What Feeding Therapy Progress Actually Looks Like (Hint: It’s Not Just About Taking Bites)
Here’s the truth: progress in feeding therapy is rarely linear, and it’s almost never only about the food. In fact, some of the biggest wins don’t happen on the plate at all.
So, What Is Progress? Read on to find out.
If you’ve been doing feeding therapy for a while, you might have found yourself thinking something like…
“They’re still not eating broccoli. Is anything even changing?”
You’re not alone—and you’re not wrong to wonder.
Let’s break progress down. Feeding therapy isn’t about getting your child to “comply.”
It’s about supporting their nervous system, building trust, and creating a safe, connected space where curiosity can return.
Here are some very real, very valid signs of progress that might surprise you:
✅ Your child isn’t melting down at the table anymore.
Even if no new food is eaten, even if they still push the green beans away with a disgusted face—if the atmosphere is less tense, that’s huge.
Less stress = more safety.
More safety = more readiness for exploration.
And that’s the long game.
✅ They stay at the table longer when challenging foods are present.
No more bolting out of the room the second you plate something “suspicious”? That’s regulation and tolerance growing. Even sitting near a new food without panic takes courage.
✅ They touch it. Smell it. Talk about it.
They might poke it. Smash it. Give it a silly name. Heck, they might even play restaurant and serve it to you.
This is food interaction. And it’s exactly the kind of curiosity we want to see before a bite ever happens.
✅ They accepted a new brand of a food they already eat.
Yes, that counts. 🙌
For a child with sensory sensitivities or rigidity, switching from Kraft mac & cheese to the Trader Joe’s version is a massive leap. It’s a sign they’re starting to tolerate change and uncertainty, one noodle at a time.
✅ They ate away from home without skipping the whole meal.
A birthday party.
Summer camp.
Grandma’s house.
A beachside restaurant on vacation.
Eating in a new environment takes extra sensory regulation, social energy, and flexibility. If they managed it—even a bite—that’s evidence of growing adaptability.
✅ They said, “I’m hungry.” Or “I’m full.”
Recognizing internal cues means they’re tuning into their body. It might sound small, but it’s a big deal in building trust with food and self.
🧡 If You’re Seeing These… You’re on the Right Path
These small moments are the real work of feeding therapy. They signal nervous system safety, trust, emotional regulation, and connection.
They are the foundation for long-term food exploration and variety.
So before you worry that nothing is changing… ask yourself:
Is mealtime calmer?
Is my child more curious—even if cautious?
Is there any new flexibility showing up?
If so? That’s progress. That’s healing. That’s everything.
But What If You’re Not Seeing These Signs?
If things still feel stuck—if mealtimes are just as tense, if your child is still shutting down, if you feel like nothing is working—you are not doing anything wrong. You are not failing. And you are not alone.
It might just mean the approach needs to change.
At That Makes Sense OT, I use a relationship-first, nervous-system-aware lens to help families move from power struggles and guilt… to peace, connection, and joyful food exploration.
If what you’ve been doing hasn't felt helpful—or if you’re not even sure what you need—I'm here to help you figure it out.
You're not behind. You're not broken. You're just one conversation away from a new perspective.
I’d like to invite you to join my private Facebook group Picky Eating Solutions with That Makes Sense OT.
Let’s make it a safe community where we can come together, get to know each other and support each other through the feeding journey.
