When Kids Say No to New Foods: What a NYC Feeding Therapist Wants You to Know
Many parents visit my speech and feeding clinic in New York City because their children are hesitant to try new foods.
Many children I work with have a limited repertoire of what they will eat during each given meal and day.
As a feeding therapist, I treat a variety of feeding challenges that can occur along a spectrum, with children diagnosed as mild picky eaters to more complex medical cases, such as diagnoses of growth faltering or ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder) or PICA.
Parents often seek my professional opinion as a feeding therapist in NYC to help their child eat a larger variety of nutritious foods for a variety of reasons.
Often, the family initially enters Chatty Child utterly frustrated and looking for help.
Mealtime has become a time of struggle and frequent battles.
When Mealtime Rules Turn Into Battles
Here are some frequent refrains heard during these mealtime battles:
‘You must finish what is on your plate. ’
‘You have to finish your dinner before you can play video games.’
‘You need to eat one spoonful of that before you can leave the table.’
Going out to eat at restaurants or even attending a friend’s birthday party or celebratory dinner can be a source of great anxiety and stress for the child and the entire family.
Sadly, families may often avoid these moments of celebration to mitigate their feelings of frustration around these social eating events.
Moments that are traditionally fun times for connection, celebration, and joy can instead become negative loops of stress, anxiety, worry, and even avoidance altogether.
Usually, by the time a family has found me, they are all exhausted. You’re not alone, and feeding therapy services are available.
Typically, the parents, child, and whole family are equally and rightfully tired of all the daily mealtime battles.
So, what can we do as therapists, parents and caregivers when a child says, no to a food we would like them to try?
One of the most powerful steps you can take towards improving mealtime with your child is to engage in meaningful mealtime activities with them.
Creative Mealtime Ideas from a Feeding Therapist for Connection and Choice
Here are some mealtime activities to try at breakfast, lunch, and dinner with your child:
- Create a food shopping list with your child’s thoughts and ideas about what they would like to eat for the week. You can provide a structure to this list by suggesting a few items from each food group.
- Encourage your child to find these items in the store when you go shopping together or even online.
- Practice setting the table together before each meal.
- Invite your child to pick out the plates, cups, and napkins colors they desire. This provides them with both agency and choice.
- Create a mealtime menu for the week. Provide multiple choices for your child to choose from. For example, ask them which proteins, vegetables, or fruits they would like to explore this week.
- Give a few selections to choose from when creating a weekly meal menu. This provides a sense of agency and choice for your child.
- Encourage your child to engage in the meal preparation process. This can include: pouring, mixing, and measuring the ingredients.
- Create a calming mealtime environment. Perhaps add soft lights and music.
- Create a beautiful flower arrangement, collage, or visually striking picture together to place on the table. This creates an inviting mealtime experience for both you and your child.
- Connect and chat each day together during mealtime. Sit down and enjoy meals together as family, as time allows.
- Encourage your child to ‘try’ different foods on their plate. ‘Trying’ could include allowing the food to touch their plate, touching it, licking it, or possibly taking a small bite.
- Explore eating in different spaces – like an outdoor picnic!
Bringing Lightness and Curiosity to the Table
Use mealtime as a moment to connect, communicate, discuss, and laugh with your child.
I invite you to approach mealtime with lightness and curiosity.
By providing agency and choice to mealtimes, your child may slowly find the feelings of freedom and safety to try new things.
In fact, they might just change that no – into a yes – all on their own!
Ready to Work with a Feeding Therapist at Chatty Child in NYC?
If your child is struggling during mealtime, we are here ready to help support your child’s growth.
Are you ready to experience the difference of bespoke, holistic, compassionate, personalized care at Chatty Child?
Chatty Child’s speech therapists can assess your child’s feeding needs and craft an individually tailored treatment plan to address any areas of concern; while working seamlessly with your child’s medical team to achieve the best therapeutic outcomes for your child and family.
To book an in-person or online speech therapy assessment and treatment sessions with Heather Lynn Boerner, MA CCC/SLP, please visit our website at: www.chattychild.com; email: info@chattychild.com; or call: 347 491 4451
Sincerely,
Heather Lynn Boerner, MA CCC/SLP
Support Your Child’s Growth with a Feeding Therapist in NYC
When mealtimes turn into battles and your child struggles to try new foods, it can leave the whole family feeling stressed. At Chatty Child, our experienced therapists in NYC create a supportive, playful environment where kids can explore and build healthy habits. We work hand-in-hand with caregivers to make mealtime less overwhelming and more nourishing—for both your child and your family.
Here’s how to get started with feeding therapy in NYC:
- Schedule a free 15-minute phone call to share your child’s challenges and learn how feeding therapy can help.
- Book a comprehensive evaluation to identify your child’s feeding needs, sensory sensitivities, and mealtime struggles.
- Begin individualized feeding therapy sessions designed to encourage curiosity, reduce pressure, and build healthier eating habits.
- Watch your child’s confidence grow as mealtimes become more manageable and positive, creating a foundation for long-term success.
Helping Kids Grow with Confidence: Full-Service Support at Chatty Child
At Chatty Child, we understand how stressful it can feel when your child refuses new foods or struggles at mealtimes. Feeding challenges go beyond picky eating—they can impact growth, confidence, and family routines. We focus on supporting the whole child, helping them develop positive associations with food, strengthen communication and self-regulation, and give parents tools to create calmer, more successful mealtime experiences at home.
- InterAct – A creative program that blends storytelling, drama, and play to encourage expressive communication and boost self-esteem.
- Occupational Therapy – Focused on improving sensory integration, fine motor abilities, and greater independence in everyday activities.
- Teletherapy – Accessible online sessions for speech and occupational therapy available to families across New York State.
- Tutoring – Individualized academic support in reading, writing, and problem-solving, designed to nurture curiosity and school success.
- Functional Nutrition – Practical strategies to support mental focus, emotional regulation, and physical health during formative years.
- Consulting – Collaborative coaching for parents, educators, and caregivers to align support strategies across home, school, and therapy.
- Group Programs – Engaging group sessions that strengthen social skills, emotional awareness, and confidence through movement and play.
Meet the Author: Experienced Pediatric Speech & Feeding Therapist in NYC
Heather Lynn Boerner, MA CCC/SLP, is a nationally certified and New York State licensed speech-language pathologist and feeding therapist with more than 20 years of experience providing pediatric speech therapy in New York City. Beyond her clinical expertise, she is also a certified mindfulness and meditation instructor, a trauma-informed practitioner, and a proud member of the neurodiverse and differently-abled community—perspectives that meaningfully shape her work.
Her own lived experience as a differently-abled individual inspired her to found Chatty Child Speech, Occupational & Physical Therapy, PLLC—an inclusive practice built to empower children through compassionate, personalized care. Heather is also the author of Carrie the Colorful Chameleon, a children’s book designed to encourage confidence, curiosity, and connection, complete with a teaching guide for parents and educators.
Together with her team, Heather provides services both at the Tribeca, Manhattan clinic and virtually across New York State, helping children strengthen communication skills, build self-expression, and grow in resilience.
