Little Eaters & Talkers

Episode 33: Why Your Toddler Only Eats Beige Foods — The Sensory Truth Nobody Tells You

You followed the advice. You kept offering the broccoli. You put it on the plate again and again for two years. Mealtime is now something everyone in your house dreads — and your child still won't touch it. In this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, explains why the standard advice completely backfires for sensory-sensitive kids — and what to do instead. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your child isn't choosing beige — their nervous system is, and understanding that one shift changes everything about how you respond at the table. The critical difference between a food preference and a sensory need — and why the approach for each one is completely different. Why "just keep offering it" doesn't just fail for sensory kids — it can actually make the aversion stronger with every exposure. The 7-step sensory ladder: why eating is the last rung, not the first, and how real progress looks long before a bite is ever taken. Food chaining — how to build bridges from your child's safe foods to new ones by changing only one tiny thing at a time. Whether your child gags at the sight of something new, melts down when an unfamiliar food touches their plate, has been a beige-only eater for years, or you've tried everything and nothing is working — this episode gives you a completely different way forward. Resources Mentioned: Courses: thelittleeaters.com/Courses Free Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads Book an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.janeapp.com Follow Jean on Instagram: @littleeaters_talkers If this episode gave you that "aha" moment — share it with a parent who's been putting the same food on the plate for months and wondering why nothing is changing.

Episode 32: The Feeding-Speech Connection Nobody Talks About

You took your child to speech therapy for the talking. You were told to just keep offering food for the eating. Two separate waitlists, two separate specialists, zero conversation about how they might actually be the same problem. In this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, explains the connection between feeding and speech that most families never hear about — and why, if your child is a late talker and a picky eater, that combination is not a coincidence. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the mouth is one shared system — and how the same muscles your child uses to chew and swallow are the exact muscles they need to make speech sounds. The five signs that your child's feeding challenges and speech delays are connected. Why your child's SLP should be asking about feeding at every appointment — and what to say if they never have. Simple oral motor activities you can start this week that support both eating and talking at the same time. When one specialist isn't enough — and how to build the right team for a child who needs support in both areas. Whether your child gags on textures, drools past the age where most kids stop, is hard to understand even by people who know them well, or you've just felt like you're only getting half the picture from your current team — this episode gives you the full picture. Resources Mentioned: Courses: thelittleeaters.com/Courses Free Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads Book an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.janeapp.com Follow Jean on Instagram: @littleeaters_talkers If this episode gave you that "aha" moment — share it with a parent who's been chasing two separate answers for what might be one shared problem.

Episode 31 ARFID — Your Child Isn't Picky

Your pediatrician said "they'll grow out of it." You kept offering new foods. You took the pressure off. And two years later, the list of foods your child will eat is shorter — not longer. In this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, breaks down ARFID — Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder — in plain language. Not the clinical version. The real version. The one that sounds like your family's dinner table. In this episode, you'll learn: * What ARFID actually is — and why it has nothing to do with body image or eating disorders in the traditional sense. * The three subtypes of ARFID — and why knowing which one fits your child changes the entire approach. * How to tell the difference between typical picky eating and something that needs real support. * Why the "wait and see" approach doesn't work for ARFID — and what happens when families wait too long. * What a feeding evaluation actually looks like — and exactly what to say to your pediatrician so you don't get brushed off. * The significant overlap between ARFID and autism — and why you need to bring feeding into that conversation explicitly. Whether your child eats fewer than 10 foods, has a complete meltdown when their safe brand changes, or you've just always known in your gut that this was more than pickiness — this episode gives you the language, the clarity, and the next step. Resources Mentioned: Courses: thelittleeaters.com/Courses [http://thelittleeaters.com/Courses] Free Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads [http://thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads] Book an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.janeapp.com [http://thelittleeaters.janeapp.com/] Follow Jean on Instagram: @littleeaters_talkers If this episode felt like it was written for your family, share it with a parent who needs to hear it. You've been advocating for your child all along — keep going.

Episode 30: What Is Occupational Therapy — And Could My Child Benefit From It? (OT Month Special)

"You might want to look into OT." Your pediatrician said it. You nodded. You took the paper. And then you Googled it and got a bunch of results about adults recovering from strokes. April is Occupational Therapy Month, and in this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, finally gives you the clear, honest answer that nobody seems to hand parents in the doctor's office: what OT actually is, who it helps, and why — as a feeding therapist — she works alongside OTs more than almost any other specialist. In this episode, you'll learn: What "occupation" actually means for a toddler — and why it has nothing to do with a job. How sensory processing differences show up at mealtimes — and why that's OT's territory. The difference between OT and feeding therapy — and why they're not competing, they're overlapping. What an OT session actually looks like (hint: it looks like play, and that's on purpose). How to get OT in Houston — including free options through ECI and your school district that most families don't know about. When to ask your feeding therapist whether adding OT makes sense — and what to say when you call. Whether your child is gagging at textures, melting down over haircuts, or you've been in feeding therapy and progress has slowed — this episode gives you the clarity to know what step to take next. Resources Mentioned: Courses: thelittleeaters.com/Courses [https://thelittleeaters.com/Courses] Free Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads [https://thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads] Book an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.janeapp.com [https://thelittleeaters.janeapp.com/] Texas Early Childhood Intervention (ECI): Look up your local ECI office for children under 3 Follow Jean on Instagram: @littleeaters_talkers [https://www.instagram.com/littleeaters_talkers/] If you found this episode helpful, please share it with another parent who needs to hear it. You're doing a better job than you think!

Episode 29: Picky Eating vs. Problem Feeding: 5 Signs It's More Than a Phase

"They’ll grow out of it." "Just keep offering it." "It’s just a phase." If you’re a parent of a toddler who only eats five foods, you’ve probably heard these phrases a dozen times. But what if your gut is telling you it’s something more? In this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, dives deep into the single most-searched question in the feeding space: Is my child just picky, or is there a bigger problem? Jean breaks down the differences between typical toddler pickiness—which is annoying but developmentally normal—and "Problem Feeding," a pattern that requires targeted support. In this episode, you’ll learn: * What "Normal" Looks Like: Why a range of 20-30 foods and mealtime flexibility is actually a good sign. * Sign #1: The Shrinking Menu: Why "food drop-off" is a major clinical red flag. * Sign #2: Mealtime Battles: How to tell if your mealtime stress is a data point you shouldn't ignore. * Sign #3: Sensory vs. Preference: The difference between "I don't like it" and "My body feels wrong touching this." * Sign #4: Growth and Nutrition: When to move past "wait and see" and look at the medical data. * Sign #5: The Parental Instinct: Why your gut is the most reliable tool in your parenting kit. Whether you’re dealing with a toddler who gagged at the sight of broccoli or a child whose food list is actively shrinking, this episode provides the clarity and permission you need to trust your instincts and take the next step. Resources Mentioned: * Free Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads [https://thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads] * Book an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.com [https://thelittleeaters.com] * Follow Jean on Instagram: @thelittleeatersandtalkers [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/thelittleeatersandtalkers] If you found this episode helpful, please share it with another parent who needs to hear it. You’re doing a better job than you think!