In this course, we will take a deep dive into the concept of “TRY IT!” As feeding therapists, we have often relied on strategies for helping children try new foods, different foods, more foods, in support of parent goals to expand their child’s food choices. Many strategies have worked well, and others have left children and their families stressed and stuck. We will explore evidence that informs the influences of motivation, autonomy and self determination, safety, sensory preferences, pressure and stress have on enjoyment in new food trying and food choices and preferences.  We will look at how to read a child’s communication about what works for their unique body and strategize how to adapt options of food interaction and therapeutic support based on responsively adapting for “this” child in “this” moment.

The participants will be able to:

1. List the components of enjoying food and eating
2. Describe the ways babies learn to try new foods
3. Describe the role of internal and external motivation on “TRY IT”
4. Describe the influence of pressure or stress on “TRY IT!”
5. Describe a shift from “TRY IT!” to “try it?”
6. List strategies we can role model or teach client and families that can be considered in “new food trying” that work with individual sensory profiles

• Coming Soon!