29/07/2026
“They normally eat two minute noodles so why won’t they won’t eat those ones, they’re exactly the same.”
Many of the children we see eat the same food everyday. These foods are their known and preferred foods. So why do children, especially those with a limited number of foods, find trying new foods, or even new version of the same food so difficult?
Every time a child eats a preferred food their senses go through a process of checking off that the food looks, feels, smells and tastes the same as it always has, and this can make meals feels more regulating.
When they are offered a new food, their senses start the checklist process and most commonly their eyes go "that is NOT my noodles." "That food is a danger!"
This triggers stress and anxiety and can result in a fight, flight, freeze response; for example, becoming upset and throwing the food (fight), constantly getting down from the table (flight) or sitting at the table but refusing to eat (freeze).
That is often why children eat one type of noodle, one brand of nugget, one restaurants chips. This is their food, and it can take a lot of work from their sensory system to feel safe and comfortable with any changes to that food, even if it feels like it is 'just' a change in packaging. It's a lot more than that.
Although subtle, the changes between these foods require lots of sensory processing which is why it is important that a child feels safe and regulated when a change may occur.
