FAB Research webinar
 

Selective or 'fussy' eating- a masterclass: 
Avoiding mealtime meltdowns, and motivating healthier food choices

Webinar summary:

David Rex, RD, and Dr Alex Richardson discuss the latest evidence-based research into what shapes children’s food preferences – with a focus on the areas of selective (‘fussy’ or ‘picky’) eating, and Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). 

In addition, this webinar offers practical guidance on strategies and tactics to help parents, teachers and other healthcare professionals improve any child’s food choices, but particularly children with issues around selective eating and associated anxiety or behavioural problems. 

Guest speaker David Rex is a Specialist Dietitian for Highland Council, working in “Health & Social Care – Children’s Services”. He has a lead public health role for Food & Health in schools, nurseries and Children’s Residential Units; and for almost 20 years, has been providing specialist Dietetic advice for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well as other conditions affecting mental as well as physical health, wellbeing and performance.

Clinically, he advises on diet and nutrition in relation to children’s mood, behaviour and learning; and on how to deal with the selective eating patterns that are so common in children with ASD and related conditions. He also acts as a specialist advisor to the BDA, and also plays a lead role in health education

Key questions this webinar will address include:

• What factors influence children’s food choices – and why do some children develop selective and avoidant eating patterns?
• Physical, sensory and psychological factors that can contribute to selective/restrictive eating - and the motivating and maintaining factors.
• Why selective and avoidant eating behaviours are particularly common in children with neurodevelopmental conditions such as ASD and ADHD

The talks and handouts will allow you to:

• Understand why some current ‘healthy eating’ advice may actually be doing more harm than good – by inadvertently creating negative messages around food. 
• Find out about practical and effective ways that parents and professionals can counteract negative messaging, reduce anxieties and fears about food, and help to model and normalise healthy eating patterns.
• Learn new techniques to encourage and motivate children to eat a broad and varied diet, even where typical methods may have failed.
• Master strategies that are effective at increasing the range of foods eaten by children with more extreme food phobias such as Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
• Have your chance to get your own questions answered in the live Q&A session.

 
For further details please click here.