9 Instagram Influencers For Parents Struggling With Picky Eaters and Problem Feeding
Image description: Six slices of bread lie on a surface, each with different toppings. The different breads contain portions of tomatoes, limes, cheese, radishes, fruits and nuts, cucumbers, and herbs.
Meal time with young children can become taxing for even the most seasoned of parents. Day by day planning can be tough, but if you factor in selective eating and other problem feeding challenges, the task suddenly becomes nothing short of strenuous.
At Qi Creative, we know that ‘picky eating’ is more than just an all-or-nothing ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to eating food.
Families dealing with picky eating and problem feeding may experience:
Challenges with constipation and toileting
Challenges with self-regulation
Challenges with nutrition and gut health
Challenges spending time together as a family (aka mealtimes)
Challenges eating in public/other environments (eg. Restaurants, school, friend’s birthday party, etc)
In an earlier blog on Overcoming Food Aversion, we share multiple sensory factors that can turn children away from experiencing and trying new foods.
Other factors that can contribute to picky eating and problem feeding:
Sensory preferences
Delayed oral motor skills
Prior negative experiences related to food
OCD
GI disorders
Mealtime environments
Luckily, social media has made information more accessible than ever, and expert information is within reach—if you know where to look.
With all this in mind, please enjoy our list below, with influencers curated by Qi Creative Coach and Occupational Therapist, Lisa Fedorchuk!
The following Instagram influencers are all experts in pediatric feeding from within their respective fields. Each boast vastly different backgrounds that empower them with the proficiency required to share their wisdom—check them out!
Melanie Potock @ My Munch Bug
Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP, has all the credentials and more. She is an international speaker, published author of three books—including the award-winning Raising a Healthy Happy Eater—and most importantly, mother of a former picky eater.
There are multiple levels of information available. Following her Instagram account brings daily tips, tricks, and general advice to your feed. The content ranges from the theory behind pediatric feeding to practical suggestions regarding products and strategies for babies and older children.
However, if you wish to go more in-depth, check her official website. The premium content is endless—masterclasses, courses, books, and more. Luckily, some tutorials and videos are also available on her YouTube channel, so make sure to take a look.
Other social media: Twitter – Facebook – Pinterest – YouTube
Megan McNamee & Judy Delaware @ Feeding Littles
Megan McNamee is a registered dietitian and nutritionist, while Judy is an Occupational Therapist and Feeding Specialist. Together they make Feeding Littles, a dream team and one of the ultimate authorities when it comes to that—feeding littles.
Although some advice can be considered universal, Feeding Littles explicitly focuses on babies and toddlers. In particular, they aim to assist parents and caretakers with infant self-feeding, as well as prevent and manage picky eating.
Their Instagram account is a mixture of everything good. You’re bound to find excellent infographics, clever videos to help you visualize their explanations, and even a few memes.
For more in-depth information, you can head to their website for access to courses according to age, but they also have a valuable list of free resources that may have exactly what you are looking for.
Don’t forget to keep an eye out for their recipes—including their cookbook!
Other social media: Facebook – Pinterest
McKenzie Hoffman @ Playing At Your Plate
McKenzie Hoffman, MA, CCC-SLP is a self-proclaimed “speech pathologist who has always had a passion for feeding.” She gains notorious experience in the area thanks to her role in providing NICU follow-up services, assisting the babies in transitioning into standard eating patterns and eating solids.
It is precisely because of this work experience that her content often caters to parents and caretakers of babies despite providing advice to children of all ages. Naturally, her Instagram account reflects these tendencies.
Beyond her social media content, she also has a list of resources that link to her paid guides, product recommendations, and a plethora of discount codes for you to try out.
Jenny Friedman @ Feeding Picky Eaters
Jenny is a mother, registered dietitian, published author, and picky eating expert. Her vast experience and credentials allow her to address children experiencing adverse reactions to food—from casual picky eating to avoidant eating and other complications.
