Instagram story viewer> @feedingmatters> Tagged

Feeding Matters

@feedingmatters

21.2K

followers

491

following

Making a better world for children with pediatric feeding disorder and ARFID. #FeedingMatters @itsnotpickyeating

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Mothers have been blamed for picky eating for far too long.

They're told they introduced solids incorrectly. Offered too many alternatives. Didn't offer enough variety. Were too permissive. We're too controlling.

But what does the science actually tell us?

Twin studies consistently demonstrate that picky eating is highly heritable. And a large Swedish twin study estimated the heritability of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) at an astonishing 79%.

This doesn't mean parenting has no influence on eating behavior. And it certainly doesn't mean picky eating can't be treated.

**It means we need to stop confusing the origins of picky eating with the ways parents can help their children overcome it.**

As a clinical psychologist who has spent years treating children with picky eating and ARFID, I want parents to hear this message: You didn't necessarily cause your child's picky eating. And you can absolutely be part of the solution.

Mothers of picky eaters: What's the most ridiculous thing someone has blamed YOU for when it comes to your child's eating?"

#ARFID #FeedingTherapy #ParentingWithoutShame #childpsychology #pickyeater

@feedingmatters @arfidawarenessuk

HERITABLE.

**PICKY EATING IS HIGHLY HERITABLE.**
Twin studies suggest that genetics explain approximately **60–84%** of the differences in picky eating among children, depending on their age.
That's right. Genes matter. A lot.
Nas et al., 2025

AND WHAT ABOUT ARFID?**

A large study of more than 33,000 Swedish twins estimated the heritability of ARFID at: **79%**

ARFID is more severe than ordinary picky eating, but both show substantial genetic influences. *Dinkler et al., 2023*

GENETIC DOES NOT MEAN PERMANENT.**

A child can inherit a predisposition to picky eating.
That doesn't mean the child is destined to remain a picky eater.

**Genes influence where we start. They don't determine where we finish.**

Mothers don't deserve blame for their children's picky eating.
And children don't have to remain limited by it.

With appropriate support and evidence-based treatment, children can learn to eat more foods.

**Stop blaming mothers. Start helping families.**

42

6

We are so grateful to have been apart of this amazing event! We enjoyed bringing the craft of Texas bbq to the Feed the Cause Gala 🔥 we’re thankful for this organization and all the work they do
@feedingmatters

#feedingmatters #phoenixcharity #caldwellcountybbq

70

4

Last Saturday @eringogolincole and I attended our friends 20 year’s celebration @shannong1818 of the nonprofit that she and her family started. @feedingmatters was formed when her triplets were pre-maturely and were dealing with not being able to eat. No they were not picky eaters, there was no diagnosis and they set out looking for answers and help. 20 years later they have helped the medical field, 2 medical diagnosis - pediatric feeding disorder & avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, along with a community of families navigating thru these challenges. Did you know as many as 1 in 25 children under age 5 in the US are diagnosed? Please learn more at their website www.feeding matters.org and if you’d like to help them make a donation today. Thank you to the Goldwater family for helping so many families not only in the United States but internationally. What a blessing your nonprofit has been to so many including a friend of mine in Wisconsin.

28

4

Honored to have been part of @feedingmatters annual Feed The Cause Gala 🤍

It was such a pleasure to share my love of food through a live chef demonstration, connect with guests, and contribute a private dinner to the evening’s charity auction.

Grateful to be part of an event celebrating 20 years of Feeding Matters’ work and the impact they continue to make in the community 🫶🏽

Thank you for having me! 🥂

#feedingmatters #azprivatechef #gala #philanthropy #foodislove

3

0

“Just take a bite.”

“They’ll eat when they’re hungry.”

If your family is navigating Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) or Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorser (ARFID), you’ve probably heard these phrases a hundred times from well-meaning friends and family. But for kids with these diagnoses, feeding challenges are a very real physical and emotional battle—not just “picky eating.”

