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Eat Play Empower, 500 SeaWorld Drive, San Diego, CA (2026)

09/16/2021

Mealtime doesn't occur in a vacuum :) How children interact with the world away from the table, impacts how they interact with foods at the table. ⁣
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𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐲, by promoting trying new things--⁣
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𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, by inviting questions about our environment--⁣
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𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, by creating opportunties for actions based on that curiosity--⁣
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These all support your child's willingness to accept novelty, view new foods with curiosity, and explore properties of food-- 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 🙌⁣
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When we encourage these values and mindset away from the table, we often see carryover to mealtimes. So, 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐲-𝐭𝐨-𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲:⁣
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🌱 A nature sensory walk: demonstrate and encourage your child to touch, smell, and ask questions about the proprieties of plants (or anything else in the environment)⁣
🧗 On the playground, encourage your child to try new equipment or use the same equipment in different ways (ex: going on belly on swing instead of sitting)⁣
🎨 While they are playing at home, invite this curiosity and exploration by asking them "I wonder what would happen if ____". (ex: you tried to build that tower with your feet). Silliness and unexpected suggestions often get the most excitement!⁣
🧪 Find "science" experiment project directions (like baking soda and water, or cornstarch and water) and promote exploration through the process, as well as interaction with new textures. ⁣
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There are countless ways to include more novelty, curiosity, and exploration away from the table. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴? 😊

09/09/2021

🎉𝐍𝐄𝗪 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐁𝐈𝐄! Link in bio! 🎉⁣
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When we talk about feeding, oftentimes it can be easy to focus on what children AREN'T eating, but this FREE download is all about celebrating what children 𝐀𝐑𝐄 doing with their food. 🙌⁣
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When we celebrate and acknowledge each step on the way to eating, we help children feel seen and validated in the progress they are making.💗⁣
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𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: With many kids, over the top celebrating can be too much. Acknowledging each step forward with 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 is usually perfect. Play it cool, but still show them you see their efforts and progress 🥰⁣
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𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲. ⁣
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This Freebie will help you remember the steps towards eating during mealtimes, as well as get your little one more aware about their level of engagement with different foods.⁣
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If you give it a try, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments or in IG stories!⁣
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Head to our 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐨 to download this fun addition to your family’s eating adventures!

09/02/2021

Did you know children who have difficulty with eating are more likely to have difficulty with sleep, and vice versa? 🤯⁣
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When you think about it, it makes sense. Eating ideally operates on a consistent daily routine, and so does sleep. So in kiddos that have trouble getting their body on a rhythm in general, will have more difficulties with both sleep and eating. ⁣
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𝘖𝘬, 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴. Based on our experience, supporting one of these often supports the other. We like to focus on sleep as a foundational need whenever possible, and we often see hugeeee progress with eating once sleep is more consistent. 🙌⁣
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𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐫𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦:⁣
😴 Create a plan for your child's ideal bedtime, waketimes, and naptimes (age-dependent). ⁣
😴 Develop a consistent and predictable routine for the last 1/2-1 hour of the evening. (Ex: Bath, PJs, Brush Teeth, Story/Song)⁣
😴 Make sure everyone who puts the child to sleep is on board for the schedule and routine. ⁣
😴 Decrease screen time, especially in the last two hours of the evening⁣
😴 Make sure your child gets exposure to bright light during the day (ideally outside), and dim the lights in the house for the last two hours of the evening. ⁣
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We hope this is supportive! Let us know below what your biggest struggles and/or successes with sleep have been! 💗

06/29/2021

"Well... we don't use a schedule and that works for us..."
"Well...we use a schedule and its life changing..."
"You should...look into gentle formula..."
"We stopped using puree and its been the best..."
"We only use the spoon, baby led weaning just isn't for us..."
"We didn't sleep train since I didn't go back to work..."
"We did sleep train, it was the only option since we both work..."

Have you heard of some of these things before? Typically we all feel a little defeated after we hear these phrases because likely we are currently doing the opposite and/or feeling stuck with deciding our families next steps around food, sleep, and routines.

Here is the deal:

My family used schedules, formula and puree foods. I made the right choices for my family.

Some of my friends and family exclusively breastfed, didn't follow a schedule, and did baby led weaning. They made the right choices for their family.

At EPE, honoring the differences in each family is a core value of ours. We want to help you find a path that fits your family in all seasons.

