Naureen Hunani Nutrition

There are many reasons children can have difficulty eating at family gatherings, and sensory overload is one of them! ⁣
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Here are a few tips to reduce sensory overwhelm during the holidays ⁣
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👚Make sure your kiddo is wearing sensory-friendly clothes. “Fancy” clothes can often feel "itchy" and uncomfortable to some children. Always choose comfortable clothing. ⁣
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📺 Schedule downtime and avoid doing too many activities in one day.⁣
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⏱ Leave events early if needed; this is one of the best ways to avoid a meltdown. Some children can only handle 1-2 hours of socialization, which is fine. ⁣
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⌛️Allow extra time for transitions and reduce demands as much as possible. ⁣
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🌮 Offer preferred foods, and don't be shy to use noise-cancelling headphones even at family dinners! ⁣
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♟Don't force children to participate in activities they don't want to join in. ⁣
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🎄Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season! ⁣
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Alt text: Eating can become challenging when a child experiences sensory overload. ⁣
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Tips to reduce sensory overwhelm during the holidays!⁣

Here are a few questions to as yourself if your child is showing signs of distress at the dinner table: ⁣
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🌯 Are you honouring your child's hunger and fullness cues? Children need to know that they won't be forced into eating foods they don't want to. Reducing pressure is essential! ⁣
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🌯 Some children need more autonomy and need to be able to make their own choices around food. This is especially the case for children with demand anxiety (PDA). Are you offering options and involving your child in meal planning? ⁣
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🌯 Is the feeding environment sensory-friendly? We are all sensory beings, and we all have sensory needs! How are you meeting your child's sensory needs during mealtimes? ⁣
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🌯 Do you have a flexible eating routine? Modelling flexibility is essential. ⁣
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🌯 Are you offering preferred foods at every meal and snack? This is a must for selective eaters! ⁣
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Alt text: When kids feel voiceless at the dinner table, learning to eat new foods becomes difficult. Learning can only happen when we prioritize felt safety. ⁣
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I'm Naureen Hunani, a pediatric and family registered dietitian specializing in selective eating and ARFID. Want to work together? Check out the link in my bio! ⁣
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Been seeing lots of "interesting" tips on IG lately on how to get kids to try new foods. ⁣
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I've come across freaky-looking peppers with googly eyes to "helicopter carrots". I mean, who has time for that? ⁣
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Look, this stuff might work for some kids, but it can make eating worst for others. ⁣
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Plus, it becomes another added thing parents feel the need to do to "get" kids to try new foods. And this trick doesn't always work, especially for neurodivergent children! ⁣
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Find natural ways to interact with food, and your children will progress when they are ready!⁣
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Want to work together? Check out the link in bio ⁣
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I’m a registered pediatric dietitian and family nutritionist. And I firmly believe that our early experiences with food impact the food choices we make later in life.