Picky Eaters
vs
Problem Feeders

Navigating the spectrum of childhood eating challenges involves distinguishing between picky eaters and problem feeders. Picky eaters exhibit selective preferences, while problem feeders face more profound difficulties impacting their well-being.

At our clinic, we specialise in addressing both, offering tailored interventions and support for a holistic approach to fostering healthy eating habits in children.

Picky Eaters

  • Decreased range or variety of foods; typically has 30 or more foods in their Food Range

  • Foods lost due to “burn out” from Food Jagging are usually eaten again after a 2-week break

  • Eats at least one food from most all nutrition or texture groups (e.g. purees, Meltable foods, proteins, fruits)

  • Can tolerate new foods on their plate; usually able to touch or taste food (even if reluctantly)

  • Frequently eats a different set of foods at a meal than other family members; typically eats at the same time and at the same table as other family members

  • Sometimes reported by parent as a “picky eater”

  • Learns to eat new foods in 20 to 25 steps on a Steps to Eating Hierarchy

(Toomey, K. 2019)

Problem Eaters

  • Restricted range or variety of foods; usually eats less than 20 foods

  • Foods lost due to “burn out” from Food Jagging are not eaten again after a break, resulting in a further decrease in the number of foods eaten

  • Refuses entire categories of food textures or nutrition groups (e.g. soft cubes, meats, vegetables, Hard Mechanicals)

  • Cries, screams, tantrums, “falls apart” when new foods are presented; complete refusal

  • Almost always eats a different set of foods than their family; often eats at a different time or at a different place than other family members

  • Persistently reported by parents to be a “picky eater”

  • Requires more than 25 steps to learn to eat new foods

(Toomey, K. 2019)