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.
Weaning off screens at mealtime, especially with extreme picky eating…Well, it isn’t about rushing to take it away…it’s about understanding why it’s there in the first place.
Picky eating / ARFID / feeding therapy
As a parent and a feeding specialist, I get why screens become part of the routine. They help kids stay seated, stay calm, and actually EAT.
👉🏼 That’s not failure. That’s problem-solving. But if you’re ready to move away from screens, here’s the key:
❌You don’t remove the screen first.
❤️You replace the distraction (zoning out) with what they may truly need…
✔ Sensory support
✔ The sense of safety around new foods
✔ Trusting that they can do hard things
✔ Learning to tolerate the unfamiliar
Then, and only then, do screens start to fade.
🎯 Feeding Therapy Challenge is back! For the next 4 days, I’m tackling some of the questions, myths, and mealtime struggles I hear most often in feeding therapy. Follow along, save the posts that resonate, and tag a friend who’s in the thick of it. Let’s learn together. 💜
✨ Let’s talk about “extinction bursts” for a moment: This is when a behavior temporarily gets bigger before it fades away.
👉🏼 You might see:
• More protests
• Bigger emotions
• Stronger demands for the screen
This doesn’t mean it’s not working
It means your child is noticing the change – and that’s a little scary, so protests happen. But if you’ve built the foundation, stay calm, stay lovingly firm, and stay the course.
So…
💚 Stay consistent
💚 Support their sensory system
💚 Hold the boundary with empathy
And yes… it will pass
If this is something you’re working on right now, tell me:
👉🏼 What prompted your sweet kiddos reliance on screens at meals? What was the WHY?
🥰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 / screen time kids / feeding therapy / ARFID / toddler meals / mealtime struggles / sensory feeding / pediatric feeding disorder / responsive feeding / child development
If you’re a feeding therapist…THIS post is for you - thanks for sharing with colleagues ❤️
🎯 Feeding Therapy Challenge is back! For the next 6 days, I’m tackling some of the questions, myths, and mealtime struggles I hear most often in feeding therapy. Follow along, save the posts that resonate, and tag a friend who’s in the thick of it. Let’s learn together. 💜 Follow @mymunchbug_melaniepotock for trusted advice based on 25+ years as a pediatric feeding therapist.
Got questions… drop them in the comments!
🥰Melanie
food allergies, allergy awareness, feeding therapy, starting solids, pediatric nutrition
No, family meals don’t have to look like a Norman Rockwell painting.🤍
👉🏻Research consistently points to the value of eating together, but perfection isn’t required.
A snack on the porch, together
Breakfast at the counter, together
Pizza on soccer nights, together
🤍Connection matters more than perfection.
❓What’s one family meal tradition your kids love?
🎯 Feeding Therapy Challenge is back! For the next 7 days, I’m tackling some of the questions, myths, and mealtime struggles I hear most often in feeding therapy. Follow along, save the posts that resonate, and tag a friend who’s in the thick of it. Let’s learn together. 💜
🥰Melanie
Melanie Potock/ family meals, responsive feeding, connection, picky eating, feeding development
“My child never seems hungry.” Sound familiar?
🎯 Feeding Therapy Challenge is back! For the next EIGHT days, I’m tackling some of the questions, myths, and mealtime struggles I hear most often in feeding therapy. Follow along, save the posts that resonate, and tag a friend who’s in the thick of it. Let’s learn together. 💜
Sometimes it’s grazing.
Sometimes it’s constipation.
Sometimes it’s reflux, medications, or something medical that deserves attention.
Keeping kids on a schedule for snacks and meals (about two hours apart) can help…
Appetite and your child’s physiology are closely related.
Put on that detective hat!
Appetite isn’t just about willpower. It’s information.
🥰Melanie
Learn more at MelaniePotock.com ❤️
appetite, picky eater, feeding therapy, mealtime struggles, pediatric feeding disorder
Safe Foods/ ARFID / Pediatric Feeding Disorders
🎯 Feeding Therapy Challenge is back! For the next TEN days, I’m tackling some of the questions, myths, and mealtime struggles I hear most often in feeding therapy. Follow along, save the posts that resonate, and tag a friend who’s in the thick of it. Let’s learn together. 💜
👉🏻swipe for EACH CAPTION
🥰 Melanie
❤️I completely respect everyone else’s opinions on this! This is based on my 25+ years of experience helping these kids. Wild to think I’ve treated over 10,000 kids!
