In this episode I chat with Becky Doidge, an SLP and Feeding Specialist who helps her patients move from a primarily processed foods diet to a more varied and nutrient dense one. Becky works with special populations including those suffering from ARFID and Eosinophilia Esophagitis, but the strategies she uses to help individuals move away from eating a highly restricted diet (due to fear, sensory issues like taste and texture etc.), are highly applicable to anyone who considers themselves a "picky eater". In active addiction we can become addicted to "comfort", which can keep us stuck eating the same foods over and over because they're consistent and highly predictable (a Cheez-It will always tastes like a Cheez-It), foods that feel good on our stomach, and foods that do not overwhelm our senses. If I had a dollar for every time I heard "vegetables are too bitter"...! Becky introduces us to the idea of interoception, one of the "senses" we often forget about during the experience of eating, and how we can use it to expand our palettes. The most surprising strategy that Becky shares with is has to do with mindset and the way we speak about our food. Surprise, surprise, our thoughts and language matter when we are trying to change a behaviour! Becky shares why anxiety about food can be a good thing, and why playing with your food is a non-negotiable! I love the strategies she shares with us in this episode and I have started to implement them in my own life (hello cheese grater in the bottom drawer!). If you're a picky eater, are the primary care giver for a picky eater or just want to learn how to move away from a diet full of processed foods and incorporate more nutrient dense foods like fruits and vegetables, this episode is for you! I hope you'll give it a listen and consider using some of these strategies in your own life. Be well friends, and let's mature those palettes together!

If you would like to learn more about Becky's services, she can be reached through her private practice website at Thrive Feeding Therapy:

https://www.thrivefeedingtherapy.com/