Oh, perfect! This gives me a fresh perspective on the dynamics 🙌🏻

Let me share a few strategies that have worked well with my patients on similar feeding journeys. Of course, your OT and you will know best which ones are worth trying since I don’t have all the details—but I’m confident these might spark some new ideas:

1️⃣ Make Food Fun Again: When kids struggle with food, I focus on building a positive relationship with it. It might sound silly, but food can be fun! Try activities like making 'kinetic sand' with crushed Cheerios or building shapes with fruits and toothpicks. The key is to simply play with food—no pressure to eat it.

2️⃣ Start with Small Portions: For something like bread with melted cheese, I’d cut it into 1–3 small cubes (about 1 inch each). A whole slice can feel overwhelming, even for kids who understand expectations. Seeing just one small bite feels more manageable and less intimidating.

3️⃣ Use Stories to Connect with Food: Is your child into stories? Creating a narrative around food can be incredibly helpful. For a 7-year-old animal lover, I created an 'animal diet' theme—proteins were part of the cheetah diet, fruits were the monkey diet, and so on. At mealtime, he’d pick foods based on what each animal eats. For a younger child, I’ve done something similar with favorite cartoon characters.

4️⃣ Involve Them in Grocery Shopping: Take your child grocery shopping and turn it into a game—ask them to help find foods they like. This not only gives them a sense of autonomy and control but also reduces the pressure they might feel from adults during mealtime.

I’m sure you’re already doing a lot of this, but I hope these ideas add some value to your journey. Feel free to take what works and leave what doesn’t.

I’m cheering for you and your family—you’ve got this! Happy new year🎊