I Thought My Kid Would Never Be a Picky Eater
Podcast Episode – April 14, 2025
Host: Christine Miroddi Yoder, Pediatric Feeding Therapist
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Hi, welcome. I'm Christine. If you're new to my work, I'm a feeding therapist, and I help parents of picky and fearful eaters go from stressed, stuck, and fearful mealtimes that everyone dreads to confident, curious, and calm foodies.
We use a holistic approach that looks at the whole child across the four pillars of feeding: gut, sensory, oral motor, and mindset — so no stone is left unturned.
Today, I want to tell you a personal story about how this all came to be — and how I ended up in this work.
“I Thought My Child Would Never Be a Picky Eater”
Like many parents, I once thought: My kid won’t be a picky eater. At the time, I wasn’t yet a feeding specialist the way I am now. I was a speech-language pathologist and had seen a variety of kids — even worked with some feeding cases — but not at the depth I do today.
I had done a lot of research on food. Nutrition and detox have been an interest of mine for over a decade. I loved learning about it — documentaries, classes, books — all before I had kids.
So when I got pregnant, I had this vision. I’d breastfeed. I’d cook all his meals. We’d avoid kids’ menus, stay organic, do baby-led weaning… I had it all planned.
Then Reality Hit
My son was born with ties. He was colicky, had reflux, constipation — we struggled from day one. And at the time, I didn’t know much about ties. It wasn’t something covered in school or that I’d come across in my career.
Breastfeeding was excruciating. He was on and off constantly, crying, never seemed full. I didn’t want to do formula — I was so committed to breastfeeding — but it wasn’t going well. I cut out dairy for reflux. We tried gripe water, Windi sticks… everything.
Eventually, I learned he had ties and got them released quickly. But we didn’t have a post-release plan. There was no oral motor therapy. So I started piecing it all together myself. I took courses. I did chiropractic care. I fumbled my way through a DIY feeding plan using what I could find.
From Breastfeeding Battles to Baby-Led Weaning Stress
Once we got over the infant feeding struggles, I moved into baby-led weaning. And wow — that was stressful. The gagging, the anxiety, the instinct to intervene — it was a lot. But we pushed through, and he started eating food. He ate what we ate. Veggies. Meats. Fruits. I thought, We did it. He’s a great eater.
Then it changed.
The Slow Slide Into Picky Eating
Suddenly, he started dropping foods — meat, vegetables, anything slightly challenging. Foods he once loved, gone. And like many parents I work with now, I didn’t understand. He had eaten everything. Why was he now refusing?
So I did what a lot of us do. I leaned into marketed baby foods — the pouches, the meltables, the yogurt melts. Of course, I bought the best, most organic versions. But still — it was puffs over real food.
Every time I “won” with one of those easy foods, I lost something real. The phase dragged on. He wasn’t fighting me, but he wasn’t eating what I made. I felt so defeated.
Oral Motor Issues, Speech Delays, and the Turning Point
He was also in speech therapy for delayed talking — separate from his feeding issues, though related in some ways. One of his therapists had oral motor experience and helped a bit. But the real change started when I changed.
When I shifted how I talked about food. When I changed my energy at mealtimes. When I included him differently. When I got less anxious… he started to shift.
His mindset opened up. He became less resistant, more curious. He was never truly fearful, but he was definitely stuck — and stuck for a long time.
Now? He’s a foodie.
It Wasn’t Just Mindset — But It Was Crucial
We did have to work on all four pillars:
* There was a gut piece.
* A sensory piece.
* A definite oral motor component.
* But mindset? That was the turning point.
When he started talking differently about food — when his mindset shifted — we finally gained momentum that stuck.
Would I Have Done It Faster If I Knew What I Know Now?
Absolutely. Back then, I was piecing it all together. There was no one person or place to guide me. So I took every course, learned from many experts — and eventually, built the system I wish I had.
Now I help other parents move from stuck to foodie — faster, with a roadmap, and with support.
The System Was Broken — So I Built a New One
Feeding is complex. It’s not just about picky eating. If your child is afraid, gagging, or vomiting — those are deeper issues. A one-size-fits-all picky eating course won’t fix that.
That’s why I created the Unlocking Mealtimes Roadmap and coaching programs — to give parents one place with everything they need. Because you’re not failing — you just haven’t had the right tools.
What’s Next for Me… and You
I’m currently pregnant with our second — a girl! And this time, it’s going to be different. I have the full picture now, and I know what to watch for and what to support early.
And if you’re listening and feeling like you’ve failed — you haven’t. This is just part of your journey. It’s not your fault. It’s the system. And there is a silver lining.
Want to Start Turning Things Around?
Take our free quiz at thepickyeaterstest.com — find out what kind of eater your child is and get immediate steps to help.
Or check out our programs and resources at Foodology Feeding. The holistic approach really is the future of feeding.
And stay tuned for next week’s episode — When the Parent Isn’t Ready. It’s one that still breaks my heart.
