Understanding Sensory Processing: Its Role in Picky Eating and Feeding Behaviors
As a pediatric feeding therapist at Kids Feeding Wellness, I often see how closely a child's feeding behaviors connect to the sensory experiences they’ve had—or haven’t had—with food. Each of us processes sensory aspects of food differently, but for many children with picky eating, these sensory elements can be what keeps them stuck on familiar foods and prevents them from trying new ones.
In my work, I frequently come across children with subtle to more complex sensory processing challenges that impact feeding. Identifying these differences is essential because children need gentle support to feel comfortable exploring new sensory aspects of food at their own pace. When parents understand the basics of sensory processing and how it affects eating, they can better support their child along the path to a broader food repertoire—and better understand why their child is having difficulty with certain foods in the first place.
In this article, we’ll discuss:
What sensory processing is and how it relates to eating
Common signs of sensory processing difficulties in feeding
Practical tips to support your child in building comfort with new foods
What is Sensory Processing?
Sensory processing is how children interpret and respond to sensory input from their bodies and the world around them. When a child has sensory processing challenges, they may find it difficult to process everyday sensations, impacting areas like play, learning, social interactions, and, yes, feeding. Research published in the Occupational Therapy Journal of Research (1997) estimates that sensory processing challenges affect approximately 10 to 15 percent of children. Understanding how these challenges relate to picky eating can empower you as a parent to make informed choices that support your child's feeding journey.
How Sensory Processing Difficulties Impact Feeding Behaviors
Feeding is a multisensory experience that engages more than the commonly known five senses; in fact, there are eight senses that influence how your child interacts with food. These include taste, touch, smell, sight, sound, proprioception, vestibular, and interoception. Each sense plays a role in how your child perceives and engages with new foods, textures, and mealtime routines. Here’s how these senses impact feeding behaviors:
Taste: Children experience five primary flavors—sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. If your child has heightened taste sensitivity, they may avoid foods with strong flavors, like certain vegetables or spices. Conversely, they may prefer bold flavors that provide more sensory input.
Touch: The texture of foods is crucial in shaping a child’s preferences. Some children may find specific textures uncomfortable or overwhelming, while others seek crunchy or chewy foods. In addition, when a child is sensitive to certain textures, they may be hesitant not only to eat foods with those textures but also to touch them. This aversion can add to the challenges of mealtime, as a child’s discomfort with a texture can influence their willingness to explore or taste new foods.
Smell: Closely linked with taste, smell can strongly influence a child’s willingness to try new foods. Children who are sensitive to food odors may avoid foods with strong smells—like garlic or cooked vegetables. Introducing foods with a gradual buildup of aroma can help ease this.
Sight: The appearance of food—color, shape, and presentation—can either attract or repel a child. Children sensitive to visual input may avoid mixed dishes or colorful foods, preferring simple, consistent visuals. Presenting food in visually appealing ways can encourage exploration.
Sound: Food-related sounds—such as crunching or slurping—can affect how enjoyable a meal feels. Children who are sensitive to sound may find these noises distracting or even distressing, impacting their willingness to eat certain foods.
Proprioception (Body Awareness): Proprioception refers to the awareness of body position and movement. Proprioceptive input is essential for coordinating tasks like bringing food to the mouth and using utensils. When children struggle with proprioception, mealtime can feel frustrating and impact their comfort and confidence.
Vestibular System (Balance and Spatial Orientation): The vestibular sense, located in the inner ear, helps with balance, spatial orientation, and coordination. A well-functioning vestibular system allows a child to sit upright, feel grounded, and maintain a steady posture during meals. Children with vestibular sensitivities may feel unsteady in their chair or struggle with balance, making eating a challenge.
Interoception (Internal Body Awareness): Interoception is a lesser-known but highly significant sense that plays a crucial role in feeding—and it’s a topic that could easily fill an article of its own. Interoception helps children recognize internal bodily signals like hunger, fullness, thirst, and other physical cues such as heart beat, body temperature, and digestion. For children with interoceptive challenges, accurately perceiving these signals can be difficult, which may lead to inconsistent eating patterns and disrupt mealtime routines.
