1. Don't use preferred foods as a reinforcer. When children have very few preferred foods, we need to be careful about using these select foods to reinforce tastes of non-preferred foods at the risk of loosing the preferred food completely.
2. Generally it is better to set a routine than to "bribe" your children to eat. (ie: At the beginning of each meal, help your children explore the non-preferred foods, even if they don't eat them. Do this consistently, and soon your children will become used to the smell, sight and taste of these non-preferred foods. Then, offer them their meal. This way you are not bribing them, but simply adding a step to your mealtime routine.)
** Remember that it takes OVER 15 CONSECUTIVE presentations before your child will consistently chew and swallow a new/non-preferred food**
3. As always, avoid distractions while eating. If your child will only eat while walking around, with the TV on, or with toys on the highchair, then you will need to gradually reduce the dependence of these supports because this is not a functional way to eat. Often children use distractions to avoid taking part in mealtime.
4. Don't get in a power struggle. The main problem with reinforcing children for eating non-preferred foods, is that if they refuse even after you "bribe" them, then they have begun a power struggle, which is what you want to avoid with all children, but especially picky eaters.
Occasionally, it is necessary to use a preferred item or food as a reinforcer for trying a new food, however do not make this a habit. Most children will continue to try/eat a new food if they like the taste of that food, so a reinforcer each time is not always needed.
Seek help from an OT or Physician if you still have questions regarding reinforcements.
Hi Liz my daughter has 13 months and since she was 11 months she started to have some problems during the meal time. She didn't want eat purees or our food, so talked with her Pedi and took her to a feeding specialist at phoenix children's hospital. After the evaluation, the doc told me she was ok just a pick eater and nothing anormal, but since then the problem still. She will only eat the minestrone soup from olive garden, I tried to give her pasta with marinara, mac and cheese,green beans, carrots, but she will not try or try and gag and throw on the floor, I wanna give her rice and other foods but she will not try.. Should I be consistent and keep on trying one food at time till she eats? and keep the soup? Thanks
ReplyDeleteVanessa, you are on the right track. Start with one food (ie: rice) and keep introducing that food for the first five minutes of mealtime. Let her play with it, touch it, explore it, kiss it, etc. and then say "bye" to the food. Do the same thing next mealtime, and so on, eventually she will taste the food and like it. If she gags make her try it again and try to anticipate the gag by clapping or distracting her. A lot of parents freeze because they are so excited their child is eating, and then your child will read that expression and continue gagging.
ReplyDeleteI always say, if "picky eating" starts affecting your mealtime routine, or makes you or your child frustrated, its worth seeking help or guidance.
**PS it helps if the food has flavor or sauce, so that if you do get her to taste it, she likes the flavor. Put some soup on the rice to give it a similar flavor?**
Thanks Liz i was thinking about that (putting some soup in the rice), the food has flavor (a lot) just don't know exactly which kind she likes. But I will keep on trying and again thanks for this blog is pretty cool and helpful.
ReplyDelete