Food Chaining: The Proven 6-Step Plan to Stop Picky Eating, Solve Feeding Problems, and Expand Your Child's Diet

Got so many ideas for my picky eating toddler. This book was recommended to me by a highly trained and experienced OT.

Where was this book when I needed it years ago? It is particularly helpful for a parent with a child with feeding issues, and/or a professional who wants to understand what each member of a feeding team does (such as in an early intervention program.) Although I am a dietitian and have worked with Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Developmental Therapists and Behaviorists with a feeding team, I learned more about what makes some kids defensive about food and what the role is for each team member. It seems elementary at times, but even the Pediatricians should read this to become more aware of what may be happening and where and whom to refer to when parents are concerned about feeding.The beginning of the book is mostly about each team member and their contribution to the process. One must have a clear and correct understanding of the individual feeding problem. The second part gets more into the exact process of what food chaining is and how to do it with different types of feeding issues. The process is very common sense, but usually needs professional input.

Filled with good suggestions. It's hard to not worry when your 4 year old grandson is sooo picky so I purchased this book, as well as "The Picky Eating Solution". Both books are very helpful. So far some of the tips seem to be working. Patience, patience, patience...

This book was recommended by my daughter's Speech-Language Pathologist who "coached" us through my daughter's feeding issues. My daughter, Della, is 3 years-old and has speech, mobility, and developmental delays from an unknown cause. She doesn't seem to have any aversion to different textures and as far as we can tell, no sensory issues. That being said, she is acting like a "normal" 12-18 month old child who is learning to assert her opinion through what she chooses to eat or not eat. Just like other children she will go from loving certain foods to completely refusing them seemingly overnight. When she was eating only a handful of foods I started to read "Food Chaining" looking for some easy answer or at the very least, a plan with all meals laid out in an order that would "fix" her picky eating habits. What I got from this book was that the "cure" is to find a link between what your child will eat now and what you want them to eventually eat later. Only you can customize this plan because you are raising your child and you know them best. Even the best laid-out meal plans won't fit every child. I once tried the "South Beach Diet" but I hated it because I didn't like many of the meals that were in their weekly "plan." So, Lesson #1- Use the guidelines and figure it out yourself. Yes, it is hard and time consuming and complicated and not "easy" but we are raising children here, not assembling a bookshelf. Lesson #2: Be persistent. You will throw away a lot of food. Period. Most children need to have a lot of exposure to new foods before they will readily eat it. Some children will only need to see it 4 or 5 times before eating it, others may need to be exposed 20 times before they accept it into their diet. Once again, this is hard and time consuming and complicated and anything but easy. Keep at it! You are the key to your child's success!I think that many people are looking for a quick-fix. I know I was. I hate to say it, but there is no such thing. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many people who feel frustrated that the past 6 books they've read on picky eating haven't worked. I know I was that way. Not every family will find this book helpful but if parents understand that this problem will take time, persistence, and some effort on their part, they will most likely find success when they implement the guidelines and methods laid out in "Food Chaining."

This book is an easy read yet very thorough from setting normal feeding expectations to explaining medical barriers and sensory barriers for healthy balanced eating. It drove me to ask more questions and push for more answers with a referral to a GI specialist who did find some medical reasons when I thought everything was simply sensory.

I am realizing that my daughter has sensory issues, and and that is why she will not go outside of her comfort zone of a very few foods. She will eat a few vegetables and protein, so I'm not worried about her being completely unhealthy, I am worried about her getting a balanced diet though, and having a healthy joyful experience with her food. Meal times have more and more often ended in tears, both of us, her curled on the floor in a ball completely shutting down. She can't tolerate any unexpected color or texture in her foods. This book did help me realize she needs to see an OT most likely.Their food chains though I was not impressed with. I understand that they're trying to simply expose the child to different foods, and broaden their repertoire of foods. However, many children with sensory issues (all most likely) are affected by dyes, artificial flavors and preservatives. My child has no problem eating pop tarts all day if I would let her! I want her to eat HEALTHY food. They recommend very sugary, unhealthy foods, even Taco Bell. Getting children to like more and more junk food is not a good goal. The idea of a food chain may be useful, but their actual food chains they give as examples were not healthy. Why try to work them towards a diet of candy, sugar and fast food????

I will make this review short, but if anyone want more info please comment. This book should be read by any layperson to child feeding issues and disorders. In short this book gave us an overview of dozens of disorders and problems we never knew existed. So often we would suddenly found insight into our family issues about our suffering special needs child to our special needs siblings. This isnt just for families with special needs, but for anyone who is having a tough time or those that are interested to know. The book has methodologies to address food needs which arefound in the 2nd half of the book. The first half of the book goes through the varipus issues as well as giving examples and checklists to understand them not just theorectically but also practically. Lastly, the writting style is comfortable to read despite some of the technical concepts.