The #1 Reason ABA Falls Short in Feeding

Rewards, reinforcers, token boards… they might get your child to take one bite — but at what cost? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what most ABA-based feeding approaches miss entirely: connection. I’ll share my own experience working in an intensive ABA setting, the moment I realized something was deeply wrong, and what’s really required to help kids truly learn to love food. We’ll unpack: ✨ Why compliance doesn’t equal progress ✨ What ABA gets wrong about oral motor, sensory, and gut issues ✨ How to build safety and curiosity instead of power struggles If you’ve been told rewards are the only way… or if your gut says “there has to be a better approach,” this is your permission to trust it. Because your child deserves more than a sticker for swallowing. 🎧 Ready to go beyond behavior? Take the quiz at thepickyeaterstest.com to discover what’s actually keeping your child stuck — and how to help them move forward.