Jun 23, 2025

A Feeding Therapist's Tracking Guide for Picky Eaters

Alexis Richardson, MS, OTR/L | Pediatric Occupational Therapist

Struggling with a picky eater? Our free tracking journal will help you identify feeding patterns and overcome mealtime challenges.

Struggling with picky eating? This free feeding tracker, designed by a pediatric occupational therapist with 10 years of experience, helps parents identify eating patterns, reduce mealtime battles, and support children with food aversions. Learn proven feeding therapy strategies to transform your family's relationship with food.

Picky eating struggles? You're not alone (Mealtime battles are real)

I get it, mealtimes can feel like a battlefield.

If your little one throws chicken nuggets on the floor, gags at the sight of anything green, or survives solely on goldfish crackers and hope, you're definitely not alone. After 10 years as a pediatric occupational therapist specializing in feeding therapy, I've sat with countless exhausted parents who whisper, "I'm worried my child will never eat a vegetable," or "Am I failing as a parent?"

Let me start with this: You're not failing. You're here, seeking strategies for picky eaters, which means you're doing exactly what your child needs.

Why 25% of children experience feeding difficulties

Here's what I see in my feeding therapy clinic every day

Research shows that about 1 in 4 kids go through picky eating phases, and for children with developmental differences, feeding issues affect up to 75% of families. I've worked with toddlers who only eat beige foods, preschoolers who melt down if their sandwich is cut the "wrong" way, and school-age kids who pack the same lunch every single day for months.

These mealtime challenges usually happen because of:

Sensory processing differences (that squishy banana might genuinely feel awful to them)
Oral motor skill delays with chewing or swallowing
Food aversion patterns and big emotions around new foods
Underlying medical conditions affecting appetite or digestion

The important thing? None of this is your fault, and all pediatric feeding issues are workable with the right approach.

How food tracking transforms picky eating patterns

Why I'm obsessed with mealtime tracking (and why you should be too)

Here's what I've learned after a decade of helping families overcome feeding challenges: the parents who start tracking their child's eating patterns are the ones who see the biggest breakthroughs. Not because food tracking is magic, but because it helps you become the detective your child needs.

When you start writing down what happens at meals, you might discover that your daughter actually eats better when her feet can touch the floor, or that your son tries more foods on Tuesdays (who knew?). These little "aha!" moments add up to big changes in your picky eater strategies.

You'll start noticing feeding therapy patterns like: Does he refuse anything crunchy? Does she eat more when we're not rushing? What was different about that one meal where she actually tried the broccoli?

What to track: My simple mealtime observation tips

Keep your food tracking simple but effective

I know you're busy managing toddler food refusal and other daily challenges, so this doesn't need to be a novel. Just quick notes about:

Timing and setting: What time you ate and what was on the table
Actual intake: What your child actually ate (even if it was just three bites of bread)
Sensory responses: Any big reactions – good or challenging (Did they gag? Ask for more? Show food aversion?)
Environmental factors: Was it chaotic? Calm? Was Bluey playing in the background?
Who was present: Does your child eat differently with different family members?

That's it. These simple mealtime observations will start painting a picture of what works for your unique child's feeding patterns.

Free picky eater tracker: Your step-by-step guide

How this feeding tracker will actually help your family

This isn't just another thing to add to your to-do list – it's your roadmap to calmer mealtimes and better understanding of your child's sensory eating problems. When you track for even just a week, you'll start to see your child's patterns instead of just the daily struggles.

You'll have real information to share with your pediatrician or feeding therapist, and honestly? You'll probably feel more confident about the progress that's already happening (trust me, there's usually more than you realize).

This tracker helps with:

Identifying food aversion triggers and preferences over time
Becoming the expert on your child's eating habits
Sharing detailed records with your healthcare team for targeted support
Celebrating small wins you might otherwise miss
Reducing your own mealtime stress through understanding

Proven feeding therapy strategies for parents

Real pediatric feeding techniques that work in real families

From my years in feeding therapy, here are the strategies that make the biggest difference for children with food refusal:

Start tiny with sensory exposure. Instead of expecting your child to eat a whole carrot, celebrate them touching it, smelling it, or even just leaving it on their plate without a meltdown. These small steps matter more than you think for overcoming food aversion.

Keep meals predictable. Kids feel safer trying new foods when everything else feels familiar – same time, same spot, same routine. This is especially important for children with sensory processing differences.

Stay calm during mealtime battles. Your child picks up on your stress about eating. When you can stay neutral about whether they eat the peas, they're more likely to explore them.

Make it playful, not pressured. Let them help cook, play with their food, or even just be around new foods without any expectation to eat them. This builds positive food associations.

How to use your feeding tracker:

Download and print the tracker below
Fill it out at each meal for at least one week (longer for complex feeding issues)
Review your notes and look for trends, successes, and trigger patterns
Share your findings with your pediatrician or feeding therapist for personalized picky eater strategies

Frequently asked questions about picky eating

How long should I track my picky eater's meals?
I recommend tracking for at least one week to see clear patterns, but families dealing with severe food aversion may benefit from 2-3 weeks of observation to identify all triggers and preferences.

What causes sensory food aversions in children?
Sensory processing differences can make certain textures, smells, or temperatures feel overwhelming to children. This isn't behavioral – it's neurological. Understanding these sensory patterns helps you support your child more effectively.

When should I see a feeding therapist for my child?
Consider consulting a pediatric feeding therapist if your child has significant weight loss, extremely limited food variety (fewer than 20 foods), frequent gagging or vomiting, or if mealtime battles are affecting your family's quality of life.

How do I get my toddler to try new foods?
Focus on exposure without pressure. Offer new foods alongside preferred foods, let them help with food preparation, and model eating the foods yourself. Remember, it can take 10+ exposures before a child tries something new.

Is picky eating just a phase?
While many children go through picky phases, persistent feeding difficulties that impact nutrition, growth, or family stress benefit from professional support and structured strategies like food tracking.

Download your free feeding tracker today

Ready to start understanding your child's eating patterns?

I created this tracker because I wanted to give you the same tool I use with the families I see. It's simple, practical, and designed to fit into your real life (not some Pinterest-perfect version of parenting).

Download your free picky eater tracking guide below and start identifying the patterns that will help your child overcome feeding challenges. Use it for a week, and see what you discover about your amazing, complex, wonderfully individual child. I have a feeling you're going to be surprised by what you learn.

You've got this, and I'm cheering you on.