s important to keep their preferences in mind while gradually introducing new foods. Here are some tips and tricks from our occupational therapy experts to make lunchbox packing easier and more effective:
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Involve Your Child in the Process

Involving your child in the selection and preparation of their lunch can increase their willingness to try new foods. Let them help choose fruits, vegetables, and other components of their lunchbox. This gives them a sense of control and ownership over their meals.
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Offer a Variety of Foods

Include a mix of familiar and new foods in the lunchbox. Start with a small portion of the new food alongside their favorite items. Gradually increase the portion size as they become more comfortable with it.
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Use Fun Shapes and Colors

Children are often more willing to try foods that look appealing. Use cookie cutters to shape sandwiches, fruits, and vegetables into fun shapes. Include a variety of colorful foods to make the lunchbox visually appealing.
picky eating lunchbox tips
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Create a Balanced Lunchbox

Aim to include foods from all food groups to ensure balanced nutrition. This can include:

  • Proteins: Chicken, turkey, tofu, cheese, yogurt, or hard-boiled eggs.
  • Carbohydrates: Whole grain bread, pasta, rice, or crackers.
  • Fruits and Vegetables: Apple slices, carrot sticks, cucumber slices, or berries.
  • Healthy Fats: Avocado, nuts, seeds, or hummus.
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Introduce New Foods Gradually

Introduce new foods one at a time and in small quantities. Pair them with familiar foods that your child already enjoys. This gradual approach can help reduce anxiety and increase acceptance.
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Use Dips and Sauces

Many children love to dip their food. Include small containers of healthy dips and sauces such as hummus, yogurt-based dips, or guacamole. This can make raw vegetables and other foods more appealing.
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Keep Portions Small

Large portions can be overwhelming for picky eaters. Keep portions small and manageable. You can always pack extra snacks if your child tends to be a light eater.
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Make Lunchtime Fun

Include a small note or a fun sticker in your child’s lunchbox to make lunchtime enjoyable. This can create a positive association with eating and make them look forward to mealtime.
picky eating feeding therapy lunchbox

How Feeding Therapy Can Help

Feeding therapy provided by licensed occupational therapists, like those at MPT, can be incredibly beneficial for children struggling with picky eating. Here’s how it can help:

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Assessment and Individualized Plan

An OT will assess your child’s specific challenges and create an individualized feeding plan. This plan will address sensory sensitivities, oral motor skills, and any psychological factors contributing to picky eating.
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Gradual Exposure to New Foods

Feeding therapy uses gradual exposure techniques to help children become more comfortable with new foods. This might include sensory play with food, where children can touch, smell, and taste new items in a low-pressure setting.
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Building Positive Associations

Therapists work to build positive associations with food through play-based activities and a supportive environment. This helps reduce anxiety and resistance around mealtime.
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Parent Education and Support

Feeding therapy also involves educating parents on how to support their child’s eating habits at home. This includes strategies for introducing new foods, creating a positive mealtime environment, and addressing any behavioral issues related to eating.
picky eating feeding therapy
picky eating feeding therapy

Fun Tips and Tricks to Help Picky Eaters

Incorporating fun and creativity into mealtime can make a big difference for picky eaters. Here are some additional tips and tricks:
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Food Art

Turn mealtime into an art project by creating fun designs with food. Use fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients to make faces, animals, or other shapes on the plate.
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Taste Tests

Organize taste tests with a variety of foods. This can make trying new foods more like a game and less like a chore. For example, present multiple colors of bell peppers for your child to try and let them rank their favorites or rank them from sweetest to most bitter.
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Cooking Together

Involve your child in cooking and meal preparation. Children are more likely to try foods that they have helped prepare. This can also be a great way to teach them about nutrition and healthy eating.
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Themed Meals

Create themed meals based on your child’s interests. For example, if they love a particular book or movie, design a meal around that theme. This can make mealtime more exciting and engaging.
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Sensory Bins

Create sensory bins with different food textures for your child to explore. This can include dry pasta, rice, beans, or cereal. Allowing children to play with food in a non-eating context can reduce anxiety and increase familiarity with new textures.

Consulting with an Occupational Therapist

If you’re struggling with a picky eater, consulting with an occupational therapist can provide valuable support and guidance. An OT can help identify the underlying causes of picky eating and develop strategies to address them. Here’s what to expect when working with one of our experienced, licensed occupational therapists:

Initial Assessment

The OT will conduct an initial assessment to understand your child’s specific challenges and needs. This may include observing mealtime behaviors, assessing oral-motor skills, and identifying sensory sensitivities.

Customized Plan

Based on the assessment, the OT will create a customized feeding plan tailored to your child’s needs. This plan will include specific goals and strategies to help your child expand their diet and improve their eating habits.

Ongoing Support

The OT will provide ongoing support and adjustments to the feeding plan as needed. This may include regular therapy sessions, home exercises, and strategies for parents to implement at home.

Collaboration with Other Professionals

In some cases, the OT may collaborate with other professionals such as speech therapists, dietitians, or psychologists to provide comprehensive support for your child’s eating challenges.

Conclusion

Packing a lunchbox for a picky eater doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. By understanding the intricacies of picky eating from an occupational therapy perspective and implementing fun and creative strategies, you can make mealtimes more enjoyable and nutritious for your child. Remember that feeding therapy can provide valuable support and guidance, helping your child work through their picky eating habits and develop a healthy relationship with food. With patience, creativity, and the right support, you can transform mealtime challenges into positive and rewarding experiences for both you and your child.

Michigan Pediatric Therapy is here to help make mealtimes fun again for the whole family!

picky eating feeding therapy
picky eater feeding therapy

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📞 (248) 939-4030
🌐 mipediatrictherapy.com

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