Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP is a mom who once had a picky eater. She’s experienced first-hand the stress that parents feel when they are worried about their child’s nutritional health. Fast forward to today, and you’ll find Melanie blending her knowledge of feeding therapy with practical parenting strategies that help the entire family eat healthier. She’s an international speaker and author of six books, including co-authoring the award-winning Raising a Healthy Happy Eater. Whether you’re raising a child who seems to be on the path to loving all kinds of healthy foods (and you want to keep it that way) or if your child is stuck in the chicken nugget rut, “Coach Mel” is here to guide you.
Melanie Potock
Pediatric Feeding Expert and Author
Expert Feeding Help
for Professionals and Parents
Melanie Potock’s keynotes, courses, books & articles focus on raising kids to be healthy, happy eaters. From babies to toddlers to teens, “Coach Mel” is here to help.
Raising a Healthy Happy Eater Isn’t Always Easy
Get Expert Advice on Feeding Babies, Toddlers & School Age Kids,
Including Extreme Picky Eaters
Upcoming Events & Courses
Babies
This book is designed to answer the most common questions about feeding babies and toddlers up to age three. It also debunks myths while offering practical tips on making mealtimes joyful and less stressful. It teaches a no-nonsense, straightforward approach to responsive feeding that’s focused on nurturing trust and communication between parent and child. Read more about Responsive Feeding here.
Toddlers & Preschoolers
In her award-winning book, Raising a Healthy Happy Eater, Melanie and her co-author, pediatrician Dr. Yum, teach parents how to guide their children on the path to adventurous eating. Parents report that toddlers are the most challenging to feed, thanks to active little bodies and fleeting attention spans. Learn how to lay positive foundations for eating at 6 months of age, navigate the “terrific twos” and avoid picky eating in the preschool years! Get the brand new, updated 2nd edition. Read more about feeding young children here.
School Age
Kids can cook right along with their parents from an early age, but it’s especially important from preschool and into the elementary school years. What’s the number one food group that parents struggle with the most? Vegetables! The secret to helping kids love any kind of food is to follow Melanie’s Three E’s: Expose, Explore, Expand. You’ll learn how to use the Three E’s and create veggie-love in Melanie’s book, Adventures in Veggieland: Help Your Kids Learn to Love Vegetables with 100 Easy Activities and Recipes. Read more about feeding school-age kids here.
More fun!
As a speech language pathologist, Melanie combined her love for language, little kids and food by writing a children’s book! You are Not an Otter: The Story of How Kids Become Adventurous Eaters is available on Kindle, in paperback, and in both English and Spanish. Don’t miss the parent tips in the back of the book! Learn about all of Mel’s books here.
😂 Pediatric feeding therapist humor is oddly specific…But every one of these “movies” has a little truth behind it. 👇🏼
🥪 The Silence of the Hams
I rarely meet a picky eater who happily eats wet sandwich ham. Seriously… does anyone have a picky eater who eats ham? I need to meet your kid.😉
🍿 Nightmare on Snack Street
Snacking all day long can become a nightmare for appetite development. Kids need breaks between eating opportunities to build hunger, curiosity & interest in food.
😵💫 The Gagging
A little gagging when babies start solids can actually be protective & helpful. But persistent or excessive gagging deserves a closer look.
🌭 Children of the Corn Dogs
Hot dogs & corn dogs are among the biggest choking risks for children under age 4.
🏎️ The Fast & the Furious: Mealtime Edition
Kids who eat SUPER fast sometimes need support with pacing, regulation & a hungry-not-hangry eating schedule.
🍟 Lord of the Fries
Ever notice that highly anxious eaters can detect the difference between one fry brand & another without ever seeing the packaging? Sensory differences & anxiety are real.
🏹 The Hunger Games: Toddler Edition
The complete opposite of “Fast & Furious.” These are the kids who seem to survive on three crackers, one berry & pure determination. sometimes they need a consistent schedule, another time a full medical workup will reveal reasons why.
Because feeding is developmental, sensory, emotional, motor-based & relational all at once… and sometimes it can be scary. But with the right support, these kids become more adventurous eaters.❤️
🥰Melanie
✨ Thank you for following me for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years of feeding therapy, helping parents and therapists help kids find joy in food.
Picky eating / ARFID / feeding therapy / responsive feeding / toddler meals / sensory eating / oral motor development / choking prevention / family meals
Picky eating & worrying about your kids nutritional health is so stressful!
