Picky-Eating Children: Parents Are Not To Blame with Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard

The Beyond Addiction Show

Dr. Josh King welcomes you to another episode of The Beyond Addiction Show

Today, Dr. King is accompanied by Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard who is a psychologist specializing in anxiety disorders. She is also the founder and director of Brave Is Better Consulting and Therapy, located in Philadelphia PA where she works with children and adults who have anxiety and related disorders. including helping children with picky eating habits.

Key Takeaways:

[2:30] Dr. Katherine specializes in picky-eating children.

[3:15] Dr. Katherine explains the suffering of parents of picky eaters.

[4:55] Children who are insightful about the limitations imposed by their eating habits have a better prognosis than those who lack that awareness.

[6:00] Dr. Katherine shares how she works with unmotivated children with picky eating habits.

[8:15] Dr. Katherine talks about the benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

[10:18] Dr. Katherine explains what choking phobia is about.

[14:22] Picky eaters avoid food that is safe and healthy.

[18:05] Parents are not to blame for their picky-eating children.

[21:32] Dr. Katherine explains why we shouldn’t blame parents for picky eating.

[24:43] How does Dr. Katherine improve the child’s motivation to change?

[26:48] Dr. Katherine talks about disgust as a very primary emotion.

[32:08] Dr. Katherine explains why a “new” food can be suspected.

[36:30] When do children turn into picky eaters?

[38:07] American food culture really supports picky eaters and that is both bad and good, Dr. Katherine explains why.

[41:46] What is a good food culture?

[44:26] What can parents do at home?

[52:58] You can’t be happy and fulfilled as a picky eater if you are underweight.

[58:34] Grazers eat fewer calories than children who eat at meals.

[59:43] Parents should check their children’s growth curves.

[1:01:45] How can parents motivate children to try new foods?

[1:05:03] It is totally OK to reward your child for eating new foods.

[1:07:30] What to do if your child won’t try new food even when offering rewards?

[1:10:46] Parental attitude is crucially important.

[1:14:13] Don’t ask your picky-eating child if he liked the food, he doesn’t have to like it, if he is far less bothered by disgust that is progress.

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Beyond Addiction Show

Center for Motivation and Change

Center for Motivation and Change on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

Email Dr. Josh King at [e-mail] or tweet him at @DocJoshKing

French Kids Eat Everything: How Our Family Moved to France, Cured Picky Eating, Banned Snacking, and Discovered 10 Simple Rules for Raising Happy, Healthy Eaters, Karen Le Billon

Tweetables and Quotes:

(13:52) “With exposure therapy, children learn quickly that what they have been avoiding does not have to be avoided.” — Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard @_TheCMC

(18:15) “Picky eating is highly determined by genetics, it is not a parenting problem.” — Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard @_TheCMC

(27:48) “Disgust is powerful, and just as any painful emotion it serves an evolutionary purpose, saying ‘Do not eat that!’” — Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard @_TheCMC

(38:07) “American food culture really supports picky eaters.” — Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard @_TheCMC

(45:44) ”Children need to come to the table hungry.” — Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard @_TheCMC

(1:05:03) “ It is totally OK to reward your child for eating new foods.” — Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard @_TheCMC