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.
✨Feeding therapy sessions with extreme picky eaters, may look different. Each child is unique,& there are times that I will gently nudge to help a child build the skill to try new foods & truly find joy in food! So…
“Eat your vegetables and then you can have dessert”
✨I still would never say this in feeding therapy, but I might say “Let’s practice smelling these 3 veggies & then, let’s shoot baskets with this Nerf ball! WHY? This may be hard for some kids, & having a fun activity to keep anxiety down while we practice helps keep the focus on fun!
“You’re such a good eater!”
✨I probably wouldn’t be so general, but instead say something like “Wow, you took a whiff of that broccoli like you were a pony smelling fresh grass in a field! What did your nose think of that broccoli? You sure good at using your nose!” WHY? I believe in being honest with kids. They are there to learn about new foods. We use all of our senses. And, if using their nose to explore a new food is challenging for them, I’m going to compliment them in a fun way!
“You can get down after 3 more bites”
✨I would never put this type of ultimatum in place with an anxious eater in feeding therapy, but I do HAVE ONE RULE: During our short session, kids need to stay at the table while we explore new foods. If the best they can do is just sit & watch (exploring with their eyes) that’s fine too! I help kids to gradually learn to stay at the table for about ten minutes at a time. We may take a break & come back once more, depending on their age. It’s truly my only rule. Examples of exceptions would be: A child who needs to stand & rock beside the table (totally fine!) or a child who needs to get up & move BRIEFLY due to attention challenges – then we find a way to adapt the seating to provide that support. For example, we sit on large inflatable balls to add that needed movement.
❤️Drop a heart if this resonates with you.
Thanks!
❤️Melanie
#melaniepotock #pickyeaters #slpfeeding #feedingtherapy
My ARFID: The Anxious Eater Masterclass is on April 6th!
✨Parents & Professionals, comment ARFID for information sent to your inbox.✨
👉🏼Fair warning, the course opened up over the weekend and it is already 50% sold out.
❤️I love teaching this course, and I’d love to have you join me!
🗣️COMMENT ARFID for more info.
🤍Melanie
#melaniepotock #arfidawareness #extremepickyeating
🎊I can’t believe the day is finally here !!! It honestly took more than a year to make this happen… and I am so grateful to each and every one of you that pre-ordered, to everyone who is ordering today on my ✨paperback publishing day✨ and to everyone who shares this book in their stories today… your support has been incredibly important to me, and I am forever grateful.💕
❤️Dreams do come true. Your picky eater will learn to love 20 different vegetables with over 100 fun activities and recipes in Adventures in Veggieland!
🥳Yay!!! I did it, thanks to YOU! Paperback available now! COMMENT VEGGIES and I’ll send you the link right away to your inbox!🌱🥦🥗🍄🥕🌽🥬
🥰Melanie
🥦Special shout-out to @theexperiment publishing and photographer Eric Harvey Brown 🥰
melaniepotock #slpfeeding #feedingtherapy #feedinglittles #ashaigers #originalidea #arfidawareness
TODDLERS! How do you keep them entertained in the kitchen (and keep them safe) when you’re trying to get anything done, like dinner, the dishes or GEEZ, just enjoying a cup of coffee!
🗣️Comment TOWER for my top ten Kitchen Essentials from my favorite toddler tower that folds, to the best silicone mat to protect them from that hard countertop. (and protects your countertop too!) I’ll send you my Amazon affiliate link and my curated list of “must haves!”
💕I think this might be my favorite list on my Amazon shop – hope you find it helpful too!
🥰Melanie
#melaniepotock #slpfeeding #feedingtherapy #feedinglittles #responsivefeeding #feedinglittles
Wait for it…ARFID: 3 COMMON MYTHS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
✨COMMENT ARFID✨ for more info or DM 🤍
First 3 seconds or so are my office wall.🤦🏼♀️ sigh…
🥰Melanie
Thank you for joining me @brooklynmyo 😘
🤦🏼♀️Need to occupy your toddler for ten minutes while you’re with them in the kitchen, OR, how about entertaining them while waiting at a restaurant (and I know you’re trying to avoid using screens, but what’s a parent to do?) Try this!
🌽My freezer always has a stash of frozen corn cobs. They are inexpensive, take just a few minutes to prep one cob for the week (boiling water, 5 minutes max) and then I cut it into four pieces and keep them in the fridge.
🌽It’s astonishing how much toddlers love chilled (but cooked) corn on the cob. Remember to slice off the outer edge of the kernels to reduce the risk of choking. Keep those tiny pieces to add to scrambled eggs (mix into almost anything) or to serve as finger foods, etc.
🌽Grab one from the fridge if you know you’ll be eating out too – it’s magical and keeps them occupied while waiting for the restaurant food to arrive!
❤️Drop a heart if you think you might just try this! And, thanks for following me for tips like this one!