For some kids, the term “safe” could work fine - but I find it best not to use it with children.
⚠️The fear is real. The danger is not.
What if the words we use around food are shaping how kids think about eating?
Anxiety will spread in any space we give it…
Kids absolutely have foods that feel familiar and comfortable. But in feeding therapy, I try not to label foods as “safe” in front of children. Instead, we can talk about:
💜 Preferred foods
💜 Familiar foods
💜 Foods we’re learning to make friends with - I love that one for my younger clients!
Moving toward the feeling of safety ❤️
Small language shifts can support flexibility instead of fear.
What’s a phrase you’ve changed that made a difference?🤔
Save this one for your next mealtime.
My child is NEVER hungry for dinner.” 🤦🏼♀️
If that sounds familiar, take a peek at what happens between meals.
🎯 Feeding Therapy Challenge is back! For the next TEN days, I`m tackling some of the questions, myths, and mealtime struggles I hear most often in feeding therapy. Follow along, save the posts that resonate, and tag a friend who`s in the thick of it. Let`s learn together. 💜
👉🏻Picky eating. Endless snack requests. A child who seems to survive on a handful of crackers and three bites of yogurt. I see this all the time in feeding therapy – you are not alone here!❤️
When meals feel stressful, grazing can feel like a relief. Your child is eating something. Everyone feels calmer. The pressure eases for a little while.
But here’s the challenge: when little tummies are constantly topped off, they don’t always have the chance to build the appetite that helps support mealtime.
💜 A few reminders:
✔️ Appetite is just one piece of the puzzle. Some children need additional support and strategies to expand their diet.
✔️ A feeding schedule isn’t about withholding food or “making kids hungry.”
✔️ It’s about creating a predictable rhythm so children can recognize their hunger and fullness cues over time.
✔️ Meals and snacks offered at consistent times can support calmer, more connected family meals.
If you’re trying this at home, aim for:
• Predictable meals and snacks
• Breaks between eating opportunities (try for 2 hour breaks)
• Low-pressure mealtimes
• Consistency over perfection
Remember to offer water throughout the day too! Tiny shifts, repeated over time, can make a big difference.
💬 Tell me in the comments: Is your child an all-day grazer or a hangry meal skipper? I have a feeling many of us fall into one of those two camps.
🥰 Melanie
Thank you for being here for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years of feeding therapy, helping parents and therapists support children in finding more joy and less stress around food.
picky eating • toddler snacks • grazing vs meals • child never hungry at dinner • feeding schedule • responsive feeding • building appetite • feeding therapy tips • family meals • adventurous eaters
Comment ARFID for info - please don’t wait. ❤️
🍷Meanwhile, i’ll be right here sipping a glass of wine, practicing patience and thinking all the creative ways that I’ll soon have to say “no, the Masterclass is full till next year “ 🤦🏼♀️😉
Melanie 🥰
Melanie Potock / extreme picky eating / ARFID / pediatric feeding therapy / SLP ARFID
🥪 Does your child refuse sandwiches? It might not be the ingredients.
For some picky eaters, biting through bread, meat, cheese, spreads, and crusts all at once can feel overwhelming. That’s a lot of different textures packed into a single bite.
👋🏼 Hi, I’m Melanie founder of @mymunchbug_melaniepotock - thanks for following me for tips to help your kiddo learn to be an adventurous eater!
✨ Here’s a tip: Try deconstructing it.
Use a fun shape cutter to make tiny sandwich pieces and slide them onto skewers. Kids can:
• Explore smaller bites
• See what’s inside the sandwich
• Touch and interact with the food in a playful way
• Feel more in control of what goes into each bite
• Dip the pieces into a favorite dip, like ranch or mayo, for extra fun and familiarity
In feeding therapy, I often find that making food feel less complicated and more fun opens the door to trying something new.
❤️And if they only touch it, build it, dip it, or pull it apart today? That’s still progress.
🥰…with over 25 years experience as a pediatric feeding therapist and author of six books on the topic, I’m here to help you avoid the picky eater trap.
❤️Melanie
pickyeater feedingtherapy toddlereating pickyeatinghelp feedingtips adventurouseaters toddlermeals pediatricfeeding kidsfoodideas mealtimehelp
🥪 Does your child refuse sandwiches? It might not be the ingredients.