Try making these with your kids - and don’t forget the dance party!👯♀️
Thank you for dropping a ❤️- I love knowing you’re enjoying my content!
🥰Melanie
✨ AND…Thank you for following me for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years of feeding therapy, helping parents and therapists help kids find joy in food. melaniepotock /feedingtherapy /slpfeeding / pickyeaters feedinglittles
🫛 Soy doesn’t have to mean tofu if you’re not a person who enjoys tofu, like me! I’m more likely to serve something that I have in the house all the time…
✨Early allergen introduction can be simple, safe & delicious! Here are a few baby-friendly ways to serve edamame for soy exposure:
🫛 Blend shelled edamame into a smooth puree with olive oil or breastmilk/formula
🫛 Smash & spread on toast strips for self-feeding
🫛 Stir into mashed avocado or sweet potato
🫛 Mix into soft rice or pasta for older babies working on textures
✨Remember, introducing allergens EARLY & OFTEN matters, but always speak with your pediatrician about any concerns regarding food allergies or eczema.
🗣️Comment HANDOUTS for my free starting solids guides in English & Spanish, plus my allergen introduction chart!
❤️Melanie
✨ Thank you for following me for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years of feeding therapy, helping parents and therapists help kids find joy in food.
starting solids / baby led weaning / allergen introduction / soy allergy / edamame for babies / baby feeding tips / responsive feeding / infant feeding / feeding therapy / picky eating prevention
🤔While at today’s @theabcshow , I’m walking in with one question:
✨ “Would I truly recommend this to families, parents & feeding therapists?” ❤️
Here are the booths at the TOP of my list to visit first👇🏼but I’ll be visiting so many more!
@tonies.us
@elementalbottles
@chicco.usa
@infantinobaby
@everydayjunesday
@kindredbravely
@sweetdreamers_us
@enyamond
@babbleroo
@doreljuvenile
@axkid.usa
@momcozy
@cybex_usa
@bebeluna.us
And yes… I’ll be sharing my honest thoughts, favorite finds, feeding tools, highchairs, strollers & hidden gems along the way. 👏🏼
✨Be sure you’re following me so you don’t miss the coverage from the show in my stories✨
❤️Melanie
Pediatric feeding therapy / starting solids / baby led weaning / picky eating / toddler feeding / feeding development / baby products / ABC Kids Show / feeding therapist approved / #abckids2026
Feeding therapists: some allergic reactions happen in the weirdest places - or in the “safety” of a therapy room…and many clinicians were never taught this…
May is National Allergy Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to revisit something every OT, SLP & feeding specialist needs to understand:
Food allergens can show up in playground mulch, sauces, oils, sensory materials, community outings & foods we may not immediately recognize as high risk.
And when kids are trying new foods in therapy, those details matter.
✨In this carousel, I’m covering:
👉🏻hidden peanut exposure in the ENVIRONMENT
👉🏻soy vs peanut allergy confusion
👉🏻wheat allergy vs celiac disease
👉🏻sesame as “the 9th” Top 9 allergen
👉🏻which children may be at higher risk for reactions
Because feeding therapy is never just about the bite. It’s also about safety, preparation & understanding the whole child.❤️
📍Please SHARE this with:
• feeding therapists
• OTs
• SLPs
• parents
• school staff
• early intervention providers
You never know who may learn something that helps keep a child safer.
💾 Save this for later, especially if you work with children introducing new foods.
💕Melanie
✨ Thank you for following me for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years of feeding therapy, helping parents and therapists help kids find joy in food.
Food allergy awareness / National Allergy Awareness Month / feeding therapy / pediatric feeding disorder / ARFID / SLP / OT / occupational therapy / pediatric SLP / feeding specialist / sensory feeding / food allergies / picky eating / feeding development / early intervention / food allergy education / pediatric therapy
“Having kids-the responsibility of rearing good, kind, ethical,
responsible human beings - is the biggest job anyone can embark on.” ❤️Love that wisdom from @mariashriver
✨Gosh, no wonder we worry that we’re not enough…this is a huge responsibility and…the best thing that ever happened to me.🤍
👉🏼🩷I’m here to tell you that you are MORE than enough…and you’ve got this.🤍💕🤍💕🤍💕🤍💕🤍💕🤍
I’m taking the weekend away from social…so wanted to be sure tell you today…
✨Happy Mom’s Day✨
🥰Melanie
Melanie Potock / Mom’s Day / Mother’s Day / Picky Eaters / SLPFeeding / StartingSolids
Starting solids can feel exciting… until the internet makes it overwhelming. 😵💫
Here are 3 things I wish every parent knew before offering those first bites👇🏼
🍓 Food allergens:
Research now shows that delaying common allergens like peanut & egg may actually increase the risk of developing food allergies for many children. Early, safe introduction matters.
