This post is part of a series where our team of child mental health professionals answer real questions submitted by readers like you. This post deals with issues related to picky eating. Please take care when reading.

One parent recently asked for guidance about how to navigate their son’s extreme picky eating. Here’s a response from Little Otter’s team of experts.

“My son can eat everything, but he’s an extremely picky eater. Lately, it’s become worse. He eats so slowly and takes small bird bites; it takes 1-2 hours to eat even things he loves! For example, he can take a bite of a chocolate fudge cookie and ask me to save the rest for later - but he won’t finish it later. He’s also one of the smallest in his class. I have no idea what to do. Eating and mealtimes have become unbearable for the whole family. Any advice?”

- G., Florida

Thank you for contacting Little Otter! We know how concerning and frustrating it can be to manage a picky eater.

Before making any changes to your current routine, we suggest checking in with your son’s pediatrician to ensure that he is growing appropriately.

This visit may include assessment to rule out medical concerns that might be contributing to what you describe as extreme picky eating, as well as potential recommendations. 

Assuming all is well in terms of your son’s physical health, we have a few suggestions to help with his picky eating behaviors:

• Set firm and clear limits about mealtimes. You may establish a certain amount of time (20-30 minutes) in which everyone will sit at the table and eat, and then remove food when the time is over.

• Ideally, avoid snacks between meals (including drinks other than water, unless otherwise directed by a physician). This will ensure that your son is actually hungry at mealtimes. Don’t worry if he does not eat much - he won’t starve and may even eat more when the next meal arrives.

• Provide frequent praise at mealtimes. Tell your son how proud you are when he takes bites of his food or tries new things.

• Try to make mealtimes more positive. Rather than give instructions to eat faster or argue with your son about his taste preferences, make mealtimes positive by having enjoyable conversations about upcoming events, your child’s interests, or how the day went. Shifting the tone of mealtimes will help everyone to feel more satisfied.

We hope that these suggestions are helpful to your family! If you continue to experience difficulties related to picky eating, we encourage you to consult with your pediatrician about working with a feeding or behavioral specialist to develop healthier eating habits.

Little Otter is also available to help families in select states - including Florida - with mental health assessments, support, and guidance.

If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help.

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