OT & Nutrition: Bridging the Gap in Picky Eater’s Health

OT & Nutrition: Bridging the Gap in Picky Eater’s Health

Picky eating goes beyond mealtime battles; it can directly impact a child’s growth, development, and participation in daily activities. As pediatric occupational therapists, we are often the first to recognize when selective eating patterns are impacting a child’s health, but bridging the gap between feeding therapy and nutritional well-being can feel overwhelming.

This 90-minute course provides OTs with practical knowledge to better support children struggling with picky eating. You’ll learn to identify which children are most at risk, understand how nutrient status influences regulation and daily function, and recognize the most common nutrient deficiencies seen in selective eaters. The course also provides actionable strategies and food-based ideas you can integrate into your current OT sessions, without stepping outside your scope of practice. Finally, you’ll gain confidence in spotting red flags that indicate when a referral to a Registered Dietitian is essential, ensuring your clients receive comprehensive care.

Whether you’re new to feeding therapy or looking to expand your clinical toolkit, this course will help you feel prepared to address picky eating with an integrative, collaborative approach.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify characteristics of children who are most likely to display picky eating behaviors.
2. State how a child’s nutrient status influences participation and daily function.
3. List common nutrient deficiencies in children with selective or limited diets.
4. Identify strategies and food options that integrate nutrition into occupational therapy sessions.
5. Identify red flags that indicate the need for referral to a Registered Dietitian.

Course Information

• Target Audience: introductory-level occupational therapists, COTAs, SLPs, parents, and other pediatric feeding professionals
• Course Instructor: Karen Mountjoy, MEd, RD, LD, CLC
• View Agenda
• CE Broker course code: 20-1328649

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Sensational Brain LLC is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development (#8215). PD activity approval ID# 14231. This distance learning, independent activity is offered at 0.15 CEUs, Introductory level, OT Delivery Service. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA or indicate AOTA approval of a certification or other professional recognition.

Karen Mountjoy, MEd, RD, LD, CLC, is a pediatric dietitian helping families create realistic, personalized plans to support healthy eating and enjoyable mealtimes. She believes kids should feel good about what they eat and enjoy it! With a background in special education and a degree in dietetics from the University of New Hampshire, Karen brings a compassionate, flexible approach to every family she works with. As the founder of Coastal Family Nutrition, LLC, she’s dedicated to helping kids explore new foods, build confidence at the table, and develop a lifelong positive relationship with food and their bodies.

Disclosures

• Financial: Karen receives a speaking fee from Sensational Brain LLC and is the owner of Coastal Family Nutrition, LLC.
• Nonfinancial: She is a member of the Board of Dietitians under the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.

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