Swipe through to learn what PFD and ARFID actually are, why the standard advice doesn’t work, and where you can start looking for professional support if your child is struggling. ➡️

You don’t have to navigate this invisible struggle alone. If you know a brave eater who could use a little extra comfort at the table, click the link in our bio to nominate them for a free Plate Pals penguin! 🐧💙

#platepals #pfd #arfid #nonprofit #pfdawareness

1

0

Congratulations Feeding Matters! Here's to another 20years of advancing and advocating for families experience Pediatric Feeding Disorders.

45

4

41

1

💚 NICU PARENTS, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 💚

When it was finally time to bring your baby home, how confident did you feel about feeding them?

Did you feel prepared? Were there things you wish someone had explained better? Did feeding at home turn out differently than you expected?

Whether feeding was a smooth transition or one of your biggest challenges, your experience matters!

We are gathering feedback from NICU parents for an upcoming Empowering NICU Parents’ Podcast episode. Our hope is to better understand what helped parents feel confident, where education and support may have fallen short, and how we can improve the experience for families who come after us.

🎉 PLUS, A GIVEAWAY! 🎉

Complete our short NICU Feeding Questionnaire and enter for a chance to win one of TWO $25 Amazon gift cards!

📅 Deadline: October 28, 2026 🔗 Questionnaire link in bio!

Your voice will help make a difference for the next NICU family. Thank you for sharing it with us! 💚

#nicuparents #nicugrad #nicujourney #nicubaby #nicumom

4

0

Second to last night. 💜

28

1

Tomorrow is Feed the Cause!

Burch & Cracchiolo is proud to be a presenting sponsor alongside our shareholder and Feeding Matters Board Chair Bucky Slomski and his wife, Helen.

We look forward to an evening at Papago Golf Club celebrating @FeedingMatters 20th anniversary and supporting children and families affected by pediatric feeding disorder.

See you tomorrow!

17

0

A recommendation for feeding care means nothing if a family cannot access it.

Every day, families are told what their child needs—only to encounter long waitlists, insurance denials, limited specialists and costs they simply cannot afford.

We are building The Feeding Bridge to help close that gap. But to pursue grants and funding, we need to turn families’ experiences into data that funders can act on.

If your child:

💛 Currently needs feeding-related support
💛 Previously received feeding-related services
💛 Was recommended services your family could not access

Please take our brief parent survey.

It takes less than 2 minutes, is completely anonymous and does not collect names or email addresses.

Every response helps us show:

• Where access to care breaks down
• What families are being asked to pay
• Which recommended services remain out of reach
• Why funding for pediatric feeding care is so urgently needed

PARENTS: Complete the survey through the link in our bio.

PROVIDERS: Please share this post—and, even more importantly, send the survey directly to the families you serve. One personal message from a trusted provider could help us reach the families whose experiences need to be represented.

This is not an application for financial assistance. It is how we begin building the evidence needed to make that assistance possible.

Please save and share. Every family’s experience strengthens the bridge. 💙💚

#TheFeedingBridge #PediatricFeedingDisorder #FeedingTherapy #FeedingChallenges #ARFID #PediatricTherapy #ParentSupport #FeedingFamilies

13

2

💜In this week’s episode Lauren and Allissa requested that all 💜#lovemoney donations be sent to Feeding Matters to support their efforts in “Making A Better World for Children with PFD”💜

“Feeding Matters is the first organization in the world uniting families, healthcare professionals, and the broader community to improve the system of care for children with pediatric feeding disorder through advocacy, education, support, and research.”

😊 Thank you Lauren and Allissa for sharing this amazing organization with us 💜

🎧Listen Here on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-bite-fed-fun-functional-slp-insights/id1399630680?i=1000792564742

🎙️Listen Here on Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2eedcUeVxcXHYgsnFxzEnB?si=Pc497DwISmueZgfULS-ogw&utm_source=copy-link

🎥Watch Here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAp8GhagFmY

💜Donate Here:https://secure.qgiv.com/for/feedingmattersinc

✨🙋🏻‍♀️💜Thank you for lifting one another up!

#slp #slpsoffaith #feedingtherapist #feedingtherapy

6

0