Picky Eating: When to Worry and When to Get Support

Most parents go through a picky eating phase with their child—it’s common, normal, and usually temporary. But what happens when mealtimes feel like a battle every…single…day? Or when your child’s food list keeps getting shorter instead of growing?

As pediatric therapists, we talk with many families who wonder the same thing:“Is this normal picky eating…or something more?”

Let’s break it down in a simple, supportive way.

🥦 Typical Picky Eating vs. Feeding Red Flags

It’s perfectly normal for kids to:✔️ prefer familiar foods✔️ reject new foods the first few times✔️ avoid mixed textures (like casseroles)✔️ go through “food jags”✔️ eat differently from day to day

These phases usually pass on their own.

But some signs may indicate it’s time to get extra support.

🚩 Red Flags That May Signal a Feeding Challenge

Contact a feeding specialist (OT or Speech Therapist) if your child:

⚠️ Eats fewer than 15–20 total foods

A very limited “safe foods” list can affect nutrition and growth.

⚠️ Drops foods and never adds new ones

Kids should expand, not shrink, their food variety over time.

⚠️ Gags, chokes, or vomits when trying new foods

This may point to sensory sensitivity or oral motor challenges.

⚠️ Avoids entire texture categories

For example: no crunchy foods, no soft foods, no meats, no fruits, etc.

⚠️ Has extreme reactions

Crying, pushing food away, refusing to sit at the table, or tantrums around mealtime.

⚠️ Only eats foods of one brand, shape, or color

This can indicate sensory rigidity or anxiety around food.

⚠️ Struggles to chew or swallow safely

Kids may pocket food, swallow before chewing, or avoid harder textures.

⚠️ Mealtimes feel stressful for the whole family

If meals cause conflict, worry, or dread, everyone deserves support.

🧠 Why Some Kids Struggle With Feeding

Picky eating is not always about “behavior.” It may be connected to:

• sensory sensitivities

• oral motor weakness

• anxiety around food

• difficulty sitting and regulating at the table

• past choking or vomiting incidents

• limited early exposure to textures

• medical issues like reflux or constipation

Feeding is complicated—and it’s never your fault.

🌈 How Feeding Therapy Can Help

Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists can work together to help your child:

🍽️ explore new foods in a positive, no-pressure way🧠 build sensory tolerance💪 strengthen chewing and swallowing skills🌱 expand their list of safe foods😊 feel confident and relaxed at the table🏠 create calmer family mealtimes

With the right support, children can learn to enjoy eating—one small, safe step at a time.

💛 You Don’t Have to “Wait and See”

Parents often feel uncomfortable trusting their instincts, but you know your child best.If you feel like picky eating is affecting your child’s growth, nutrition, or your family’s peace—it’s absolutely okay to ask for help.

Early support leads to better outcomes and much less frustration.

At PFG Therapy, we help children build healthy, joyful relationships with food through gentle, child-centered feeding therapy. We’ll guide you every step of the way.

📞 Ready to get support? Contact us today to schedule a feeding evaluation. 815-905-7028 or info@pfgtherapy.com

Your child deserves mealtimes filled with confidence—not stress. And so do you.