Anxious Eaters = Anxious Mealtimes

Who are anxious eaters? You know these children. They are worried about eating, pretty “picky” and eat a narrow diet with very specific foods. They may only eat one brand of macaroni and cheese and may only like their waffles round. They may like any food with a crunch, but no wet foods. Their preferred cheese is a particular string cheese, but only white, not yellow! They may drink milk, but only from their special cup and apple juice from the green box. They may have no vegetables or fruits in sight. Your attempts to introduce new foods, different foods, healthier foods, are met with resistance and maybe even tears. There is lots of worry about foods.

Some children are anxious about ANY type of change at mealtimes. Other may worry about new foods. Every anxious eater experiences their own specific kind of worry. While worry can be seen as the common thread, different children worry about different aspects of eating and mealtimes. And we know, when children are worried and anxious about eating, mealtimes becomes stressed for all!

Brady’s Tips

Check out the videos below to learn Brady’s Tips for Cautious Eaters.

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How Feeding Therapy Has Helped Our Picky Eater, from the Chicago Tribune

Anxious Eaters Anxious Mealtimes

Many children demonstrate anxiousness around mealtimes and that can create a challenge for the WHOLE family. Some of these children have diagnosed or undiagnosed anxiety issues, some may be on the autism spectrum. Others may have been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or food neophobia. Still others have no actual diagnosis, but are rigid about their meals, anxious about change in foods or presentation….
by Marsha Dunn Klein, MEd.OTR/L
Anxious Eaters Anxious Mealtimes