🪑 Positioning matters more than people realize: If baby’s feet are dangling, trunk is unstable, and eating becomes much harder. Good positioning supports safer swallowing, better motor control & more successful meals.
😬 Too much gagging isn’t always “normal”: Some gagging is expected while babies learn. But persistent gagging at most meals can create stress, hesitation around food & difficult mealtimes over time. We want babies challenged, not overwhelmed.
✨ Different babies need different approaches, and responsive feeding means paying attention to the whole child, not just the bites they swallow.
💾 Save this for later if you’re starting solids soon.
👩👩👧 Share with a new parent who needs calmer feeding advice.
❤️Melanie
✨ Thank you for following me for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years of feeding therapy, helping parents & therapists help kids find joy in food.
Starting solids / baby led weaning / responsive feeding / feeding therapy / baby feeding tips / infant feeding / picky eating prevention / food allergies / gagging vs choking / pediatric feeding therapist
🥑Your avocados are about to go bad? Don’t waste them… use THESE picky eater tricks instead👇🏼Because nobody likes an over-ripe avo, not even the most adventurous eaters!
Picky eating / starting solids / feeding therapy
🥑As a pediatric feeding specialist, avocado is one of my FAVORITE first foods for babies… but honestly? It’s also one of the easiest foods to use with picky eaters too.
🤔Why?
✨Soft texture
✨Mild flavor
✨Easy to change into LOTS of different foods
✨Packed with healthy fats kids need for growth & brain development
Before those perfectly ripe avocados turn brown overnight, try this:
1.🥑 Put them in the fridge!
Even if they feel “perfect” today, refrigeration slows ripening & buys you several more days.
2.🥑 Freeze them
You do NOT have to mash them first. Freeze chunks or slices with a little lemon or lime juice to reduce browning. Then toss them into smoothies, spreads or sauces later.
3.🥑 Blend into creamy foods
Blend avocado silky smooth & stir into:
✨Chocolate pudding
✨Smoothies
✨Spread on toast
✨Use instead of mayo on sandwiches
4.🥑 Make dips more fun
Add fresh avocado chunks to store-bought guacamole for easy texture variety & extra nutrition.
5.🥑 Use avocado for food play with hesitant eaters
Its soft texture makes it perfect for squishing, spreading, scooping & exploring without pressure.
✨BONUS✨
Very cold avocado slices straight from the fridge can also feel soothing for teething babies. Roll them@in chia seeds or hemp seeds for a boost of nutrition and extra grip!
🥑🌴Okay… who actually has an avocado tree because that is still my dream.
Melanie
✨Thank you for following me for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years of feeding therapy, helping parents & therapists help kids find joy in food.
#pickyeating #pickyeater #feedingtherapy #startingsolids #toddlermom
😳 Does this fact about eczema & food allergies surprise you?
Pediatric feeding therapy / food allergies / eczema
🤔We often assume food allergies cause eczema. But no!
👉🏼 Atopic dermatitis (eczema) can increase the risk of developing a food allergy
👉🏼 But food allergies do not cause eczema
✨ And here’s the part many people miss…
If your child has moderate to severe eczema, their risk for food allergies is higher than kids with mild eczema.
That’s why monitoring matters so much as we begin introducing new foods… especially for babies and those oh-so-picky toddlers.
❓Did you know that from the first week of starting solids and well into the preschool years, most kids should be exposed to all of the top 9 allergens on a weekly basis – even just a few teaspoons does the trick!
Melanie
✨ Thank you for following me for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years of feeding therapy, helping parents & therapists help kids find joy in food.
Allergy Awareness Month / food allergies in kids / eczema & babies / starting solids safely / allergen introduction / picky eating help / feeding therapy strategies / SLP feeding therapy / OT feeding support / pediatric feeding disorder / early allergen exposure / infant feeding guidance
If your child won’t try new foods…
it might not be about the food at all.
Picky eating / autism / feeding therapy
❤️I get why this feels confusing.
You offer something new, and even a small change can lead to a big reaction.
Here’s what I’d like to explain:
✨ Flexibility comes before new foods.
For many kids with autism, predictability = safety.
