Food Selectivity in Children: Understanding Picky Eating and How to Support It

Food selectivity is a common concern for many families. Limited food choices, strong reactions to textures, refusal to try new foods, or eating the same meals every day can make mealtimes stressful and emotionally draining. At The Nest Family Behaviour Support Services, we support families across York Region who are navigating food selectivity in children, particularly those with autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, or developmental delays. While selective eating can feel overwhelming, it is understandable and highly supportable with the right strategies.

What Is Food Selectivity?

Food selectivity goes beyond typical picky eating. It refers to patterns such as:

• Eating a very limited range of foods

• Avoiding foods based on texture, colour, smell, or temperature

• Strong emotional or behavioural responses during meals

• Preference for specific brands or presentations

• Avoidance of entire food groups

Food selectivity in children with autism and sensory sensitivities is especially common and often requires a behaviour-based feeding approach.

Why Food Selectivity Happens

From an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) perspective, food selectivity develops and is maintained for specific reasons. Understanding the function of food refusal helps families respond with effective support rather than pressure.

Common contributing factors include:

Sensory Sensitivities

Many children experience foods as overwhelming due to taste, texture, smell, or temperature differences.

Anxiety and Need for Predictability

Familiar foods feel safe, while new foods can increase anxiety and avoidance.

Skill Deficits

Some children struggle with chewing, oral-motor coordination, utensil use, or tolerating mixed textures.

Past Negative Feeding Experiences

Gagging, choking, or being pressured to eat can lead to long-lasting food avoidance.

Learned Behaviour Patterns

When food refusal results in preferred foods or escape from mealtime demands, selective eating can be reinforced over time.

Why Pressure-Based Feeding Strategies Don’t Work

Strategies such as forcing bites, bribing, or withholding preferred foods may increase distress and reduce trust at mealtimes. These approaches often worsen feeding challenges in children.

Effective feeding therapy strategies focus on:

• Reducing anxiety

• Building tolerance and skills

• Creating positive food experiences

Progress happens through support - not force.

ABA-Informed Strategies for Supporting Food Selectivity

At The Nest Family Behaviour Support Services, food selectivity intervention is individualized, gradual, and child-centred.

1. Prioritizing Regulation and Mealtime Safety

Children must feel calm and safe before learning can occur. We support families by:

• Establishing predictable mealtime routines

• Reducing pressure to eat

• Creating a neutral and supportive feeding environment

2. Building Food Tolerance Before Expecting Eating

Eating is the final step in a successful feeding program.

We often begin by increasing tolerance for:

• New foods on the table

• Looking at foods

• Touching foods

• Smelling foods

• Bringing foods near the mouth

These steps are critical milestones in behaviour-based feeding intervention.

3. Expanding From Preferred Foods

Using accepted foods as a starting point, we introduce small changes such as:

• New shapes or presentations

• Similar textures or flavours

• Gradual variations within a preferred food group

This approach supports food expansion without increasing anxiety.

4. Teaching Functional Mealtime Skills

Some children benefit from direct instruction in:

• Chewing and oral-motor skills

• Using utensils

• Sitting at the table

• Managing gag responses

• Communicating food preferences

Teaching these skills increases independence and confidence.

5. Parent Coaching and Consistency

Parent coaching is a core part of success. Families learn:

• How to respond to food refusal calmly

• How to reinforce positive food interactions

• How to reduce power struggles at meals

• How to support progress at home

Consistency across environments supports long-term change.

What Progress With Food Selectivity Can Look Like

Progress is often gradual and individualized. Signs of success may include:

• Reduced anxiety at mealtimes

• Increased tolerance of new foods nearby

• Longer time spent at the table

• Willingness to explore foods

• Gradual expansion of food variety

Every step forward matters.

When to Seek Support for Feeding Challenges

Professional feeding support may be helpful if:

• A child eats fewer than 15–20 foods

• Entire food groups are avoided

• Mealtimes involve frequent distress or meltdowns

• Nutritional concerns are present

• Food selectivity impacts family routines

Early intervention can lead to meaningful improvements. Under these circumstances, it is highly recommended to ensure your family doctor is made aware of the current feeding patterns, and has oversight over general health to ensure enough calories and nutrients are present in your child's diet. The Nest Family Behaviour Support Services works together with other professionals to ensure we are adopting a wholistic angle of support.

Food Selectivity Support in York Region

The Nest Family Behaviour Support Services offers:

• ABA-informed feeding and food selectivity support

• Individualized feeding plans

• Parent coaching and education

• Collaboration with allied professionals when appropriate

• Compassionate, evidence-based care

We provide food selectivity and feeding support services in York Region, Ontario, with a focus on long-term success.

You’re Not Alone

Food selectivity can feel isolating, but families don’t have to navigate it alone. With patience, structure, and evidence-based strategies, children can develop more positive relationships with food. Progress happens one step at a time.