Understanding Sensory Processing: Its Role in Picky Eating and Feeding Behaviors
As a pediatric feeding therapist at Kids Feeding Wellness, I often see how closely a child's feeding behaviors connect to the sensory experiences they’ve had—or haven’t had—with food. Each of us processes sensory aspects of food differently, but for many children with picky eating, these sensory elements can be what keeps them stuck on familiar foods and prevents them from trying new ones.
In my work, I frequently come across children with subtle to more complex sensory processing challenges that impact feeding. Identifying these differences is essential because children need gentle support to feel comfortable exploring new sensory aspects of food at their own pace. When parents understand the basics of sensory processing and how it affects eating, they can better support their child along the path to a broader food repertoire—and better understand why their child is having difficulty with certain foods in the first place.
In this article, we’ll discuss:
What sensory processing is and how it relates to eating
Common signs of sensory processing difficulties in feeding
Practical tips to support your child in building comfort with new foods
What is Sensory Processing?
Sensory processing refers to how a child notices, organizes, and responds to the sensory information in their environment and includes things like tastes, textures, smells, touch, and movement. When a child has challenges in processing these sensations, they may become overwhelmed or uncomfortable with everyday experiences. This can affect how they play, engage with others, learn, and yes, how they eat.
Sensory processing challenges are relatively common. Estimates suggest that about 5% to 16% of school-aged children experience differences in how they process sensory input (Ahn et al., 2004; Chang et al., 2015; Owen et al., 2013; James et al., 2011). This means many children need more time, support, or gradual exposure when it comes to new foods, textures, and mealtime routines.
When we understand that a child’s hesitations around food may be sensory-based and not “picky” behavior, we can respond with empathy and patience. This understanding helps us create feeding experiences that feel safe, supportive, and respectful to a child’s body and comfort level.
How Sensory Processing Difficulties Impact Feeding Behaviors
Feeding is a multisensory experience that engages more than the commonly known five senses; in fact, there are eight senses that influence how your child interacts with food. These include taste, touch, smell, sight, sound, proprioception, vestibular, and interoception. Each sense plays a role in how your child perceives and engages with new foods, textures, and mealtime routines. Here’s how these senses impact feeding behaviors:
Taste: Children experience five primary flavors—sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. If your child has heightened taste sensitivity, they may avoid foods with strong flavors, like certain vegetables or spices. Conversely, they may prefer bold flavors that provide more sensory input.
Touch: The texture of foods is crucial in shaping a child’s preferences. Some children may find specific textures uncomfortable or overwhelming, while others seek crunchy or chewy foods. In addition, when a child is sensitive to certain textures, they may be hesitant not only to eat foods with those textures but also to touch them. This aversion can add to the challenges of mealtime, as a child’s discomfort with a texture can influence their willingness to explore or taste new foods.
Smell: Closely linked with taste, smell can strongly influence a child’s willingness to try new foods. Children who are sensitive to food odors may avoid foods with strong smells like garlic or cooked vegetables. Introducing foods with a gradual buildup of aroma can help ease this.
Sight: The appearance of food such as the color, shape, and presentation, can either attract or repel a child. Children sensitive to visual input may avoid mixed dishes or colorful foods, preferring simple, consistent visuals. Presenting food in visually appealing ahs been shown to encourage exploration.
Sound: Food-related sounds such as crunching or slurping can also affect how enjoyable a meal feels. Children who are sensitive to sound may find these noises distracting or even distressing and decrease their willingness to eat certain foods.
Proprioception (Body Awareness): Proprioception refers to the awareness of body position and movement. Proprioceptive input is essential for coordinating tasks like bringing food to the mouth and using utensils. When children struggle with proprioception, mealtime can feel frustrating and impact their comfort and confidence.
Vestibular System (Balance and Spatial Orientation): The vestibular sense, located in the inner ear, helps with balance, spatial orientation, and coordination. A well-functioning vestibular system allows a child to sit upright, feel grounded, and maintain a steady posture during meals. Children with vestibular sensitivities may feel unsteady in their chair or struggle with balance, making eating a challenge.
Interoception (Internal Body Awareness): Interoception is a lesser-known but highly significant sense that plays a crucial role in feeding and it’s a topic that could easily fill an article of its own. Interoception helps children recognize internal bodily signals like hunger, fullness, thirst, and other physical cues such as heart beat, body temperature, and digestion. For children with interoceptive challenges, accurately perceiving these signals can be difficult, which may lead to inconsistent eating patterns and disrupt mealtime routines.
When gastrointestinal influences are involved, this sense becomes even more complex. If a child has experienced discomfort, bloating, or pain after eating certain foods, they may become cautious or avoidant, choosing to stick to "safe" foods they know won’t upset their stomach. This tendency to avoid foods associated with past discomfort can narrow their diet, reinforcing picky eating behaviors and limiting their willingness to try new foods. Recognizing and addressing these interoceptive responses is essential to helping children gradually build a more varied and comfortable relationship with food.
