How to help a food anxious child

What to do if a child has food anxiety

Toddlers often go through a food neophobic phase or a fear of foods, and this is a normal developmental phase. It stems from an evolutionary need to stay safe when wandering away from mum and not putting a poisonous plant in the mouth, for example.

Food anxiety is common among fussy eaters in general. If food is not something you are comfortable with it makes sense that it could make you feel anxious, especially if you feel pressured to do something you’re not sure you can manage.

The fear of new foods may also include foods that look or smell different to the usual presentation. Frustratingly it can also include things that previously were eaten.

Anxiety in general though can also lead to picky eating. Children can develop food fears as eating is a ‘good place’ to fixate worries. Children are in charge of what goes into the mouth.

There are also often reasons why children have developed anxiety around food.

Reasons for food anxiety

1. Oral motor/medical issues — some children have had eating challenges. Perhaps they have choked on a food and naturally that has led to an extreme reaction to eating that or similar foods again.