6 Sensory-Friendly Strategies for Overcoming Mealtime Meltdowns
Meal Time Woes
There’s nothing like sitting down to the dinner you’ve prepared at the end of a long day. The time to be with family, take a deep breath, and enjoy a lovely meal is something most of us look forward to, but for children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), mealtimes can be a different thing altogether. Because tastes and textures can feel downright offensive for kids with SPD, sitting down to a meal with different feels and smells can be a daunting task. And for their parents, what used to be a moment to relax can become an event to dread. Understanding what makes mealtimes challenging for your kiddo is key to helping them embrace food, make mealtimes productive, and keep the mood light and fun.
What Makes ‘Em Picky
Because textures are often the culprit with SPD, many of these kids will try to take bites that are far bigger than they can chew to quicken the process of eating. Other times, they will simply refuse to eat, distract themselves, or have trouble chewing because of low muscle tone in their jaw. Those experiences can be frustrating, to say the least, and meltdowns can often occur. A child who truly dreads eating will often cause a ruckus to keep from having to sit at the table. And the longer or more formal the meal, the worse the behavior can get. Imagine having to sit down three times a day to do something that makes your skin crawl, or that you’re not even sure how to do properly. Giving your kid a leg up to tackling meals will help stabilize your mealtimes, keep your family sane, and help your child get the nutrition they need.
Tips & Tricks
Everybody has to eat, so you might as well make it fun!
Most of us eat for the taste of it, but kids struggling with SPD are often repulsed by certain textures, rather than certain tastes. Try asking your child, 'What don’t you like about this food?'
Shorten mealtime. For a kid with SPD, keeping mealtimes snappy is key. Help your child handle their plate by keeping distractions at bay (no screens!), sitting with them, and helping them think through how to eat their food efficiently. Have them prioritize their bites: “One bite of something you like, one bite of something you don’t like, etc.”
Play a family game while eating. Everyone goes around the table to answer three questions: 1. What was one hard thing about your day? 2. What was the best part of your day? 3. What did you learn today? Challenge your kids to listen and eat while the other family members are speaking.
Stay casual. Go outside for a meal or have a picnic in the living room. Less formal meals may help your child relax.
Keep it cool. Some kids with SPD are particularly picky about meal temperatures. Take note if things are always “too hot” for your child and let their food cool to room temp before serving it up.
Think about textures. Most of us eat for the taste of it, but kids struggling with SPD are often repulsed by certain textures, rather than certain tastes. Try asking your child, “What don’t you like about this food?” If they say something about texture like, “The blueberries are too mushy!” then try frozen blueberries, which all have a consistent texture!
Work on muscle tone. For children who struggle to eat, weak jaw muscles can present a very real physical issue with chewing. Outside of meal times, let your kid chew bubble gum or blow bubbles to strengthen their mouth muscles.
Approaching mealtimes as an opportunity to encourage your child will keep you both feeling more optimistic. It may take some practice, but your kiddo can learn to enjoy mealtimes and regulate how they feed themselves. It’s just a matter of time.
Put It Into Practice
Try not to overwhelm your child with too much variety at once.
Offer two or three items at a time and try to make the majority of them something your child already likes and that are easy for them to consume. A few eaten green beans are better than none! Celebrate big even with small steps forward. A positive attitude and a small reward can keep your child from feeling discouraged and keep you on the track to success.
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