Feeding "picky eaters"

For most parents, feeding their child so that they are healthy and happy children is one of their top priorities!  My experience is that mothers are especially affected by their "picky eaters".  
For picky eaters, textures, tastes, smells and sizes can all interact in unexplainable ways to create sensory overload! 

During an experiment at a seminar, the person sitting next to me was suppose to "feed" me something out of a small snack size packet.  The packaging and logos were all in an Asian language unknown to me.  The color of this "food" was pink (like the insides of a living thing), the texture looked "chewy or rubbery" and it was squarish in shape.  My initial impressions of it were those of skepticism and uncertainty.  My partner then opened the package and brought this "food" close to my lips. The smell of it lead to a feeling of sheer disgust and an urge to push her hand away.  But in order to be polite and professional around this stranger, I simply moved my head away, managed to soften my expression of disgust and attempted a meek smile.  I was certainly not going to eat this with my own free will...it smelled, looked at felt inedible and caused my insides to pain.  To my surprise, several other individuals attending the seminar in the room were tasting this strange "food" and some even seemed to like it!  I later found out that the pink "food" inside the package was a squid snack sold commonly at Asian stores.  

In the above experience, I was lucky to be an adult who could speak my mind.  I am the master of my will with what I wish to eat and not.  For a child who is being fed and often times 'force fed' by a well meaning parent or adult, such experiences can significantly impact their relationship with food and the 'feeder' in a negative manner.

There may be several reasons for a child becoming a picky eater- medical, sensory, behavioral, or genetic/hereditary.  It is important to rule out any medical reasons causing children to refuse foods.  One very common one is--acid reflex (or acidity), where the child will be hungry but refuse to eat only after the few bites due to the resulting acid formation.  

Some simple and important points to consider when feeding picky eaters are:
- DO NOT 'force feed'
- continue to offer new foods (at least once per day)
- encourage being seated at the table with the family so that eating is a family event/experience rather that a race around the house
- always make a comfort/ favorable food available to avoid anxiety
- do not use the favorable food as a "reward" for trying/eating the new or disliked food
- take the child through the hierarchy/steps of:  1. having the new food in their plate, 2. touching and smelling the new food, 3. bringing the new food to the lips, 4. taking a "courtesy bite" of the new food and spitting it out (in a socially appropriate manner), 5.  taking a bite and swallowing it, and 6. eating the new food
- reminder: according to some research it takes up to 21 presentations before an individual and decide whether they truly like or dislike a food