Picky Eating
in Branford & Oxford, CT

Does your child struggle with picky eating at mealtimes? Do they refuse to try new foods, or seem to get distressed when it’s time to eat? These are common challenges that families face, and it can be difficult to know how to handle them. That’s why our experts at More to Say offer feeding therapy to help children who can’t or won’t eat the nutritious foods their growing bodies need to be healthy. Keep reading to learn more about picky eating and how feeding therapy can help children overcome their challenges to develop healthier eating patterns.

What Is Picky Eating?

Picky eating is when a child will refuse to try new foods or eat certain types of food. In some cases, it can simply be a normal part of development as children grow and decide what they like and what they don’t like. But when it persists or leads to extreme reactions at mealtimes, it’s a sign that there’s something more going on than simple food preferences. 

For example, a lot of people simply don’t like the taste of olives—but they could eat one even if they thought it tasted bad. That’s not the case for a child with picky eating challenges, where being pressured to eat a food they’ve refused can cause them significant distress and even physical reactions.

Common Signs of Picky Eating

Some common signs of extremely picky eating include:

  • Limited food variety
  • Refusal to try new foods
  • Choking or gagging at mealtimes
  • Aversion to specific textures of food
  • Missing entire food groups from regular diet
  • Refusal to eat food if it touches other food on their plate
  • Strong preference for specific brands or preparation styles
  • Tantrums or meltdowns at mealtimes

What Causes Extremely Picky Eating?

Picky eating can be caused by sensory processing difficulties, where a child’s nervous system gets overwhelmed by sensory input, such as the taste or texture of foods. It can also be caused by a swallowing disorder like dysphagia, or even delayed oral motor skills, where a child struggles with chewing or swallowing to be able to successfully eat certain foods without choking. 

How Pediatric Therapy Helps Children with Picky Eating

At More to Say, we believe that children learn best through playing and interacting with their environment. After your child’s comprehensive evaluation, our pediatric therapists will create a personalized treatment plan to address their specific feeding challenges. Through proven and play-based therapy techniques, we can help your child build their sensory processing and feeding skills to enjoy the variety of nutritious foods their growing body needs.

Our goal is to support your child’s healthy development through fun, engaging, and proven therapy methods. To support that goal, we take a holistic viewpoint to ensure your child’s treatment aligns with their needs, interests, and family life. Our distinctive approach motivates children and makes them excited to participate in therapy, which is why our families love the More to Say Way!

Schedule an Evaluation Today

If your child is struggling with picky eating, don’t hesitate to reach out to More to Say. Give us a call at (203) 828-6790 to experience pediatric therapy the More to Say way, and let’s work together to empower your child to live a happy, fulfilling life.

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Call (203) 828-6790

Oxford, CT Office:

Office Hours:

  • Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
    Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Branford, CT Office:

Office Hours:

  • Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
  • Saturday & Sunday: Closed
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