Hypersensitivity vs. Hyposensitivity in Picky Eating
Some children notice sensory details in food very strongly, while others need more sensory input to feel satisfied. Understanding your child’s sensory pattern can help you respond in ways that feel supportive rather than stressful.
Hypersensitivity (Over-Responsive)
A hypersensitive child experiences sensory input more intensely. Their nervous system reacts quickly and strongly.
What this can look like at the table:
Avoids certain textures (mushy, mixed, crunchy, sticky)
Prefers familiar, predictable foods
Gags or becomes upset when asked to try new foods
Notices strong smells immediately
May be overwhelmed by busy or noisy mealtime environments
These children are not being picky. Their body is saying, “This feels like too much.”
Hyposensitivity (Under-Responsive)
A hyposensitive child does not register sensory input as strongly.
Their nervous system needs more sensory input to feel satisfied.
What this can look like at the table:
Seeks bold flavors (spicy, salty, crunchy, strong sauces)
Chews on non-food items (shirts, toys)
Touches or plays with food often
Prefers large bites or fast eating
Seems unaware of temperature or strong smells
These children are not being “messy” or “wild.” Their body is saying, “I need more input to understand and enjoy this.”
Mixed Sensitivities
It’s common for children to exhibit a combination of hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity, leading to mixed sensory responses. For example, a child may be hypersensitive to textures but hyposensitive to flavors. They might refuse to eat certain crunchy foods like raw vegetables because of the overwhelming texture while actively seeking out bold and spicy flavors in their meals, such as enjoying hot sauce or flavored dips. This mixed profile can create unique challenges at mealtimes, as parents may find it difficult to navigate the child’s preferences and aversions simultaneously.
Tips for Parents Supporting Sensory Processing in Picky Eating
Here are some simple yet effective strategies you can implement in your child’s daily routine to help build comfort around exploring new foods while being mindful of their sensory preferences:
Gradual Exposure: Introduce new foods slowly and in small amounts. Start with foods that have a similar texture or taste to those your child already enjoys. This gradual approach helps build comfort and reduces anxiety around unfamiliar items.
Create a Safe Space: Make mealtime a relaxed and inviting experience. Establish a calm environment free from distractions, allowing your child to focus on their food without pressure.
Involve Them in Preparation: Encourage your child to participate in food preparation. Let them help wash, peel, or arrange foods on the plate. This involvement can foster curiosity and make new foods feel less intimidating. If they don’t feel ready to touch food with their hands, offer tools like tongs or protective gloves.
Use Playful Approaches: Incorporate play into mealtimes. Try games that involve tasting or describing foods in fun ways, like pretending to be food critics or explorers discovering new flavors.
Explore Textures: Offer a variety of textures during meals. Include crunchy, smooth, soft, and chewy foods to help your child explore different sensory experiences without overwhelming them.
Visual Appeal: Present food in an appealing way. Use colorful plates or arrange food into fun shapes or designs to make meals visually interesting and inviting.
Engage in Messy Play: Encourage messy play with food items outside of mealtime. Let your child explore different foods using their hands, creating art with purees, or making edible sensory bins. This play can help desensitize them to various textures and reduce fear around food. For more on the benefits of messy play, check out our blog post Messes That Matter: The Role of Sensory Processing at the Table and Beyond, which includes a free guide with food based sensory play ideas you can incorporate at home.
Respect Preferences: Be mindful of your child’s preferences and sensitivities. If they show a strong aversion to certain foods, avoid forcing them to try those items. Instead, focus on foods they are more open to exploring.
Model Positive Eating Behaviors: Show enthusiasm for trying new foods yourself. Children often mimic adult behaviors, so your positive attitude toward new foods can encourage them to be more adventurous.
Be Patient: Building a varied diet takes time. Celebrate small successes and be patient with setbacks. Consistency and encouragement will help your child develop a more positive relationship with food over time.
Seek Professional Support: If your child’s picky eating significantly impacts their nutrition or quality of life, consider consulting a feeding specialist or occupational therapist. They can provide tailored strategies and support to address sensory processing challenges.
Argie is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist and Feeding Specialist with over 7 years of experience. Since founding Kids Feeding Wellness in 2020, she has focused on feeding therapy and parent coaching, helping families build strong, healthy connections around the table. With a deep love for language and food, Argie is passionate about creating fun, sensory-rich experiences that nourish both body and mind, fostering meaningful communication and joyful mealtimes for children and their families.
If you’re facing challenges with picky eating or transitioning to solids, don’t hesitate to reach out. At Kids Feeding Wellness, we’re here to support you every step of the way through parent coaching and feeding therapy!
Have Questions?
If you have any questions about your child's specific sensory needs related to food, we’re here to help! Visit our contact page to send us a message or to schedule a virtual consultation. We look forward to supporting you and your child on their feeding journey!
