Books For Picky Eaters And Problems Feeders





Picky Eaters

Why would your child be a picky eater?  Once you have ruled out any digestive or other medical concerns, consider your child's food aversion to be possibly sensory based.

Signs or Symptoms of Sensory Based Food Intolerance:

Texture – child may avoid touch to hands or mouth smooth, moist, creamy; but may crave crunchy, sour, spicy

Visual – many children are 'yellow food' eaters; French fries, pasta chicken nuggets               

Oral Motor – low oral muscle tone, weak lip, cheek, or jaw muscles




Smell – some food smells

Temperature – avoidance or preference for hot, warm, room temperature, cold

Regulation – difficulty accepting new food based on taste, texture, what it looks like, rigid temperament; children that find what they like, and it works for them, so they figure why change it  

Behavioral – some children who are sensory defensive in other aspects of their lives learn secondary behaviors in order to cope.  They are control seekers so they can manage their environments and not have to be faced with unexpected challenges.  This behavior may carry over to meal time. Click to read more 







Books For Picky Eaters And Problems Feeders

Picky, Picky Pete
My oh My - why are you so picky?
Because this shirt is really itchy!
Pete finds his clothes uncomfortable and can't stand "paint, soap, and things with lumps." He explains this to his mother and the reader in this fun children's book, as he and mom navigate a difficult, but typical, morning in the life of a young boy with sensory issues. Written by an occupational therapist, this picture book is a must-have for any child with sensory processing disorder.







There's a Picky Eater In Our House
Picky Patrick is a very picky eater. His parents are so frustrated but have an idea to get Picky Patrick to eat healthier food. If you enjoyed, There's a Tornado In Our House, you are sure to love There's a Picky Eater In Our House.







Picky, Persnickety Me! 
Meet Saniyah. She’s smart. She’s spunky. She’s four.
But she only eats THREE THINGS...and they ALL begin with the letter P!
Can she convince her parents that pancakes, pizzaand popsicles really are healthy foods?
Read along and laugh out loud as she pleads her case in this hilarious new picture book!
This adventurous story is a great read aloud and will have your kiddos laughing out loud at the silly little girl totally obsessed with these three foods! Readers young and old will see themselves in the story as we all have our favorite foods. Eye popping illustrations show Saniyah getting creative and using her colorful imagination to make her case.
Will she convince you too?







Little Lindsey is a Picky Eater 
Little Lindsey is a picky eater, and her family tries to convince her to eat. However, Little Lindsey has autism. She is not trying to be difficult. Her brain tells her that same matters. It also makes some foods feel yucky in her mouth and smell funny.
This heartwarming story shows how a family will do everything possible to help their child with autism live, survive and thrive in a world she doesn't always understand.







Picky Eater: (Childrens book about Selective Eating)
Have a picky eater? No problem! Written in beautiful rhyme, this is an excellent story that helps kids become better eaters and maintain healthy nutrition.
"Love it! This childrens book might even give kids the courage to try new foods. You can't go wrong with Michael Gordon, and this is by far my favorite. " -- Mary
"This preschool book was the one that got my 4-year-old daughter hooked. I won't read books to my kids unless I love them too, so I am happy that Michael Gordon one of my favorite children's authors. " -- Amy







Kate's Trust Plate: A story for children who find eating a varied diet difficult.
This is an enjoyable, therapeutic based book to help to guide parents and children in one of the first steps of working their way through sensory feeding issues - TRUST!
Many children are fussy eaters. Fussy eating can be due to many reasons and you should always seek medical assistance before altering your child's diet.
For children with sensory differences one of the first steps in trying new food is to trust food and trust the adults making their food.
This is a fun, child friendly book to help you build trust with your child.
Help them build trust in food and trust in you (their parent)







You are Not an Otter: The Story of How Kids Become Adventurous Eaters
The Story of How Kids Become Adventurous Eaters!
You are Not an Otter takes children on a food adventure, exploring all the ways that animals eat! Otters carry a favorite rock under their arms for cracking open clams, flamingos dip and drizzle water as they stand on one foot, and gorillas travel in troops to dine together in the jungle. Do YOU carry a rock, dip and drizzle or gather in the jungle to eat with your family? No, you are not an otter, nor a flamingo and most definitely not a gorilla. But there is one thing you can do that other creatures can’t. Find out what makes children so special in this creative book on how kids learn to become adventurous eaters.







The Picky Eater Piper is a picky piglet! Especially when it comes to food. She prefers foods that begin with the letter P. Can she overcome her picky eating habits? From learning to share to telling lies, life isn't easy. These picture books include many teachable moments, which are important elements in children's books. Caregivers will be able to engage young children with entertaining stories while introducing and instilling important life skills. These books are sure to give everyone a little boost!
Tackles an important early life lesson in a funny and relatable manner
Great book for kids to see their behavior through other characters
Perfect for kindergarten classrooms
Addresses social emotional learning through behaviors of talking and listening







Play With Your Food!: A fun, family guide to improving food tolerance 
This book in a fun interactive way to improve your child's food repertoire. Having your child actively participate in cooking, baking and fun filled activities created by Sarah Appleman a seasoned Occupational Therapist for 20 years. She is a mom of 2 kids who had Sensory Processing Disorders and required her to put on her therapy hat to have them eat well. These are her own ideas and recipes that she has utilized in her practice as a therapist, and, as a mom. So get ready to Play With Your Food!







