Oral Sensory Avoidant Eaters are over-responsive to sensory input in their mouth i.e foods. These are our extreme picky eaters and often accept very few foods. As an infant or toddler they may have had difficulties with feeding either with breast feeding and/or bottle. As a baby they may not have put anything in their mouths (i.e. toes, fingers, toys). They may have had a hard time accepting new foods when they started solids. These oral sensory avoidant eaters also may have an associated oral motor deficit that needs to be assessed. If you believe you or your child does have an issue it’s recommended that you seek and evaluation from a Speech Language Pathologist and Occupational Therapist. They are trained at assessing and providing appropriate therapies to improve you or your child’s ability to chew and swallow correctly and get them tolerating and accepting new foods. A child or adult with severe aversions to new foods and textures may have a lot of associated anxiety and fear when it comes to trying new foods.

•  take things slow
• avoid pressuring to try new foods
• avoid behavioral modifications techniques to encourage trying new foods
• Let them choose foods explore, when they are ready
• Try lower pressure activities like shopping for food, looking at food in books, watching videos about the new food first
• explore foods with all of their senses (not just taste).
• try food play activities

Eating Behaviors of an Oral Sensory Avoidant Eater

• spit out food often
• gag or choke on certain foods
• vomit at sight of food
• food aversions or jags (prefer the same foods)
• Short list of accepted foods
• Prefer brand specific foods

Foods Oral Sensory Avoiders Eater May Enjoy

• Single consistency foods ( i.e smooth applesauce or mashed potatoes)
• Similar consistency foods (i.e smooth foods only or crunchy foods only)
• Foods they haven’t had a negative experience.

Foods Oral Sensory Avoidant Eater May Dislike

• Strong flavored foods
• Foods with multiple consistencies or textures
• Foods with strong smells
• Foods they have had a negative experience with
  • i.e gagging or vomiting on
  • any food they may have been forced or pressure to eat

12+ Ways to Approach Offering New Foods to an Oral Sensory Avoidant Eater

1. Notice any patterns with preferred foods (similar consistency, texture, color, shape etc.)
2. Come up with a few ideas of foods that are similar to preferred foods
3. Have child help pick a food they would be interested in trying (try giving a couple options based on the food ideas)
4. Bring the child to the grocery store to help pick it out.
5. Have them place the food in the grocery cart.
6. Read books or watch videos about the new food.
7. Have them help you prepare the new food.
8. Have them explore the food using all their senses (sight, smell, touch, hearing, finally taste)
9. Try asking how they would like it served ( i.e with a preferred dip, on a stick, cut into fun shape etc.)
10. Let them put it on their plate
11. Serve new food along side another preferred food that they can fill up on if they aren’t ready to try a new food
12. Let them be in control if they try it or not!
13. Even if they don’t try it the first time, keep offering this new food in new ways. [Try asking.. I see that you didn’t like the new chicken nugget, how can we make it more enjoyable for you next time?]

Kitchen and Food Play Activities for Oral Sensory Avoidant Eaters

• Let kids pick a food out at the grocery store (let them pick it up and put it into the grocery cart)
• Bring food home and play with it!
  • explore it with their eyes, nose and hands
  • wash it
  • cut it with knife
  • paint with it
  • cook with it
  • when ready touch it to their lips or tongue