🥰Melanie
#melaniepotock #slpfeeding #feedinglittles #ashaigers #originalidea #startingsolids
ARFID: Nothing better than a solid assessment by a mental health professional but FIRST we need a feeding evaluation to rule out medical, physiological, sensory & motor feeding challenges.
✨Comment ARFID✨for more info, a discount code and resources.
🤍Melanie
#melaniepotock #arfidawareness #eatingdisorders #notjustpickyeating #eatingdisorderawarenessweek #slpfeeding
🍪Baby & Toddler Breakfast Cookies made with just 3 ingredients and NO added sugar.
🫶🏼Full disclosure: One of my very first clients with an extreme picky eater taught me how to make these, and I’ve been making them ever since! (over 25 years ago!) Hi, I’m Melanie, a pediatric feeding specialist here to help you raise healthy, happy eaters!
👉🏼All you need is a blender, a spoon/bowl and a cookie sheet.
👉🏼Ingredients:
1 cup whole oats
2 medium bananas
¼ cup nut or seed butter
Optional: 1/8 cup of hemp seeds or shredded carrots or finely chopped apple
👉🏼6 FAST & EASY Steps:
1. Preheat oven – 350F
2. Course blend HALF of the oats, then pour all oats into bowl
3. Blend bananas and nut/seed butter till smooth
4. Mix all ingredients in bowl
5. Spoon onto cookie sheet. (TIP: Flatten into pancake shape – easier for little hands!)
6. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes – edges should barely be brown. Cool & serve.
❄️These freeze really well too!
❤️Drop a heart if you think you’ll try these! Also, remember to hold your cup in your elbow so you never have to release that cookie from your little grip. (My heart – he’s so cute! Still battling a little cold, so a cookie was just what he needed.🤍🍪🤍
Melanie
#melaniepotock #pickyeaters #startingsolids #slpfeeding #feedingtherapy #feedinglittles #ashaigers
💕Picky Eaters (or any kid!) go from FUN to YUM when veggies start with food play! In Adventures in Veggieland, I’ll take you on a veggie adventure with 100 activities and recipes, like making a KALE bouquet as a center-piece for your table. A few stalks of kale costs less than most florist’s greens, and your kids hold it, cut it, arrange it and make friends with it! Those are the first steps to learning to eat kale for many of our picky eaters. "Oh hi, nice to meet you Mr. Kale!"
👉🏼COMMENT VEGGIES for a direct link to pre-order pricing and you’ll have this new paperback version of this popular book in just ONE WEEK! Releases March 4th, 2025…
🥬WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
✨Fresh kale leaves, ideally a few varieties, but not totally necessary!
✨ Large mason jar or vase (or small jars for mini-arrangements)
✨ OPTIONAL, but adds to the fun: Other long veggies, like carrots or celery; stickers to decorate the jars; flowers
🥬WHAT TO DO:
✨KIDS: Wash any dirt from the vegetables & pat them dry. Fill jar halfway with water. Add sticker or other decoration if you’d like!
✨PARENTS AND KIDS: Tear or cut leaves of kale and prep other veggies that you want in your bouquet. (For example, Kids peel carrots, parents can help slicing them into long pieces.) TIP: If you’re using celery, keep the leaves on the tips! They add to the beauty of your arrangement.
🥰🥬🥰WHY THIS HELPS PICKY EATERS: There’s no pressure to eat it. Yet, they had fun creating a beautiful bouquet that they can enjoy for several days! When kids are allowed to explore veggies with all of their senses, they gradually make friends with them. ✨TIP: You can store kale, carrot and celery sticks in the fridge at night and they will last all week on the table during the daytime. If you choose to add flowers, it’s best not to eat the veggies and instead, reserve some for eating when desired.
👏🏼Here’s to going from FUN TO YUM!
🫶🏼Melanie
Photo credit: Eric Harvey Brown
#melaniepotock #adventuresinveggieland #pickyeaters #feedingtherapy #feedinglittles #arfidawareness #veggierecipes #veggielove
🥳Feeding Therapists need a food curriculum that is backed by research! I’m over the moon & honored to be one of the authors (among incredible researchers & health professionals) on this new study that supports the DR. YUM FOOD ADVENTURE!
👉🏼Comment DYP if you’re an OT or SLP needing 24 pre-planned lessons, evidence based, (and fun!) for your feeding group! I’ll send you a $50 off code, plus a link to learn more!
✨3 studies now show that kids can love to learn to eat more fruits and veggies with this outstanding curriculum!
🥰Melanie
#melaniepotock #slpfeeding #feedingtherapy #otfeedingtherapy #feedinglittles
🫶🏼ARFID isn’t just picky eating.
🫶🏼ANXIETY & ARFID impact the entire family, yet it’s nobody’s fault.
💕And KINDNESS always wins.
…Although maybe I let a smidge of snarky slip through in my response.😉
🤍Melanie
#melaniepotock #feedingtherapy #arfidawareness #slpfeeding
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
