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Family Preparing Breakfast

Occupational Therapy for Picky Eating

Supporting Confident & Capable Eaters!

 

At Thrive Therapy, we understand that mealtimes can be stressful when your child is a picky eater. Whether it’s limited food variety, mealtime meltdowns, or refusal to try new textures or tastes, our Occupational Therapists are here to help.

 

We work with children across Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville, Truro, and surrounding areas in Nova Scotia, supporting families in developing positive, healthy relationships with food.

Healthy assortment of yellow foods
What is Picky Eating?

Picky eating is more than just refusing a few foods—it can impact a child’s growth, nutrition, and family life. You may need support if your child:

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  • Eats fewer than 20 foods consistently

  • Refuses entire food groups (e.g., all vegetables or meats)

  • Has an extreme sensitivity to textures, smells, or food presentation

  • Strong reactions or anxiety at mealtimes

  • Has difficulty transitioning to new foods or coping with changes in routine​

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While picky eating is common in early childhood, it can interfere with nutrition, family life, and social development when it becomes persistent or severe.

How Can Occupational Therapy Help?

Occupational Therapists (OTs) are uniquely trained to assess the sensory, motor, developmental, and emotional factors that impact eating. At Thrive Therapy, we use a play-based, child-led approach to help children feel safe, curious, and confident around food.

 

We support children who:

  • Avoid certain textures, colours, or temperatures of food

  • Gag, spit out, or refuse food regularly

  • Have difficulty with oral motor skills (chewing, sucking, swallowing)

  • Experience anxiety or behavioural challenges at mealtime

  • Are transitioning from tube feeding or restricted diets

Does This Sound Like Your Child?

This service is for children and families who are experiencing ongoing challenges around eating that impact daily routines, nutrition, or family mealtimes. It may be a good fit if your child:

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  • Is highly selective with foods (limited variety, strong brand or texture preferences)

  • Refuses entire food groups or consistently avoids new foods

  • Has strong sensory responses to textures, smells, tastes, or temperatures

  • Becomes distressed, anxious, or dysregulated during meals

  • Gags, coughs, or reacts strongly when trying new or non-preferred foods

  • Has difficulty sitting at the table or participating in family meals

  • Experiences feeding challenges alongside neurodivergence, sensory processing differences, anxiety, or developmental delays

 

This service supports families who want practical, compassionate strategies that reduce stress around meals while respecting their child’s unique sensory and emotional needs.

Mother And Daughter Baking

What Families Notice

Families often share that, over time, they notice:

  • Reduced stress, pressure, and power struggles at mealtimes

  • Improved understanding of why their child struggles with eating

  • Increased willingness to interact with foods (looking, touching, smelling, tasting)

  • Gradual expansion in food variety or tolerance of new foods

  • Improved ability for their child to sit at the table and participate in family meals

  • Increased confidence using strategies that support their child’s sensory needs

  • Mealtimes that feel calmer, more predictable, and more enjoyable for the whole family

 

Our approach focuses on building safety, trust, and positive food experiences—recognizing that progress looks different for every child and family.

How Thrive Therapy Can Help

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We understand that every child and family is different. Our therapists provide:

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  • Individualized assessment of sensory processing, oral motor development, and mealtime routines

  • Playful food exploration to reduce fear and increase food flexibility

  • Parent coaching to support strategies at home

  • Collaborative care with dietitians, speech-language pathologists, and pediatricians when needed

  • Evidence-based models such as the SOS Approach to Feeding and Responsive Feeding Therapy

 

Our goal is to make mealtimes more enjoyable, not just more manageable—for your child and your entire family.

Serving Communities Across Nova Scotia

 

We proudly serve families in:

  • Halifax

  • Bedford

  • Sackville

  • Dartmouth

  • Antigonish

  • Truro

  • And communities across Nova Scotia

 

Our services are available in-clinic, at home, in schools, and through virtual sessions, ensuring accessibility for all families.

Book a Free Consult

If mealtimes are a daily struggle, or your child’s diet is becoming increasingly limited, it may be time to consult with an Occupational Therapist. Early intervention can help prevent nutritional, emotional, and developmental concerns related to feeding. Let’s work together to help your child develop lifelong confidence with food. 

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