Why nutrition matters for picky eaters
Making mealtimes work for everyone
Picky eating isn’t just about preferences – it can affect nutrient intake, energy levels, growth, and overall health. Over time, a limited diet can lead to deficiencies in important nutrients like iron, calcium, and fibre, or cause difficulties with digestion and energy balance.
For children, picky eating can impact growth, concentration, and participation in social situations like school lunches or parties. For adults, it can affect long-term health, confidence in eating with others, and enjoyment of food. For people with disabilities or food-related disorders, it can be tied to sensory sensitivities, oral motor skills, or medical needs – requiring a safe, personalised approach.
By understanding the root causes of picky eating and using gradual, evidence-based strategies, we can expand food variety, support balanced nutrition, and make mealtimes less stressful for everyone involved.
Stages I can support you through
Picky eating can look different for every person – and the right approach depends on the cause, age, and needs of the individual. Here are some of the ways I can help:
Identifying the root cause
We’ll explore whether picky eating is linked to sensory sensitivities, medical issues, anxiety, past experiences, or simply habit – and shape our plan accordingly.
Expanding food variety gradually
Gentle, step-by-step exposure strategies to increase the range of foods eaten – focusing on nutrient-rich options that work for your preferences or needs.
Supporting children’s development
Helping children meet their energy and nutrient needs for healthy growth, concentration, and participation in social settings like school or parties.
Navigating feeding challenges
Adapting strategies for individuals with disabilities, ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), or swallowing and oral motor difficulties – in collaboration with other professionals when needed.
Helping adults build food confidence
Supporting adults who have a limited diet to try new foods in a way that feels safe and manageable, while improving overall nutrition and enjoyment of eating.
Reducing stress at mealtimes
Guidance for parents, carers, or individuals to make mealtimes more positive, less pressured, and more enjoyable – for everyone at the table.
Working together
Every picky eater’s story is different – and so is my approach. Whether you’re helping a child broaden their diet, supporting someone with sensory sensitivities or a feeding disorder, or looking to expand your own food variety, we’ll create a plan that meets you where you’re at and adapts as your needs change.
We’ll start with a one-on-one consultation (online or in-person), where I’ll learn more about you or the person you care for – health history, current eating patterns, preferred and avoided foods, sensory considerations, and any relevant medical or therapy input. From there, I’ll create a personalised plan that’s both evidence-based and realistic for everyday life.
Throughout our work together, I’ll provide regular check-ins, updates, and adjustments. This could include step-by-step exposure strategies, tailored meal ideas and recipes, strategies for managing mealtime stress, and – when relevant – collaboration with speech therapists, occupational therapists, or other specialists to ensure a safe, holistic approach.
Value of personalised dietary guidance
Picky eating can have many causes – and each needs a tailored approach. Whether the challenge is medical, sensory, or behavioural, personalised, professional support ensures nutrition needs are met and mealtimes become less stressful.
Children with limited food variety
Some children go through short phases of picky eating, while others develop more persistent patterns that affect growth, learning, and social situations.
A tailored plan can improve nutrition while helping them feel more confident trying new foods. Together we'll:
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Identify nutrient gaps and find realistic ways to fill them
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Use gradual, low-pressure exposure to increase accepted foods
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Create easy family meal ideas that work for everyone at the table
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Offer guidance for school lunches, parties, and eating out
Adults with selective eating or feeding anxiety
Picky eating doesn’t always disappear with age – for some, it can continue into adulthood and affect health, confidence, and quality of life.
With personalised guidance, you can expand your diet at your own pace, in a way that feels safe and manageable. Together we'll:
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Explore the root cause, whether sensory-based, anxiety-driven, or habit-formed
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Build balanced meals within your current food comfort zone
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Introduce new foods gradually using strategies that feel safe
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Provide practical nutrition swaps to meet nutrient needs without overwhelm
Feeding challenges linked to disabilities or medical conditions
Selective eating can be related to sensory sensitivities, swallowing or oral motor difficulties, conditions like ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) or autism.
An experienced, collaborative approach can make feeding more positive, safe, and nutritionally balanced. Together we'll:
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Work alongside other professionals for a safe, joined-up approach
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Adapt meal textures, flavours, and presentation to suit sensory preferences
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Design menus that meet medical and nutritional needs
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Support carers with practical strategies for consistent mealtime routines
And why choose to work with me
I’m Niki – a Registered Dietitian (RD) and Nutritionist, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). I’ve worked with picky eaters of all ages, from toddlers to adults, including those with sensory sensitivities, disabilities, and medical feeding challenges.
As a mum of three, I understand how selective eating can affect daily life – and I know the value of strategies that are practical, realistic, and family-friendly. My approach is evidence-based but tailored to each person, so you can make real, sustainable progress without pressure or overwhelm.
FAQs
Will you make me or my child eat foods we dislike?
No – my approach is always gradual and respectful. We work with your preferences and introduce new foods in ways that feel safe and manageable.
How long does it take to see changes?
It depends on the individual – some people notice progress within weeks, while for others it’s a slower process. The goal is steady, sustainable change, not quick fixes.
Can you adapt foods to meet sensory preferences?
Absolutely – I can suggest way to modify cooking methods, textures, and presentation to make foods more acceptable without losing nutritional value.