For some picky eaters, biting through bread, meat, cheese, spreads, and crusts all at once can feel overwhelming. That’s a lot of different textures packed into a single bite.
✨ Try deconstructing it.
Use a fun shape cutter to make tiny sandwich pieces and slide them onto skewers. Kids can:
• Explore smaller bites
• See what’s inside the sandwich
• Touch and interact with the food in a playful way
• Feel more in control of what goes into each bite
• Dip the pieces into a favorite dip, like ranch or mayo, for extra fun and familiarity
In feeding therapy, I often find that making food feel less complicated and more fun opens the door to trying something new.
And if they only touch it, build it, dip it, or pull it apart today? That’s still progress. 💜
Comment TOOLS and I’ll send you my favorite feeding tools that make mealtimes more playful and less stressful.
Melanie
Melanie Potock / picky-eater feedingtherapy / toddlereating pickyeatinghelp / feedingtips adventurouseaters / toddlermeals pediatricfeeding / kidsfoodideas mealtimehelp
Crackers can look so innocent... but not all crackers are created equal when it comes to toddlers learning to chew safely.
Picky eater tips • toddler snacks • choking prevention • feeding therapy
✨ One of the simplest tricks I use in feeding therapy is my “melt test.”
💧 If a cracker begins to soften and fall apart when exposed to moisture, it’s generally easier for little mouths to manage while chewing skills are still developing.
🧱 Dense, hard crackers that stay firm can require more advanced chewing skills and may pose a greater choking risk for younger toddlers.
A few reminders:
✔️ Every child develops chewing skills at their own pace.
✔️ Always supervise eating.
✔️ Offer foods that match your child’s current feeding abilities, not just their age. But, I never give super crunchy crackers to kids under the age of 3, sometimes even 4.
✔️ When in doubt, think: Does it melt with saliva?
👇 Let’s talk snacks! What’s a cracker your toddler LOVES that surprised you with how well (or poorly!) it passed the melt test? Share below so other parents can learn too.
💕 After helping more than 10,000 children in feeding therapy, I can tell you that tiny changes in how we choose and serve foods can make a big difference in helping kids eat more safely and confidently.
toddler snacks feeding therapy toddler-safety chokingprevention pickyeater toddlermeals feedingtips raisingadventurouseaters
🚨 Your toddler ate three blueberries, licked a cracker, and suddenly you’re wondering if they’ll ever eat again. It can be worrisome, but…
⚠️Before you label it “picky eating,” take a step back and ask these 5 questions:
✔️ Are they snacking too often between meals?
✔️ Are they teething?
✔️ Have they learned that refusing dinner results in a different meal showing up?
✔️ Are they constipated?
✔️ Are most days actually easier than today?
In 25+ years of feeding therapy, I’ve learned that many phases of “picky eating” have a simple explanation.
Toddlers have fluctuating appetites. They grow in spurts. They test boundaries. They have off days just like we do.
That’s why I encourage parents to look at patterns over time, not a single frustrating meal.
💕 One difficult day doesn’t automatically mean you have a picky eater. Save this reel for the next time dinner doesn’t go as planned.
👇 Did one of these surprise you? Can I answer any questions?
POV: Picky eating, Pediatric Feeding Disorder and ARFID are real – and I take it all seriously. But kids go through SHORT phases of “picky”, especially toddlers.🥰
Thank you for following me for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years helping parents & therapists help kids find joy in food.
❤️Melanie
Toddler eating • Picky eating • Feeding therapy • Toddler nutrition • Responsive feeding • Child development • Family meals
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
50 Easy Ways to Get Your Kid to Eat New Foods
By Salma Abdelnour Gilman It may seem like an impossible dream right now, but your kid has the potential to love all kinds...Read More
A Special Needs Guide for Learning to Eat with Your SEVEN Senses – Part One
Most of us think of five senses and the human body: Sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. But, when it comes...Read More
3 Ways to Explain Baby-Led Feeding to Your Extended Family
By Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP Whether it’s a holiday dinner, a virtual family brunch or an outdoor family picnic, well-meaning relatives may...Read More
Planting for Kids
By The Lettuce Grow Team Melanie Potock has a knack for taking eaters of all ages from picky to passionate. Here are a...Read More
