Pediatric Picky Eating Disordered Specialist
Child & Teen Picky Eating Disordered Specialist
Has every meal become a negotiation?
Maybe you've made separate meals for your child, begged them to "just take one bite," hidden vegetables in their favorite foods, or worried they aren't getting the nutrition they need. Family dinners may feel stressful instead of enjoyable, and eating at restaurants, birthday parties, school, or friends' houses can leave everyone feeling anxious.
If this sounds familiar, I want you to know something important—you're not alone, and this isn't your fault.
Many parents are told their child will "grow out of it" or that they're simply being stubborn. While picky eating is common during early childhood, some children continue to struggle well beyond the toddler years. Others experience eating challenges that are much more complex than typical picky eating.
For many children, food preferences are influenced by sensory sensitivities, anxiety, previous negative experiences with food, medical conditions, neurodivergence, or developmental differences. Texture, smell, temperature, appearance, and even how foods touch on the plate can make meals feel overwhelming.
At Kendra's Kustom Nutrition, my goal isn't to force your child to eat foods they dislike or create power struggles around the dinner table. Instead, I work to understand why eating feels difficult for your child and develop practical, individualized strategies that help them feel safe, successful, and more confident around food.
Every child is unique. Some children have a very limited variety of accepted foods but are growing well. Others may struggle with nutrient deficiencies, poor growth, anxiety around meals, or social challenges because of their limited eating. Together, we'll identify what's contributing to your child's eating patterns and create realistic goals that fit your family's daily life.
Together, we may work on:
- Understanding what's driving your child's selective eating
- Gradually expanding food variety at a pace that feels safe and achievable
- Reducing mealtime stress and power struggles
- Increasing confidence around trying new foods
- Supporting adequate nutrition using foods your child currently accepts
- Identifying possible nutrient deficiencies related to limited food intake
- Building positive family mealtime routines
- Helping your child feel more comfortable eating at school, restaurants, vacations, birthday parties, and social events
I also believe parents deserve support. Many families feel exhausted after years of worrying about every meal, preparing multiple dinners, or wondering whether they're "doing it right." My role is not only to support your child, but also to provide you with practical strategies you can confidently use at home without turning meals into daily battles.
If your child has had laboratory testing completed, I'll help you understand whether their eating habits may be contributing to vitamin or mineral deficiencies or other nutrition concerns. When appropriate, I'm happy to collaborate with your child's pediatrician, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, psychologist, gastroenterologist, or other healthcare providers to ensure everyone is working together toward the same goals.
My approach is always compassionate, individualized, and pressure-free. Progress doesn't happen by forcing children to eat—it happens by building trust, reducing anxiety, and creating positive experiences around food over time.
Whether your child eats only a handful of foods or simply struggles with trying anything new, they deserve support that recognizes their unique challenges instead of dismissing them as "just picky."
Together, we'll help your child build confidence around food, improve nutrition, and make mealtimes feel calmer, less stressful, and more enjoyable for your entire family.