If you are needing help with navigating your own path of feeding your child, DM us or click the link in our bio to set up a FREE consult call. 😊

06/25/2021

Is limited tongue lateralization holding your child back from eating progress? 🤔 Check out the slides above for lots of information and ideas regarding this important skill!⁣
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In typically developing children, tongue lateralization typically begins to emerge around 7 months and continues to develop and mature until around 36 months. ⁣
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There are many types of tongue lateralization that become more and more advanced as the child develops into toddlerhood. ⁣
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An interesting thing to remember with oral motor skills is that gross motor skills often set the foundation. Meaning, if you aren't seeing progress with tongue movement to the side, check to see if your child is doing much trunk rotation (turning), or crossing midline (reaching across center) while playing.🤓 Setting up opportunities to practice this more can set the stage for the fine oral motor skills to develop! ⁣
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𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬:⁣
**Hard munchables: 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 (𝟕-𝟗 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐨𝐥𝐝) 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡. To ensure safety you want to make sure they are 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘴. While mouthing they are mapping out their mouth, stimulating different sides of their mouth, and desensitizing their gag reflex. Helping them impose hard munchables on the sides of their mouth can promote tongue lateralization (because the tongue will tend to follow the object). ⁣
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If you have questions about anything discussed in this post let us know in the comments and we are happy to support you! ⁣
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In our 1:1 coaching we support families in understanding the whole picture behind their child's eating difficulties. 🙌 We support you in addressing any gaps in oral motor skills and sensory processing, as well as setting up your routines to support success. 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 :)

06/25/2021

The steps between your child touch a food with their hands and tasting it are 𝐒𝐎 important, and often forgotten!⁣
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Yes, the tactile input from our hands give us a lot of information about a food's texture. But skipping the "body work" of touch step to eating can ultimately cause some set backs. ⁣
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Why? Because if a little one tastes a food before they are ready, they might experience some avoidable surprise. As we touch food to our body and gradually towards our face, we slowly sense more of the smell, temperature, and texture. 😊More input + closer to the mouth = more familiarity and understanding prior to tasting. And this sets your little one up for success! 🙌⁣
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These strategies take patience, so next time you want to skip inviting your child to taste a new food, breathe and reference some of these ideas:⁣
💡 A car or animal walking up your arm ("The Ants Go Marching" song works well for this)⁣
💡 Making your arm a slide or a rollercoaster for the food to go down.⁣
💡 Seeing how long you can balance a food on your shoulder (and head!)⁣
💡 Making a food a mustache and holding it up with your upper lip⁣
💡 "If You're Happy and You Know It" with different silly places to touch with food. Ex: "if youre happy and you know it put your (food) on your (nose, eyebrow, elbow, etc)." Of course keep this low pressure, and adjust if any areas are too challenging for them right now. ⁣
💡 Holding/carrying a food in silly places like the crook of their elbow, under their neck, armpit, etc! (obviously might not want to eat that piece after)⁣
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There are so many more ways to play with touch on the body! Incorporate some of their favorite characters and play activities into your language at the table, and keep it fun and low pressure! Sometimes you will need to spend multiple exposures just on body and face touch and that is perfectly fine! It is all creating progress and momentum beneath the surface!⁣
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What’s your favorite way to incorporate “body work” food play?! What idea(s) are you going to try above?

06/23/2021

If you have an older selective eater, it can be SO helpful to establish a shared vision for their eating progress. ⁣
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Swipe through the slides to see our recommendations for setting a vision and increasing buy-in, autonomy, and motivation for your older child. ⁣
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While selective eating strategies of course surround food, underneath that progress has a lot to do with creating:⁣
💗 safety⁣
💗 trust⁣
💗 consent/ autonomy⁣
💗 connection⁣
💗 and more⁣
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If this was a supportive, drop some 💗💗💗below to let us know you would like more content like this!

06/18/2021

𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬! ➡️ We all know this conversation well. It often feels second nature (𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴! 🙋🏽‍♀️) but we want to invite you to consider this conversation from a new perspective.⁣
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𝗪𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥. There are no inherently “good” or “bad” foods. But we have all been conditioned to see vegetables/proteins as the “have to” foods and sweets/snacks as the “get to” foods. ⁣
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When we place certain foods on a pedestal, we immediately make the other foods 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯.⁣
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⁣We hope you find this perspective and these tips helpful! 😊

Eat Play Empower

09/16/2021

09/09/2021

09/02/2021

06/29/2021

06/25/2021

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