Let's Play 20 Questions....

Why does my child gag on food? Why will they only eat snacks? Did I cause this? If you’ve asked yourself any of these questions, you are not alone. These are the exact questions parents ask us every single week when they call Foodology Feeding Therapy looking for help with picky eating, food refusal, gagging, sensory challenges, and mealtime stress. In this episode, I answer 20 of the most common questions parents ask about picky eating. But something interesting happens as we go through them… Most of these questions actually point back to the same underlying issues. Because picky eating is rarely just about the food. Instead, feeding challenges are often connected to deeper factors like: • Nervous system safety • Sensory processing • Oral motor skills • Feeding experiences • Gut health • Structure and environment around meals When those pieces aren’t working together, quick tips like “just offer it more” or “have them take one bite” can actually make things worse. In this episode we talk about: • When picky eating is normal — and when it’s not • Why some children panic around new foods • Why kids refuse dinner but ask for snacks later • What gagging and spitting food out actually mean • The real reason many kids refuse vegetables • Why forcing bites often backfires • Why picky eating is almost never caused by just one thing And most importantly — how understanding the reason behind the behavior completely changes how you approach mealtimes. Because once you identify what’s actually blocking your child’s eating, progress becomes much more possible. Take the Next Step If this episode sounds exactly like your child, the best place to start is identifying your child’s stage of eating. Inside our program we categorize picky eaters into three stages: Fearful – food feels unsafe and overwhelming Stuck – limited foods but some willingness Curious – starting to explore new foods The strategies that help a curious eater can completely backfire for a fearful eater. Take the quiz to find your child’s stage: Take the Picky Eater Quiz: https://thepickyeaterstest.com