009:The Real Cause of Picky Eating (It’s Likely NOT Parenting) with Dr. Kay Toomey

See full show notes at kidscookrealfood.com/009.

Plenty of parents complain about their kids being "so darn picky!" (including me, even though I know I shouldn't use that word!).

But what IS a picky eater, really?

Did you know:

• Only about 1/3 of kids are actually picky, although 50% struggle age 2-3.
• Only about 25% of kids outgrow it.
• 5-10% are problem feeders and need professional help.

Dr. Kay Toomey explains how parents can determine if their "severity" meter is accurate when it comes to their kids eating. Do you have a problem feeder who is truly extreme? Or just a picky eater? These questions will help you determine!

And the craziest part -- it might not all be in your child's head, even if they are having trouble accepting a wide variety of foods.

It turns out that what matters is how much it takes to chew, physically, and what food feels/looks/tastes/sounds like etc. to the child. Some picky eaters just never learned to chew properly! :o #mindblown

Here you'll get help understanding WHY your kids are so wiggly at dinner, the special chair that could make all the difference, and more practical tips and picky eater solutions.

According to Dr. Toomey, it takes real intentionality to help your kids expand their palates — most kids won’t just “grow out of it” like we secretly hope!

From the extra little plate you’ll now set on the table to the way in which food is served, to your rules about who moves (the food or the kid), your routines are about to be turned upside down! But if your kids eat better with fewer power struggles…isn’t it worth it?

Resources We Mention to Help Picky Eaters

• Find Dr. Kay Toomey online here
• Download the Picky Eaters vs Problem Feeders PDF
• The importance of family dinners
• How to teach your kids to clean up after a meal
• The importance of letting kids play with their food
• 10 Ways to prepare vegetables for picky eaters
• Big encouragement for kids to try new foods
• Recipe for picky eaters: blended green soup
• The magic of the tiny salad
• The Tripp Trapp Chair by Stokey
• Keekaroo Height Right Chair by Special Tomato

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!