What Next?
Please continue to use all the strategies we have provided including going to the Stay and Play sessions at the Children Centres. Remember that progress with eating can take time and it is important to use these strategies regularly.
Fussy Eaters
Fussy Eaters
We at East London Foundation trust NHS Specialist Children’s and young people’s services (ELFT NHS SCYPS) are very excited to welcome you to our Fussy eater’s page.
This page is for parents of children who are fussy with food and school or nursery staff who work with children who are fussy with food. It is a joint page created by the Speech and Language Therapy, Dietetics and Occupational Therapy teams from ELFT NHS.
Often toddlers and children refuse to eat or to taste new foods and this is normal behaviour so do not worry. It is more important that your child is eating some food from the four main food groups (carbohydrates, protein, fruits and vegetables) and about what they eat over a week.
On this website you can access some fun and creative resources such as information sheets/handouts, videos and advice to try at home or at school with your child.
You can also find out how to contact your health visitor or specialist health visitor or Children Centre via this page.
First step
Here we have a bank of resources containing important strategies for you to try at home. Please try these everyday for at least 3 months as it will take time to see improvements in your child's relationship with food. We also recommend that you access stay and play sessions at your local Children's Centre where staff will be able to give you more guidance and support.
Video file
Meal Time Positioning: '90,90,90' for posture and stability
Video: Supportive Positioning For Feeding ∗NEW!∗
What should I offer my child at Meal Times and Snack Times?
Top Tips: Creating a Positive Food Experience
Screentimes and Mealtimes
Video: Decreasing Screentime During Meals ∗NEW!∗
Top Tips for Food Play
Messy Play: Fun with Food
Introduction
Part 1 - This video shows you how to introduce play with food to your child.
Exploration
Part 2 - This video shows you how to have fun with food with your child.
Dry and Firm
Part 3 - This video shows you how to play with dry and firm food textures. Only move onto this video if your child is comfortable with the activities demonstrated in Part 2.
Wet and Mixed
Part 4 - This video shows you how to play with wet and mixed food textures. Only move onto this video if your child is comfortable with the activities demonstrated in Part 3.
Family Messy Play Games
Race to the Goal: Dry Messy Food Play
Hit the Target Game :Firm Messy Food Play
Noughts and Crosses: Wet & Dry Messy Food Play
Build a House: Wet & Dry Messy Food Play
Newham Local Offer
Newham Children Centres
Here you can find a list of Children Centres in Newham. These Centres provide Stay and Play sessions which will help your child become more comfortable with different food textures. Please try these strategies at home on a regular basis.
Health Visitors
Please contact your Health Visitor for more information and support for fussy eating. You should have already been assigned a Health Visitor for your child but if you are unsure of who this is then please ring the telephone number provided.
Please contact: 0203 373 9983
This webpage has been designed using assets from Freepik.com 90,90,90 what should I eat Health visitor Family Meal Messy Play