Tips for Restrictive Eaters during the Holidays

What is Restrictive Eating?

As the holidays get under way, many family traditions center around food preparation, food-related craft activities, and eating foods at parties and other celebrations.  For a parent of a child who is not just descried as “picky” but instead a “restrictive eater”, life can be very stressful.  These parents spend an enormous amount of time planning what their children will eat or can eat when out of the home, often packing a bag of foods to bring on road trips or to social gatherings. 

The smells of cooking and baking may be enjoyable for most, but for the restrictive eater even being in the same room or house with such smells can be very overwhelming.  The most important thing to keep in mind is that a family gathering or party is not the time to expect a child to try new foods.  These situations are typically already over-stimulating, unfamiliar, and a time when we want children to interact with others.  However, being around new foods, interacting with foods while having fun, and modeling behavior can easily occur during holiday social events, so use these situations as an opportunity for exposure.

One really important thing to keep in mind is that food is food.  Try to not categorize food as being “good” or “bad”.  All foods provide a unique taste experience and involve different motor skills (lips, tongue, teeth) to chew and swallow.  These food attributes are very important to build experiences with food, increased interest in food, and courage to try foods without fear.

Getting your child to just interact with a food (touch, smell) can also provide valuable sensory information about what a food will feel like or taste like when the child is ready– on his/her own time.  Cooking and baking activities can be great for this, as the child can pour, use utensils, and get foods on their hands (it is ok to get messy 🙂 ).

Here are some ideas to try with your restrictive eater:

• make a gingerbread house and use frosting as glue for all the decorations.
• make edible doh in different colors and flavors.
• “paint” with condiments-make cookies using cookie cutters that are foods.
• smell candles or extracts used for baking.
• try different (fruit) flavors of lip balm.
• try different drink concoctions or make fruit smoothies with foods your child already eats.

If you think your child might need feeding therapy services, please contact Skills on the Hill to inquire about the process. We are here to support you!