Taste Buds Club : Making Food Fun
Does mealtime at your house look like more food on the floor - or on you! - than in your child's belly? Lots of meltdowns if their food is a different shape or food is touching? Does your child have sensory superpowers that can detect a single speck of seasoning? Daily negotiations to take one little bite? Refusal to eat anything green? Or my personal favorite - will your child lick a rock but not touch anything you cook?
If you said yes to any or all of these then pull up a seat because you are in the right place!
From transitioning to solids, to sensory aversions, to flat out "I'm not touching that" we've got you covered...well, maybe that's the puree you're covered in...
Here at Way to Grow, we believe in connection and felt safety over compliance. My favorite quote that I always share with parents is "felt safety and connection matter more than bites. We can't sacrifice trust, connection, or nervous system regulation to try to get a few bites into a child. Any health benefit from a bite of broccoli is outweighed by the flood of stress hormones when child is dysregulated" - Dr. Katja Rowell
We will work together to build a foundation of connection with your child using responsive feeding, mindfulness, curiosity, and fun!
So, how can we help our picky eaters at home? The root cause to many picky eating cases I see is anxiety. Yes, the same orange loveable character from the Inside Out movies. Anxiety can cause a fight or flight reaction, which is why you will often hear "I'm not hungry" but 30 minutes after dinner your child is saying they want a snack. This is due to the stress hormone reducing their appetite, and once they are regulated again, they may feel hungry. I know as parents we are busy and often times feel rushed. One of the biggest things we can do for ourselves and for our children is to slow down and be mindful. Be in the moment with your child, create mealtime memories filled with laughter, and follow their lead when it comes to eating/exploring.
Here are some tips to try at home during mealtime:
🍽 Dinner doesn’t have to be at the table — Don't fixate on the "where". Dinner does not always mean at a table. Get creative and have a picnic on the floor.
🔁 Mix up the routine — use different plates, cups, utensils or cut food in different ways so your child does not get stuck on the way it is "supposed to be".
🎭 Use favorite characters to talk about food with curiosity.
📚 Read books, watch shows, or sing songs that show food in a fun light.
🧺 Go food exploring — farmer’s markets are great! Let them see, touch, and smell.
🖐 Use sensory bins — cooked noodles, cereal, or jello for food play.
💬 Talk feelings — check in with your child and ask how they’re feeling.
🎨 Most of all, have fun and be creative — connection first!
So, lettuce stir up some laughs, create sensory friendly bites, and be food ninjas to help children detect differences in both food and their bodies. My favorite sound at mealtime is laughter. No matter how we get there, enjoy the process. Dinner may be served on the floor but a win is a win, right!?
May we begin to feel safe enough to explore - at meal times + always,
Brittany Hoffmire, MA, CCC-SLP
The Way to Grow Pediatric Therapy Team 🌟
P.S. Ms. Brittany created the "Taste Buds Club", as “feeding therapy” can sound a little scary for kids. At the Taste Buds Club, we are food explorers and show curiosity towards new food. If you are interested in learning more about the Taste Buds Club, give us a call today! We want to help make your mealtimes one less thing you worry about every day. Together, we will develop a plan that is specific to you and your child to put you both on the right path towards fun and laughter at meals.
Ms Brittany - Grew up with sensory aversions towards food and was an extremely picky eater. She understands your child and what they are feeling and will use a trauma informed lens. We work on building a relationship through fun… then will expand our relationship to food - where we will do it together. I will be by your child's side every step of the way to help them navigate their emotions and learn to enjoy playing with their food. Mealtime is meant to be fun!
about our featured writer:
Meet Brittany - Speech-Language Pathologist + Feeding Therapist extraordinaire! The inspiration to become an SLP started at a young age for Brittany, as she watched her mom care for a couple with cerebral palsy. What particularly struck Brittany was the couple’s AAC device - and from then on, she knew she wanted to learn how to help others find their “voice”. Plus, her own early diagnosis of Selective Mutism also motivated Brittany to pursue a career that has been an integral part of her life. Brittany went on to receive her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from St. Ambrose University, and today has so much passion when it comes to working with children and their families to build relationships and celebrate milestones! Even now, she will do what it takes to make food (and communication!) fun + to support families every step of the way.
