Nutrition & SOS Feeding Therapy

Expert guidance on feeding challenges, mealtime stress, texture progression, nutritional adequacy, and building positive food relationships.

The Importance of Feeding Therapy
Did you know?
Eating is the most complex physical task your child will ever learn
It is the only human task that requires every organ system in the body to work together. Every muscle is involved, and all eight sensory systems must coordinate simultaneously.
26
Muscles used in a single swallow
6
Cranial nerves coordinated per swallow
8
Sensory systems engaged while eating
100%
Of organ systems required to eat
The impact
What happens when eating is hard
When your child struggles to eat a well-rounded diet, it can be both frustrating and concerning. Despite your best efforts, your child may only stick to a limited range of foods, leaving you worried about their growth, learning, and overall wellbeing. The impacts extend far beyond the dinner table.
Growth & development
Nutritional deficiencies can hinder physical growth, brain development, and immune function.
Emotional wellbeing
Mealtime stress can lead to anxiety, frustration, and negative associations with food for the whole family.
Social participation
Limited eating can affect social interactions at school, parties, and family gatherings.
Energy & concentration
Poor dietary habits contribute to fatigue, behavioural challenges, and difficulty focusing at school.
The good news
Children can learn to expand their food choices
While children may not simply grow out of picky eating, with the right support they can understand and address the challenges they face with food. This involves developing the skills to overcome difficulties and reshaping beliefs about themselves and food that develop as they grow older.
Early intervention is key. It lays the foundation for lifelong health, fosters optimal development, prevents potential complications, and builds healthy eating habits that can impact overall wellbeing for years to come.

Inside Our Feeding Therapy Sessions

  • SOS Approach to Feeding

    Cooking & Baking

    Children build confidence with food through hands-on cooking activities like measuring, mixing, and creating meals together. By helping prepare food, children develop ownership and become more willing to explore new foods.

  • Picky Eaters vs Problem Feeders

    Sensory Food Play

    Fun, low-pressure activities like yoghurt painting, jelly digs, and sensory bins help children become comfortable with the textures, smells, and appearances of food, progressing through the SOS steps at their own pace.

  • Mealtime Support

    Nutrition Education

    Children learn about the five food groups, where their food comes from, and how it helps their body grow through fun, interactive activities, games, and visual resources that build positive eating habits for life.

  • Food Exploration

    Children interact with new foods through looking, smelling, touching, and tasting at their own pace, progressing through the SOS steps to eating hierarchy in a safe and supported environment.

  • Growth Monitoring

    Regular tracking of height and weight to monitor growth patterns and ensure age-appropriate milestones are being met.

  • Parent Coaching

    Practical guidance for parents and caregivers to confidently support their child's feeding journey at home.

Signs your child may benefit

Picky Eater vs Problem Feeder
Typical
Picky eater
A normal phase most children go through. Usually resolves on its own with time and patience.
VS
May need support
Problem feeder
A persistent difficulty with eating that can affect growth, development, and family wellbeing.
Eats at least 30 different foods
Eats fewer than 20 foods, often fewer than 15
Will eat foods prepared in different ways (e.g. raw, cooked, mashed)
Becomes distressed or cries when new foods are present
Eats a variety of textures including crunchy, soft, and chewy
Refuses entire food groups (e.g. no fruits, vegetables, or proteins)
Open to tasting new foods even if they don't always like them
Gags, vomits, or has a strong reaction to new or unfamiliar foods
Dropped foods usually come back after a break
Once a food is dropped, it rarely returns to their diet
Can eat the same meal as the rest of the family
Needs a separate meal prepared every time
Mealtimes may be slow but are generally manageable
Mealtimes regularly end in tears, meltdowns, or family stress
Accepts foods in different shapes and brands
Insists on specific brands, shapes, or packaging
Does the right column sound like your child?
If you recognise these signs, your child may be a problem feeder rather than a picky eater. Feeding therapy can help. Get in touch and we can talk through your concerns.

Goals of SOS Feeding Therapy

Feeding Therapy Journey
Before
Mostly white, beige, crunchy, and dry foods. Limited variety. Same meals every day.
During therapy
Some colour appearing. New food groups being explored. A growing mix of textures and flavours.
The outcome
A colourful, balanced plate. Fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and healthy fats. Confident and happy eating.
Goals of Feeding Therapy
Developmental milestones
Assess key milestones across sensory processing, cognition, and the emotional aspects of feeding to guide targeted interventions that support your child's overall progress.
01
02
Feeding skill development
Develop essential skills including self-feeding and positive mealtime behaviours, while gradually expanding your child's diet through safe and supported food exploration.
Nutritional support
Identify and address individual dietary needs, preferences, and barriers to ensure a balanced diet that supports healthy growth and long-term development.
03
04
Family-centred goals
Collaborate with families to establish personalised feeding goals, equipping caregivers with evidence-based strategies and knowledge to achieve meaningful outcomes.
The nourishment to grow
Building the foundations for a positive, lifelong relationship with food for your child and your whole family.