When gastrointestinal influences are involved, this sense becomes even more complex. If a child has experienced discomfort, bloating, or pain after eating certain foods, they may become cautious or avoidant, choosing to stick to "safe" foods they know won’t upset their stomach. This tendency to avoid foods associated with past discomfort can narrow their diet, reinforcing picky eating behaviors and limiting their willingness to try new foods. Recognizing and addressing these interoceptive responses is essential to helping children gradually build a more varied and comfortable relationship with food.
Hypersensitivity vs. Hyposensitivity in Picky Eating
When it comes to sensory processing challenges, children typically fall into one of two categories: hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) or hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness). Each of these categories presents distinct behaviors and preferences that can significantly impact a child’s eating habits and overall feeding experience.
Hypersensitivity (Over-Responsive)
Children with hypersensitivity often feel overwhelmed by sensory input, leading to strong aversions to specific foods or mealtime experiences. This sensitivity can manifest in various ways:
Food Textures and Tastes: These children may refuse foods based on their texture, expressing discomfort with certain consistencies. For example, they might avoid foods that are slimy, gritty, or crunchy, preferring bland or smooth options like plain yogurt or applesauce. You might also notice them gagging, making faces, or covering their nose when introduced to new foods, particularly those with unfamiliar textures or strong flavors.
Visual and Smell Sensitivity: Children with hypersensitivity can become easily overwhelmed by certain food smells, which may lead them to reject foods entirely. They may shy away from strongly scented items like garlic, onions, or cooked vegetables. Additionally, they often gravitate toward plain-looking dishes, avoiding colorful or mixed meals that might seem visually overwhelming.
Utensil Use: Sensitivity to textures extends to utensils as well. Children may feel uncomfortable using metal or plastic utensils due to their textures or the way they feel in their mouths or hands. This can lead to a preference for eating with their hands or using specific utensils that they find more tolerable.
Sound Sensitivity: These children might be particularly sensitive to the sounds associated with eating, such as crunching, slurping, or the clinking of utensils. Such noises can be distracting or distressing, contributing to anxiety around mealtimes.
Hyposensitivity (Under-Responsive)
In contrast, children with hyposensitivity actively seek out sensory experiences, often displaying behaviors that reflect their desire for more intense sensory input. This can be observed in the following ways:
Food Textures and Tastes: These children often crave strong flavors and may enjoy spicy or salty foods that provide heightened sensory experiences. They might be indifferent to food temperatures, displaying little reaction when consuming hot or cold items. They may also have a high tolerance for strong or pungent tastes, showing enthusiasm for foods that others might find overwhelming.
Visual and Smell Sensitivity: Unlike their hypersensitive peers, children with hyposensitivity may prefer foods with strong aromas and vibrant colors, showing little aversion to messy or mixed dishes. They may gravitate toward foods that are visually stimulating, such as colorful salads or dishes with a variety of textures.
Utensil Use: These children might prefer using their hands to eat or enjoy the tactile sensations provided by textured utensils. They may seek out the sensory experience of feeling different food textures in their hands, which can lead to a more adventurous approach to trying new foods.
Seeking Sensory Input: Hyposensitive children often engage in behaviors to increase their sensory input, such as playing with food or making messes during mealtimes. This exploration can lead to a greater willingness to try new foods, as they find joy in the sensory experiences associated with eating.
Mixed Sensitivities
It’s common for children to exhibit a combination of hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity, leading to mixed sensory responses. For example, a child may be hypersensitive to textures but hyposensitive to flavors. They might refuse to eat certain crunchy foods like raw vegetables because of the overwhelming texture while actively seeking out bold and spicy flavors in their meals, such as enjoying hot sauce or flavored dips. This mixed profile can create unique challenges at mealtimes, as parents may find it difficult to navigate the child’s preferences and aversions simultaneously.
Tips for Parents Supporting Sensory Processing in Picky Eating
Here are some simple yet effective strategies you can implement in your child’s daily routine to help build comfort around exploring new foods while being mindful of their sensory preferences:
Gradual Exposure: Introduce new foods slowly and in small amounts. Start with foods that have a similar texture or taste to those your child already enjoys. This gradual approach helps build comfort and reduces anxiety around unfamiliar items.
