Feeding Therapy

What is Feeding Therapy?

Feeding therapy is a specialized area of nutrition support that focuses on helping individuals who experience difficulties with eating, whether due to medical, behavioral, or developmental issues. Our goal is to create a positive and enjoyable eating experience, promoting a healthy relationship with food and ensuring nutritional needs are met.

Who is Feeding Therapy For?

Feeding therapy is beneficial for individuals who:

• Exhibit fussy or picky eating behaviors
• Refuse food or have a limited range of foods they will eat
• Have difficulty transitioning to solid foods
• Experience anxiety or fear around eating
• Have medical conditions that impact their ability to eat
• Show signs of sensory processing issues related to food textures or tastes
• Struggle with mealtime behaviors and routines

This therapy is especially helpful for:

• Infants and toddlers developing their eating skills
• Children with developmental delays or disabilities
• Individuals with conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Anyone with a disordered relationship with food

Our Expertise

Our team of dietitians has extensive training in a variety of feeding therapy techniques, including:

• Responsive Feeding: An approach that promotes trust and autonomy in eating, encouraging children to listen to their hunger and fullness cues.
• Food Chaining: A method that gradually introduces new foods by linking them to familiar and accepted foods, making the transition smoother and less stressful.
• AEIOU Systematic Approach: A structured program designed to address the complex needs of children with feeding challenges, focusing on oral motor skills and sensory integration.
• DIR Floortime: A play-based approach that emphasizes emotional and developmental relationships, supporting children to become more comfortable with eating.
• Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS): A program that assesses and addresses the sensory, oral, motor, behavioral, and nutritional factors involved in feeding problems.

How We Can Help

At Appetite for Nutrition, we understand that each individual’s feeding challenges are unique. Our dietitians take the time to listen to your concerns and thoroughly assess the underlying causes of feeding difficulties. We then create a personalized feeding therapy plan tailored to your or your child’s specific needs.

Our Services

• Individualized Feeding Assessments: Comprehensive evaluations to understand the root causes of feeding issues.
• Personalized Feeding Plans: Customized strategies and interventions to support healthy eating behaviours.
• Parental/Caregiver Support: Guidance and training for parents and caregivers to effectively support their child’s feeding development.
• Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustments: Regular follow-ups to track progress and make necessary adjustments to the feeding plan.

Locations and Accessibility

We offer home visits in Victoria and Queensland, including Melbourne, Shepparton, Bendigo, Albury, and the Gold Coast. Additionally, our telehealth services are available Australia-wide, ensuring you have access to our expertise no matter where you are.

Get Started

If you or a loved one could benefit from feeding therapy, please fill out our referral form to connect with the most suitable dietitian. Contact us today to schedule an assessment and begin the journey towards healthier, happier eating.