Why Mealtime Meltdowns Might Not Be Just About the Food
Why Mealtime Meltdowns Might Not Be Just About the Food
If you’ve ever left the dinner table feeling frustrated, defeated, or worried that something deeper might be going on with your child—you’re not alone.
In fact, many families I work with struggle with picky eating, sensory meltdowns, or kids who "just won’t eat." That’s why I created a free guide to help parents uncover what might really be happening behind the behavior.
Try These Strategies to Support Eating and Behavior
1. Regulate Before You Feed
A dysregulated child struggles to feel safe to engage in eating. Calming the nervous system first—through deep breathing, compression play, or heavy work activities—sets the stage for a smoother meal.
2. Offer One Safe Food + One New Food
Always include at least one food your child already accepts. This reduces anxiety and builds trust, especially if you're introducing new or challenging foods.
3. Avoid Pressure—Model Instead
The more we pressure, the more resistance we see. Instead, model curiosity and engagement: describe the smell, the texture, or how you feel about the food. Let them come to it in their own time.
4. Make Mealtimes Sensory-Safe
Lighting, noise, posture, and even smells can overwhelm some children. Try soft lighting, soft music, and a consistent seating setup with feet support.
5. Use Predictable Routines
Set regular snack and mealtime windows and use visuals or countdowns to help transitions. Predictability helps reduce anxiety and resistance.
6. Involve Your Child in Food Exploration
Let them stir, wash produce, or pick a “new food of the week.” Involvement builds ownership and reduces fear.
When These Strategies Aren’t Enough
If you’ve tried every trick in the book—without progress—it may not be a behavior issue at all. Remember, strategies are just the surface. If your child’s body is under stress—digestive issues, mineral imbalances, or nervous system overload—you’ll need to dig a little deeper.
That’s exactly what my free guide helps you do:
👉 Grab the full guide here—it includes action items and what to do when these tips don’t work
Some red flags that may signal deeper dysfunction include:
Extreme food aversions or texture gagging
Chronic constipation or digestive issues
Meltdowns around meals
Skin rashes, brittle nails, sleep issues, or poor focus
If you’ve tried everything and still feel like something is missing, you’re not alone—and you’re not doing anything wrong.
This is exactly why I created my free resource:
Inside, you’ll learn:
Tools to lower stress at mealtimes
Why behavior is often a sign of gut or sensory imbalance
What to do next if your child still struggles
You deserve to feel empowered, and your child deserves a chance to thrive—starting at the table.
Picky eating isn’t always about the food.
When we step back and support the whole child—their sensory system, nervous system, and digestion—we often see major breakthroughs at the table.
If you’re ready to explore root causes and create a customized plan to support your child’s behavior and feeding success, learn more about working 1:1 with me with my Complete Gut-Brain Transformation Package.
