Creating Magical Mealtimes with The Feeding Therapist Teresa Foley
The Irish Occupational Therapy PodcastShow Notes
Teresa Foley, a children's occupational therapist and founder of Shooting Stars Private Clinic, discusses specialized feeding therapy for children with complex feeding challenges. She emphasizes the importance of normalizing the challenges of parenting and providing practical tips and advice. Teresa explains that feeding difficulties can range from neophobia (fear of certain foods) to picky eating to problem eating. She highlights the need for a neuroaffirmative approach, meeting children where they're at, and focusing on slow, safe, and consistent changes. Teresa also mentions the benefits of family meals and the importance of reducing guilt and judgment around feeding difficulties.
Find Teresa at : https://www.thefeedingtherapist.co.uk/ https://shootingstars.ie/ or follow her on https://www.instagram.com/shooting_stars_ot/
Key Takeaways: Feeding is a core occupation and encompasses sensory, developmental, and relationship aspects. Differentiate between picky eaters and problem eaters, and adopt a non-judgmental approach. Assessment for feeding difficulties should ideally be done as part of a multidisciplinary team. Consider a neuroaffirmative approach and focus on family meals, consistency, and slow, safe changes. Resources like the Magical Mealtimes online course can provide support for parents.
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