Create a Safe Space: Make mealtime a relaxed and inviting experience. Establish a calm environment free from distractions, allowing your child to focus on their food without pressure.
Involve Them in Preparation: Encourage your child to participate in food preparation. Let them help wash, peel, or arrange foods on the plate. This involvement can foster curiosity and make new foods feel less intimidating. If they don’t feel ready to touch food with their hands, offer tools like tongs or protective gloves.
Use Playful Approaches: Incorporate play into mealtimes. Try games that involve tasting or describing foods in fun ways, like pretending to be food critics or explorers discovering new flavors.
Explore Textures: Offer a variety of textures during meals. Include crunchy, smooth, soft, and chewy foods to help your child explore different sensory experiences without overwhelming them.
Visual Appeal: Present food in an appealing way. Use colorful plates or arrange food into fun shapes or designs to make meals visually interesting and inviting.
Engage in Messy Play: Encourage messy play with food items outside of mealtime. Let your child explore different foods using their hands, creating art with purees, or making edible sensory bins. This play can help desensitize them to various textures and reduce fear around food. For more on the benefits of messy play, check out our blog post Messes That Matter: The Role of Sensory Processing at the Table and Beyond, which includes a free guide with food based sensory play ideas you can incorporate at home.
Respect Preferences: Be mindful of your child’s preferences and sensitivities. If they show a strong aversion to certain foods, avoid forcing them to try those items. Instead, focus on foods they are more open to exploring.
Model Positive Eating Behaviors: Show enthusiasm for trying new foods yourself. Children often mimic adult behaviors, so your positive attitude toward new foods can encourage them to be more adventurous.
Be Patient: Building a varied diet takes time. Celebrate small successes and be patient with setbacks. Consistency and encouragement will help your child develop a more positive relationship with food over time.
Seek Professional Support: If your child’s picky eating significantly impacts their nutrition or quality of life, consider consulting a feeding specialist or occupational therapist. They can provide tailored strategies and support to address sensory processing challenges.
What Therapy Looks Like for Sensory Processing Challenges
If you suspect that your child has sensory processing challenges impacting their feeding, therapy can make a world of difference. Here’s what you can expect during feeding therapy sessions at Kids Feeding Wellness:
Assessment: We’ll begin with a thorough assessment to understand your child’s sensory preferences and sensitivities. This helps us identify specific areas where they may struggle, such as textures, flavors, or utensils.
Tailored Strategies: Based on the assessment, I will create personalized strategies to help your child explore new foods in a safe and comfortable way. We’ll work on gradually introducing different textures and flavors, focusing on building positive associations with food.
Play-Based Learning: We’ll use play-based techniques to make the feeding experience more enjoyable. Engaging activities can help your child build confidence and curiosity around food, promoting a more adventurous palate.
Family Involvement: You play a vital role in your child’s progress! I’ll provide guidance on how to implement strategies at home, encouraging family meals that foster a supportive and relaxed feeding environment.
Progress Tracking: We’ll regularly assess your child’s progress and make adjustments as needed. The goal is to empower your child to develop a positive relationship with food, enhancing their willingness to try new things.
Recognizing sensory processing challenges is essential for promoting healthy feeding behaviors in picky eaters and supporting smooth transitions to solids. Techniques like baby-led weaning can be particularly beneficial, allowing your child to explore textures and flavors at their own pace. By understanding your child’s unique sensory profile and addressing their needs, you can help them navigate their feeding journey, reduce picky eating, and encourage a diverse diet.
Argie is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist and Feeding Specialist with over 7 years of experience. Since founding Kids Feeding Wellness in 2020, she has focused on feeding therapy and parent coaching, helping families build strong, healthy connections around the table. With a deep love for language and food, Argie is passionate about creating fun, sensory-rich experiences that nourish both body and mind, fostering meaningful communication and joyful mealtimes for children and their families.
If you’re facing challenges with picky eating or transitioning to solids, don’t hesitate to reach out. At Kids Feeding Wellness, we’re here to support you every step of the way through parent coaching and feeding therapy!
Have Questions?
If you have any questions about your child's specific sensory needs related to food, we’re here to help! Visit our contact page to send us a message or to schedule a free 30-minute virtual consultation. We look forward to supporting you and your child on their feeding journey!
