Welcome to another Bambini foodie blog! Today, our feeding therapist Marie, have busted some common mealtime myths you can learn about from watching the above video, or biting into the summary below.
Myth #1 – Eating is the Body’s First Priority
Fact – The body’s first priority is BREATHING. If your child has difficulty coordinating their breathing, this may impact on their ability to feel calm and regulated during mealtimes, as well as swallow food and drinks safely.
Fact – The body’s second priority is postural stability. Have a stable posture during mealtimes aids with swallowing safety and digestion of food.
This means eating is the body’s next priority in order to ensure that your child is well-nourished and able to maintain their physical and mental energy levels throughout the day.
Myth #2 – Eating is Instinctive
Fact – Noone is born with the knowledge and skills to independently learn to eat. Eating is in fact a learned motor behaviour which develops around 4 – 6 months of age.
Myth #3 – Eating is Easy
Fact – Eating is one of THE MOST COMPLEX physical tasks humans do!
Myth #4 – Eating is a Simple 2-Step Process; Sitting Down and Eating
Fact – Typically developing children engage in up to 25 steps in eating and trying new foods. For children with feeding difficulties, including those living with disability, there are in fact over 32 steps or stages involved in a child learning to try new foods!
Myth #5 – It is not okay to play with food
Fact – Being messy is an important part of learning to eat. Children learn and engage best through play. Freely playing with food also provides children with a sense of safety around new foods.
Myth #6 – If a child is hungry enough, they will eat
Fact – Children with feeding problems WILL starve themselves, especially if they experience food aversions or are not provided with a “safe” and preferred food to eat.
Myth #7 – Children only need to eat three times a day
Fact – Children need to eat every 2.5 to 3 hours to achieve their individual food energy needs (i.e. calories/kilojoules) to support their growth and development.
Myth #8 – If a chid won’t eat, they either have a behavioural or an organic problem
Fact – Research has shown that approximately 65% - 95% of all children with feeding difficulties have both behavioural and organic problems.
Myth #9 – Certain foods can only be eaten at certain times of the day
Fact – ‘Food is food’. Children do not need to ascribe certain beliefs around food such as ‘cereal can only be eaten at breakfast time’.
Fact – ‘Junk’ food and a lot of breakfast foods such as cereal, are typically considered easier to manage for children, particularly those who experience various food challenges.
Myth #10 – Mealtimes are a proper social occasion
Fact – Eating comes first, manners come second.
Fact – Modelling exaggerated chewing movements are part of the feeding therapy process. Spitting food onto the plate if a child has difficulty accepting this new food or texture, is also a welcomed part of the learning process.
We strongly encourage you to reach out to your child’s feeding therapist if you have any further questions or would like any clarification to help you support your child on their feeding therapy journey.
Copyright Toomey & Associates, Inc.