Is your child too fussy about what they eat? Being a picky eater can be more than just a phase, it can also impact your child’s nutrition, growth, and overall health. Limiting food options or refusing to try new foods can also lead to problems at the dinner table and can affect not just your child but the entire family as well.

✓  Develop healthy relationships with food that last into adulthood

✓  Overcome eating challenges with experienced therapists

✓  Learn techniques to introduce your child to new foods

✓  Make mealtime more enjoyable for the whole family

Occupational therapy offers guidance to your child’s eating habits by addressing the underlying factors that are contributing to them being picky eaters. At Collaborative Approach Therapy Services, our therapists help children face their fears around eating and trying new foods through gentle and consistent coaching. This can help develop a positive attitude towards eating, setting the stage for a healthier and happier future.

Take the first step toward creating a positive relationship with food for your child. With the support of our experienced therapists, we can help your child develop healthy eating habits to benefit them for years to come.

Overcoming Sensory Barriers

Helping kids adjust to sensory challenges like textures, smells or tastes using a gentle, sequential approach, sensory supports and positive associations, making food explorations more enjoyable.

Fun-Focused Learning

Using play-based therapy, we make food exploration engaging, enjoyable, and stress-free, helping children develop a positive attitude toward trying new and different foods with confidence.

Building Eating Habits

Focus on creating consistent mealtime routines to reduce anxiety, build structure and expectations to encourage children to try new foods outside of sessions and successfully apply them at home.

Signs Your Child May Need Feeding Therapy

Having issues at the dinner table is a normal part of development for many children, but there are some signs that may indicate the need for professional support. If your child consistently refuses to try new foods, avoids specific textures, or struggles when offered different types of foods, feeding therapy may be the answer.

Here are some indicators to look out for:

• Your child eats fewer than 20 different foods.
• Refuses entire food groups or certain textures.
• Becomes upset when presented with new foods.
• Reacts strongly to food smells, textures, or colours.
• Struggles with chewing or swallowing.
• Takes an unusually long time to eat meals.
• Frequently gags from eating specific foods.
• Shows signs of poor weight gain or loss.
• Displays fear or anxiety at mealtimes.
• Refuses to eat in social settings.
• Will eat only specific foods for most meals.
• Has meltdowns or is disruptive at the kitchen table.

Find the Right Therapy Location for Your Picky Eater

We provide specialized occupational therapy services to help children overcome their picky eating habits. If your family is located in Southern Ontario or needs virtual support, our team works closely with parents to address eating challenges and create healthier and lasting solutions.

Selective eating often comes from unique sensory sensitivities or mealtime struggles that sometimes requires expert help. Our occupational therapists help children with developing healthy eating habits, improve mealtime routines, and feel comfortable exploring new foods.

Explore our locations and contact us to discover how our occupational therapy services can support your child’s progress toward better eating habits.

Virtual Therapy for Picky Eaters

Struggling with a Learning Eater but not near a clinic? Our Virtual OT services support families across Ontario. With online sessions, our therapists help children explore new foods, manage sensory sensitivities, and develop healthier eating habits from home.