Fun with Food!
As a speech-language pathologist specializing in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, I encounter many children who have experienced negative associations surrounding food. These children often have accompanying oral motor feeding difficulties and sensory processing difficulties--making eating a very stressful experience instead of an enjoyable one.
This website will hopefully serve as an "idea place" for meals as well as questions and support from other parents and caregivers. Enjoy!
Monday, April 24, 2023
ARFID, selective eating and PFD—where to start?
Posted by Kristina--Therapy Tree at 2:28 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Cups!
Hi! I would first begin working with open cup and straw drinking. I use yogurt drinks, baby food puree mixed with formula, milk, or water and sometimes powder pudding mix for beginning cup drinking. Thickening slows the flow allowing some independence while learning as well as practice with lip closure. You can gradually thin the liquid as he becomes more efficient.
As far as sippy and transitional cups, I like to recommend this one first https://reflo.net/ It flows slowly and limits the risk of surprising dumps of liquid on the face that often happens with beginning cup drinking! I also like this one without the valve, playtex tumbler....http://www.amazon.com/Playtex-Coolster-Tumbler-Sippy-Girls/dp/B0011E4HBM as it is similar to open cup and does not require as much suckling when valve is out. Also the toss and go cup he was using at school was fine too as well as straw cups...You should allow him opportunities for open cup drinking and sippy without valves. The suction required for sippy cups, especially with valves, often results in the same suckle pattern with manipulation of foods requiring a consecutive lateral munching pattern. I also like these:
Here is a link to a great article by Melanie Potuck related to this blog topic:
https://www.google.com/amp/blog.asha.org/2014/01/09/step-away-from-the-sippy-cup/amp/
**The cup options are plenty, overwhelming at times and since the original date of this blog there have been numerous changes including discontinuation of cups, new products and other options. I'm including some pictures as examples of some cups currently available! My go to practice cups in therapy are still often the very basic open cup with a thickened liquid to slow the flow and straw practice! I love the spoutless options available and you can never go wrong with the basic disposable coffee cup and lids that you would receive at most restaurants, drive thrust or find at the store. I recently bought a cup at the dollar tree (also pictured). My oldest daughter has claimed this one as you can see by the artwork :). Tervis lids are also ideal.
Please feel free to Share your finds! A child who is having a lot of difficulty transitioning from bottle to any other cup is a different scenario in my opinion. Often the anxiety is very much escalated at the idea of any new presentation and in those instances and other child specific examples, there may be acceptance of the silicone sippy cups and straws and this can open the door for other changes to take place! It's difficult to cover all of the challenges and different scenarios in one post, but finding what you have to work with is essential and taking things one step at a time to reach the long term goal is often the key to success!
Posted by Kristina--Therapy Tree at 7:27 AM 0 comments
Saturday, February 6, 2016
The challenges of sensory processing differences
Posted by Kristina--Therapy Tree at 5:25 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
‘Tween “toddlers”---Twoddlers?
Twoddler food!
This is the first grouping of a hopeful growing list of ‘In between” puree and table food stage for all of our babies, toddlers and older children who are wishing for grown up food but not quite ready with their oral motor feeding skills. Just remember that you will need to be very aware of allergens in these recipes and check with your pediatrician or dietician before introducing ingredients that have not yet been introduced. I will include store bought and homemade. Think soft on inside and texture on outside, like McCains Potato smiles :)
Caulitots
http://cupcakesandkalechips.com/2013/10/01/baked-cauli-tots/
http://yourlighterside.com/2010/03/caulitots-baked/
Homemade soft Nuggets
http://www.momables.com/lunchbox-wars-4-chicken-nuggets/
http://pickytots.blogspot.com/2012/04/ch-ch-ch-chia-chicken-bites.html
http://pickytots.blogspot.com/2009/10/turkey-nuggets.html
Tasty Veggie patties
http://pickytots.blogspot.com/2013/07/avocado-cakes-with-banana-and-basil.html
http://pickytots.blogspot.com/2009/08/crunchy-spinach-cakes.html
http://pickytots.blogspot.com/2009/09/squish-your-squash-indian-style.html
Bread Lovers Beware
http://pickytots.blogspot.com/2013/12/cinnamon-pumpkin-banana-yummalicious.html
http://pickytots.blogspot.com/2009/03/savory-veggie-waffles.html
http://pickytots.blogspot.com/2009/01/chicken-bopps.html
http://pickytots.blogspot.com/2009/11/easy-dairy-free-pumpkin-cupcakes.html
The Sweeter side of Protein
http://pickytots.blogspot.com/2012/07/power-packed-cookie-dough-bites.html
Posted by Kristina--Therapy Tree at 10:33 AM 0 comments
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Five Signs that Your Toddler May Benefit from Feeding Therapy
5 Signs that Your Toddler May Benefit from Feeding Therapy Thank you Melanie Potock from www.mymunchbug.com for the very helpful information. Please spread the word!
Posted by Kristina--Therapy Tree at 7:27 PM 1 comments
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Cinnamon Pumpkin Banana yummalicious waffles--gluten free version
These turned out so good!
2 cups Gluten Free Bisquick
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/4 cups milk
1 cup canned or puree pumpkin
1 mashed ripe banana
2 tbsp. maple syrup of your choice
pumpkin pie spice and/or cinnamon to taste
1 egg
mix together and make into delicious waffles!!
Posted by Kristina--Therapy Tree at 8:38 AM 9 comments
Saturday, November 9, 2013
FPIES--What is it and What are the signs?
What is FPIES?
" FPIES is a non-IgE mediated immune reaction in the gastrointestinal system to one or more specific foods, commonly characterized by profuse vomiting and diarrhea. FPIES is presumed to be cell mediated. Poor growth may occur with continual ingestion. Upon removing the problem food(s), all FPIES symptoms subside. (Note: Having FPIES does not preclude one from having other allergies/intolerances with the food.) The most common FPIES triggers are cow's milk (dairy) and soy. However, any food can cause an FPIES reaction, even those not commonly considered allergens, such as rice, oat and barley. A child with FPIES may experience what appears to be a severe stomach bug, but the "bug" only starts a couple hours after the offending food is given. Many FPIES parents have rushed their children to the ER, limp from extreme, repeated projectile vomiting, only to be told, "It's the stomach flu." However, the next time they feed their children the same solids, the dramatic symptoms return.
- See more at: http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=99#sthash.6gqb8Arw.dpuf
The FPIES Foundation, http://fpiesfoundation.org/, is a wealth of information on all information FPIES related. The Foundation lists some of the following important questions to ask:
Has your child experienced severe episodes of vomiting after eating infant cereal and/or first foods; or drinking formula?
Do you question whether or not a specific food or foods may be contributing to your infant’s worsening symptoms of periodic vomiting, chronic diarrhea, reflux and/or failure to thrive?
These symptoms may indicate a need to speak with your child’s doctor about an FPIES evaluation.
Please read the following recent news story featuring a family whose son faces many challenges associated with FPIES, including a new intolerance to their ever trusted formula, Neocate Junior:
http://www.ketv.com/news/local-news/food-supply-runs-short-for-boy-with-rare-allergy/-/9674510/22863834/-/madk5v/-/index.html
Posted by Kristina--Therapy Tree at 8:20 AM 0 comments