Her posts are usually minimalistic graphics with essential tips and tricks to try. Her focus is on understanding the underlying behavioral causes and how to encourage children toward healthy eating habits. She usually uploads at least once daily, and her stories continuously provide advice.
For further information, her official website has a special page with paid and free resources addressing general concerns and providing a list of favorite products on Amazon. Likewise, she has a free 5-day class with excellent tips and advice worth checking out!
Other social media: Facebook – Pinterest
Katherine Zelinski @ The Well-Balanced OT
Katie runs The Well-Balanced OT, and although her content focuses on picky eating, it also expands far and beyond. As a pediatric OT, her Instagram account also includes information about her other fields of expertise, such as sensory integration and reflex integration.
Regarding picky eating, she shares knowledge regarding plenty of pediatric feeding schools of thought and approaches, including AEIOU, SOS, TOTS, and more.
With near-daily posts and daily stories, Katie’s Instagram account is always active and delivering strategic knowledge for parents and caretakers of children of all ages. Likewise, she also provides group mentoring programs, one-on-one sessions, and more.
Her website also provides additional content, including a list of freebies that only require your email address and a blog with excellent information worth checking out.
Other social media: Facebook
Jennifer Anderson @ Kids Eat In Color
Kids Eat In Color is not a one-person project. Although Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN, sits at the forefront as the founder, the team comprises over a dozen specialists with different profiles and professions.
As such, every post and content released by the Kids Eat In Color Instagram account has the thought and feedback of psychologists, pediatric feeding therapists, pediatric gastroenterologists, registered dietitian nutritionists, and more. The result? A perfectly-curated team effort that approaches pediatric feeding from a plethora of perspectives.
Their Instagram account is straightforward and no-nonsense, yet full of life and fun to watch. Jennifer Anderson posts reels and stories daily with no-nonsense advice in short form. However, for more in-depth information, you can visit Kids Eat In Color’s list of links and resources for lots of freebies and further tips about their online picky eating program.
Other social media: Twitter – Facebook – Pinterest
Kacie Barnes @ Mama Knows Nutrition
Kacie Barnes became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist out of love for the career after studying Economics first. Naturally, this passion channeled her efforts into Mama Knows Nutrition, a project that aims to assist parents and guardians with nutrition tips for children aged 1 to 10.
Her Instagram account is full of tricks for parents of picky eaters. Common posts you may find are techniques to motivate children to eat—such as changing the food’s shape to make it more appealing—or recipes for delicious smoothies that picky eaters will love.
By visiting her website, you get access to her paid guides and lessons but also gain access to free guides, tutorials, quizzes, and more!
Other social media: Facebook – Pinterest – YouTube
Thalia E. Prum @ Family Snack Nutrition
With a Master’s degree in clinical nutrition and dietetics, Thalia boasts excellent academic background and practical experience in fighting picky eating and creating happier family mealtimes.
Although her Instagram account provides a plethora of valuable information, it primarily focuses on highlighting the importance of parents’ and caretakers’ mindsets and language when communicating with children. Likewise, it guides them on how to interpret the verbal cues the kids give.
You may find helpful phrases in her posts and reels—and why some of the things most often said are not always the best option. Her website also provides a free phrases guide; if you want, you can opt for individual sessions and coaching
Other social media: YouTube
Leah Hackney @ Kids Nutritionist
Kids Nutritionist is an Instagram account led by Leah Hackney, a pediatric dietitian specializing in baby-led weaning and picky eating for infants, toddlers, and kids. Her account posts regularly, so you will always have new content to look forward to.
Some of her most exciting posts involve “food chaining”—the concept of helping children build flexibility with their diets by creating connections between their favorite foods and new options. Likewise, you are also bound to find recipes, advice on how to serve food, and more.
Hackney is also behind Kids Meals App, which provides meal plans and recipes for children, including some behavior guides to help with picky eating.