So when something changes at the table, it can feel overwhelming.
Think about these tiny shifts:
✨A different plate
✨Sitting in a new spot
✨Food that looks slightly different
That’s not “being picky.”
That’s a nervous system saying: this feels unfamiliar.
So instead of focusing on bites, we start here:
✔️ Small changes in play
✔️ Small changes in routine
✔️ Small changes that feel safe
Because when a child learns:
“I can handle change”
➡️ everything at the table gets easier.
Over time, those tiny wins build:
✨ More comfort
✨ More confidence
✨ More openness to new foods
💾 Save this as your reminder:
Progress starts with flexibility, safety & trust.
👩👩👧 Share this with a parent or therapist supporting a child with autism & feeding challenges.
Melanie
✨ Thank you for following me for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years of feeding therapy, helping parents and therapists help kids find joy in food.
I’m your kid’s feeding therapist…
I get tiny humans from “yuck” to “yum”… and it starts with flexible positioning to help them stay at the table. Coming soon with a brand new highchair that does what no other highchair can do…
Follow me, I’ll show you all the details soon, and really give you something to talk about ! 😉
🥰Melanie
#melaniepotock
#notapaidadvertisement #excitedforthis #highchairs
Toddlers and the lost art of waiting ✨
Picky eaters / toddler tips / toddler mom / slpfeeding
🤔Somewhere along the way, we stopped expecting little ones to wait… and started working around it.
Because let’s be honest…
everything comes fast now.
Swipe a screen.
Push a button.
Tap, click, delivered.
✨But waiting is a skill✨
✨A skill to wait in line.
✨A skill to wait for dinner.
✨A skill to wait for something you’re asking for.
And just like any skill, it takes practice, patience, and a whole lot of gentle guidance ❤️
That moment in the checkout line?
It’s not just about the treat from @traderjoes
It’s about learning how to be in the pause ⭐and know that waiting patiently results in good things.
Share this post with another parent, teacher, grandparents…❤️
💕Melanie
✨ Thank you for following me for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years of feeding therapy, helping parents and therapists help kids find joy in food. #melaniepotock #feedingtherapy #slpfeeding #pickyeaters #feedinglittles
Pediatric Feeding Expert and Author
Melanie's Advice Shared In...
Courses for Parents & Professionals
Melanie offers both on-demand courses and live-streaming Masterclasses. CEUs are optional for both OTs and SLPs, yet audience members include parents, RDs, pediatricians & other health care professionals.
Need help with a picky eater, or just want to prevent kids from falling into the chicken-nugget rut? As a parent, SLP or OT, what do you need to know about child nutrition? What about the anxious eater – Could this be more than just picky eating? Melanie’s on-demand course subscriptions provide the answers!
Want more in-depth instruction in a small group, virtual setting? Register for one of Melanie’s Masterclass!
Explore course options here.
Parenting Advice
Melanie’s advice has been shared in The New York Times, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Parents Magazine and more. Over 150 articles for both parents and professionals are found here or contact Melanie for a personal one-hour coaching session via video chat.
Masterclass participants get a 25% discount on coaching.
Learn more about professional and parent coaching here.
Keynote Speaking
An international speaker, award-winning author and pediatric feeding specialist, audiences find Melanie’s advice to be practical and possible, even in the most challenging cases. That’s because Melanie is in the trenches, working closely with the most extreme picky eaters and supporting families and health professionals around the world. Melanie has been invited to speak at over 100 different events, including the American Speech Language Hearing Association’s National Conference and the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo.
Audiences say it best: If you are looking for a professional speaker who can “provide practical solutions” for parents, caregivers and therapists and your company needs a “highly knowledgeable, organized presenter” with “energy and enthusiasm” who can deliver a “dynamic course”, then your best choice is Melanie Potock. Contact Melanie here.
Product Consulting
Need expert input on your new parenting product? Melanie has provided expert advice for Orgain, Inc., Holland Health Care, Inc., Healthy Height, Inc., NumNum, LLC and numerous health care and parent product companies.
Looking for an expert to educate your team on how children learn to become adventurous eaters, baby-self feeding or the importance of purees? Feeding is developmental, just like learning to crawl, walk, run. At least 1 in 4 typically developing children have trouble learning to eat! Raising a healthy, happy eater requires the right tools and the right advice. Melanie provides company education and collaboration via webinars, social media and creating educational videos for your audience.
Contact Melanie here.
Blog
feeding advice for parents and professionals
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