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Catherine M. Whiting , MS, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Red Flags indicating a Problem Eater:

* Limited foods (less than 20 different foods routinely eaten; all types of a food count as ONE food, such as cheddar and Swiss are still cheeses)

* Limited groups of food (for example will eat carbohydrates and a few meats but no fruit or no vegetable; banana bread does not count as fruit, ketchup does not count as vegetable)

* Anxiety (tantrums, crying, vomiting, gagging by the sight, smell, touch, taste of a particular food or by just sitting down at meals)

* Food jags (demanding the same food prepared the same way at almost every meal for more than 3 or 4 days; after a long episode of wanting one food, body may then satiate and the food is dropped from the already restricted food list)

* Developmental delay (delayed speech, delayed motor skills, delayed cognition, low muscle tone, drooling beyond teething)

* History of reflux, tube feeding, cleft palate, respiratory issues, etc.

* Poor weight gain or weight loss

* Not being weaned off baby foods to table foods by 16 months (rather eat pureed carrots vs. biting a carrot; applesauce vs. biting an apple)

* Meals are a battle

Your child may be a candidate for a referral if any of these signs are present.