Tips for Fussy Eaters in Isolation

Kimberly Nelson, Dietitian, Change for LIfe

Managing this weird and stressful time can be extra challenging when you have children with feeding challenges. Forced time at home and disruptions to usual routines can increase everyone’s stress. Children are quite adept at tuning in to their parents emotions so when you are stressed, it is likely they are feeling this also. Which is a problem for our fussy eaters. When we are stressed, our body releases adrenaline – triggering fight-flight mode. This directly affects your child’s appetite by shutting off appetite signals, moving blood from your digestive system to your limbs so you can fight or run away, and shifts your child into ‘react mode’ versus ‘learning/thinking mode’. Add tantrums into the mix and the adrenalin increases even more.

1. Try to keep your child on their usual eating schedule and a have a flexible daily routine for your family. This helps to not disrupt their hunger/fullness cycles.
2. Focus on pressure free family meals and snacks (see above).
3. Create a weekly menu for meals and snacks with your child (≥ 4 years).
4. Get them in kitchen!
   Children of all ages can help you prepare and cook meals. These activities generally don’t involve pressure to eat so can be a great way to get them more comfortable with different foods.
5. Movement activities.
   This is especially important if your child is missing out on their regular movement opportunities. There are plenty of ideas online for what you can do when stuck at home – inside or out!
6. Build in some deep breathing or yoga into the routine to help balance stress hormones. Free apps for smartphones are available as well as you tube clips.
7. Remember, they are likely to be more overreactive if foods/meals aren’t up to their standards or challenge their sensory sensitivities. Try to be aware of their emotional state around meals and think about how you can help to reduce their stress e.g. movement activities, deep breathing, less food on their plate, more preferred foods with new/learning foods or deconstructing meals.
8. Above all, make food fun!

Adapted from SOS Approach to Feeding – Managing Stressful Times with a Picky Eater or Problem Feeder.