Is this fussy eating "normal" or does my child need help? With Emma Shafqat. What happens if you visit a dietitian and practical strategies for all families with a fussy eater. Food For Kids Podcast. (2026)

In this interview with ​Emma Shafqat from Dietitian With A Difference, we are talking about how to know if your child’s fussiness is just a ​"normal" level of developmental hesitancy around new foods, or whether you should consider asking for advice from a professional. I think a lot of us worry that we’re either making a mountain out of a molehill, or on the other hand, writing off actual eating issues as “just a stage”.​Emma is very helpful in this interview in flagging up what to look for and when to ask for help. She also helps us to understand where your child is coming from when they refuse a food and gives suggestions on how to make mealtimes less stressful.Emma Shafqat is a qualified paediatric dietitian and focuses primarily on fussy eating and allergy issues and has the handle @fussyeating.dietitian on social media. Since graduating with a first class honours degree in Dietetics and Nutrition, she has been working as a dietitian for over 10 years. She has worked for the NHS, in special needs schools and privately, focusing on children’s health, and is also a SOS Paediatric Feeding TherapistEmma helps children and their families overcome a broad range of dietary issues. She has a huge online following where she runs great free workshops, and has a popular fussy eaters group programme as well as one-to-one work. Emma's website - ​https://dietitianwithadifference.co.uk/​Emma's Instagram -​ https://www.instagram.com/dietitian.withadifference/​Emma's programme - https://dietitianwithadifference.co.uk/creating-confident-eaters-programme/Music "Happy Days" by Simon Folwar via Uppbeat