I Can Eat a Rainbow 
I Can Eat a Rainbow is a book for young children to learn, in simple terms, how important it is to incorporate fruits and vegetables into their diet. It is a bright and colorful book that will keep your children engaged and entertained along the way, complete with a rainbow of fruits and vegetables of their own to color!







Norah Doesn't Eat THAT! 
Meet Norah: a sweet little girl who loves to play with her bunny Jessica, finger paint, and run outside in the grass.
But one thing she hates to do is to EAT!
When her parents try to give her new foods, Norah always says the same thing: "Norah doesn't eat THAT!"
Will her first trip to the Farmers' Market be enough to change her mind?
Norah Doesn't Eat THAT!is a humorous (and relatable) tale of parents who try something new to change their picky child's perspective on food.







Just Try One Bite
These three kids are determined to get their parents to put down the ice cream, cake, and chicken fried steak to just try one bite of healthy whole foods. But it's harder than it looks when these over-the-top gagging, picky parents refuse to give things like broccoli and kale a chance. Kids will love the jaunty rhyme that's begging to be read aloud and the opportunity to be way smarter—and healthier—than their parents.







Pickysaurus Mac is not your typical dinosaur. Mealtimes pose a special problem for our picky little friend. Sometimes foods smell too gross to eat, they taste different than they look and their textures feel like garbage in his mouth. His friends tell him to eat right to stay healthy, but some things you just can't fix with words. Will Pickysaurus Mac ever find something he likes? When he finds he likes it, will it be the best food for him? Will he find it in time?
One symptom of SPD is the adverse affect food (taste, smell, texture) has on our senses.  Often children who have SPD are labeled as "picky eaters," 







Nope. Never. Not For Me! (Little Senses)
This gentle story guides kids on the Autism Spectrum and/or with sensory sensitivities (such as SPD) through trying a new food, with support and encouragement aplenty.

Children are often picky eaters, but for kids on the autism spectrum or with sensory issues, trying new foods can be especially challenging. In Nope! Never! Not for Me! a young child refuses to try a bite of broccoli--that is, until her mom guides her through a careful exploration of the new food. First she looks, then she sniffs, then touches, and finally takes one tiny bite. What do you know? Broccoli isn't so overwhelming after all!







Gregory, The Terrible Eater 
Gregory isn't like most goats. Instead of indulging in delicacies like old shoes, boxes, and bottle caps, he prefers to eat fruits, vegetables, eggs, and fish. Mother Goat and Father Goat are disgusted, and after several attempts to get Gregory to eat like a proper goat, they finally take him to see Dr. Ram. But when Gregory finally develops a taste for flat tires and broken violins, he's not just eating like a goat---he's eating like a pig! Will Gregory be able to find a healthy balance before he eats everything in the house?







Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli 
What do monsters eat?
The waitress in this restaurant just doesn’t have a clue.
Monsters don’t eat broccoli!
How could she think we do?
In this rollicking picture book written by Barbara Jean Hicks and illustrated by Sue Hendra, monsters insist they don’t like broccoli. They’d rather snack on tractors or a rocket ship or two, or tender trailer tidbits, or a wheely, steely stew. But boy do those trees they’re munching on look an awful lot like broccoli. Maybe vegetables aren’t so bad after all!
This hilarious book will have youngsters laughing out loud and craving healthy monster snacks of their own.







Daniel Tries a New Food 
A new generation of children love Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, inspired by the classic series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood!
Daniel Tiger puts his taste buds to the test in this charming new 8x8 storybook based on a popular episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood!
Miss Elaina is coming over for dinner, so Mom Tiger is making two super-special foods! But Daniel and Miss Elaina are nervous about trying them. With some help from Mom and Dad, Miss Elaina Daniel learns that they’ve got to try new foods because they might taste good!
This delightful story is perfect for helping little ones understand that trying new things—especially new foods—can be fun!







D.W. The Picky Eater 
D.W. is very picky about what she eats. She doesn't seem to like anything. Her dining out days with her family are cut short when she refuses to eat her salad and flings it to the floor. Will her table manners improve in time for her Grandma Thora's special dinner out? Text copyright 2004 Lectorum Publications, Inc.







Picky Peggy 
When Mr. Cooper gives Peggy a new baby duck, she promises to take good care of it. But when Fluff's feathers begin to droop and his eyes are no longer bright and shiny, Peggy discovers why and learns that good nutrition is very important - for growing ducks and growing girls!







I Will Never Not Ever Eat A Tomato 
Lola is a fussy eater. A very fussy eater. She won’t eat her carrots (until her brother Charlie reveals that they’re orange twiglets from Jupiter). She won’t eat her mashed potatoes (until Charlie explains that they’re cloud fluff from the pointiest peak of Mount Fuji). There are many things Lola won’t eat, including — and especially —tomatoes. Or will she? Two endearing siblings star in a witty story about the triumph of imagination over proclivity.












DISCLAIMER: I am not an Occupational Therapist. I am an adult who has Sensory Processing Disorder, a sensory parent and a Grandma. The information on this website is not medical advice and does not replace the information that your child's therapists give you. These are just ideas and information that I have learned myself over the years of being a parent and an adult living with SPD. If you are concerned for your child, please always seek medical attention through a family doctor, pediatrician or therapist. This website is for suggestions and informational purposes only. Each child is different and what works for one child may not for another because all children have different needs. Please always consult with a professional.

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