• Alyssa Fontaine, RD
• Mar 13, 2026

Helping Picky Eaters with Food Play

As a parent and a pediatric dietitian, I understand it can be a battle at mealtimes when you have a picky eater. Let’s dive into food play in hopes to help your child try new foods!

What is Food Play?

• Eating is a sensory experience, with food play, it allows children to explore foods with sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste. Eating with all senses is important for children to allow them to get closer to eating new foods. Kids learn through play, with exploration, they are able to become more comfortable interacting with foods.

Why is Food Play Important for Picky Eaters?

Reduces Pressure at Mealtimes

• Food play helps to build comfort and curiosity around food. It encourages kids to try new foods without the pressure. It shifts focus away from “just eat it”, and instead it allows children to interact with how food feels and looks like. 
  

Encourages Sensory Exploration

• Playing with food allows children to get used to various textures, colors, and smells of foods. This helps children to develop their sensory perception as it allows them to squish and manipulate foods. 

Builds Long-Term Confidence With New Foods

• Many picker eaters are hesitant to try new foods because of  their appearance or smell.  Food play is a small step that leads to trying and accepting new foods. Over time, with repeated exposures, kids will become more familiar with those foods and be more willing to eat them!

How to Use Food Play at Home

Start Slow and Follow Your Child’s Lead

• Start with foods your child already likes, then add something new, allowing them to touch, smell, or lick food.  This helps them feel comfortable and safe.

Make It Fun

• Using playful activities such as cookie cutters and food art (eg. happy face) can make the process more engaging and fun around new foods. 

Involve All the Senses

• Encourage kids to use all their senses when exploring foods such as listening to the crunch of foods or feeling different squishy textures.
  

Keep Mealtime and Food Play Separate

• Food play should be separate from meal and snack times. This allows children to play with the food without the pressure to eat. 

Food Play Ideas for Picky Eaters

Here are some ideas for food play:

• Sorting foods by color or size.
  
• Building food faces or shapes.
  
• Using dips, spreads, or sauces for fun.
  

When to Seek Professional Support

Food play is a great activity to introduce new foods, however, some signs may suggest picky eating is more than just a phase such as severe restriction, weight concerns or anxiety with new foods. 

Pediatric feeding therapists can also be an option if sensory issues are severe. Our picky eating dietitians can help with your mealtime battles and offer realistic solutions for selective eating.

FAQs About Food Play and Picky Eating

The Bottom Line

Food play is a powerful, yet, gentle tool. Introducing new foods takes patience, consistency, and positive experiences. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a pediatric dietitian to help you through your challenges with your picky eaters!