Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP is a mom who once had a picky eater.Ā Sheās experienced first-hand the stress that parents feel when they are worried about their childās nutritional health.Ā Fast forward to today, and youāll find Melanie blending her knowledge of feeding therapy with practical parenting strategies that help the entire family eat healthier.Ā Sheās an international speaker and author of six books, including co-authoring the award-winning Raising a Healthy Happy Eater.Ā 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, āCoach Melā is here to guide you.
Melanie Potock
Pediatric Feeding Expert and Author
Expert Feeding Help
for Professionals and Parents
Melanie Potockās keynotes, courses, books & articles focus on raising kids to be healthy, happy eaters. From babies to toddlers to teens, āCoach Melā is here to help.
Raising a Healthy Happy Eater Isnāt 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 thatās 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.Ā Parents report that toddlers are the most challenging to feed, thanks to active little bodies and fleeting attention spans.Ā Learn how to lay positive foundations for eating at 6 months of age, navigate the āterrific twosā and avoid picky eating in the preschool years!Ā 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 itās especially important from preschool and into the elementary school years.Ā Whatās the number one food group that parents struggle with the most?Ā Vegetables!Ā The secret to helping kids love any kind of food is to follow Melanieās Three Eās: Expose, Explore, Expand.Ā Youāll learn how to use the Three Eās and create veggie-love in Melanieās book, Adventures in Veggieland: Help Your Kids Learn to Love Vegetables with 100 Easy Activities and Recipes.Ā 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 childrenās book!Ā 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.Ā Donāt miss the parent tips in the back of the book!Ā Learn about all of Melās books here.
š„¦ āSneakingā veggies into your childās food breaks trustā¦ right? Not
necessarily. šš¼
Letās talk about this, because trust absolutely matters when weāre feeding
kids. ā¤ļø
I would never recommend lying to a child about what theyāre eating,
especially if they ask whatās in a food.
BUTā¦ we also donāt announce every.single.ingredient in every recipe we serve.
When you make boxed mac & cheese, you probably donāt say:
āGood news! Tonightās noodles contain powdered cheese, whey, milkfat, salt
& a few other ingredients!ā š
Itās simply mac & cheese.
And THIS mac & cheese recipe simply happens to include some very finely
chopped cauliflower.
I like cauliflower here because when itās cooked until tender & chopped
into teeny-tiny pieces, its color, texture & mild flavor can blend beautifully with the pasta. Spiral pasta works especially well because it grabs onto the cheese sauce AND those little pieces of cauliflower.
āØ Ideally, involve your child in the cooking. Let them see the ingredients,
stir, sprinkle, chop when developmentally appropriate & get curious about how foods come together.
But if tonight youāre simply serving a mac & cheese recipe that happens to
contain cauliflower among its ingredients?
š„³You do not need to make cauliflower the headline.
Serve dinner. Enjoy your family. Let the food be food. ā¤ļø
Because protecting trust doesnāt mean providing an ingredient-by-ingredient
announcement every time we cook.
IMPORTANT: If your child is an extremely anxious eater, has significant
food fears or becomes distressed by changes to familiar foods, please
substitute or add ingredients like this only with guidance from your childās
feeding therapist.
š„° Melanie
Melanie Potock Picky Eating ā¢ Feeding Therapy ā¢ Sneaking Vegetables ā¢
Veggies ā¢ Mac and Cheese ā¢ Cauliflower ā¢ Food Exposure ā¢ Anxious Eaters
š„ That perfectly ripe avocado has a very short window. Hereās how I make the MOST of it with kids before itās too late.
Avocado is one of my favorite foods for feeding babies AND for helping hesitant eaters explore food.š¤Why? Itās mild, soft, easy to manipulate & incredibly versatile. One avocado can become a completely different food experience depending on how you serve it.
So before yours crosses over from perfect to what happened overnight?! try these:
š„ CHILL IT
Once your avocado is ripe, move it to the refrigerator. The cold slows things down and gives you more time to use it.
š„ FREEZE IT
Slice or cube it first. Brush with a little lemon or lime juice to help with browning, freeze & grab a few pieces later for smoothies, sauces or spreads.
š„ MAKE IT SILKY
Blend it until completely smooth, then try it mixed into chocolate pudding or smoothies, spread on toast or even swapped for mayo on a sandwich.
š„ CHANGE THE TEXTURE
Already serving guacamole? Stir in a few small chunks of fresh avocado. Itās an easy way to introduce a little texture variation within an already-familiar food.
š„ PLAY WITH IT
For hesitant eaters, avocado is practically an edible sensory activity. Squish it. Scoop it. Spread it. Mash it. Make fork marks in it. Food exploration counts as exposure, even when no one takes a bite.
āØ BABY BONUS: Chilled avocado slices can feel wonderful on sore teething gums.
And remember, the same food served in different shapes, temperatures & textures gives kids new opportunities to learn about food. š
ā„ļøAfter 25+ years as a pediatric feeding therapist, Iām still finding new ways to make food exploration easier, more playful & less pressured.
š„š“ Now I need to know: Does anyone following me actually have an avocado tree?! Because growing my own is still on my wish list.
šš¼SAVE this for the next time your avocados all decide to ripen on the exact same day. š And SEND it to your avocado-loving friend!
š„°Melanie
Melanie Potock / Picky eating ā¢ feeding therapy ā¢ starting solids ā¢ baby feeding ā¢ toddler feeding
ARFID- with 3 new slides for youā„ļø
š³ āSLPs donāt treat ARFID.ā ?????
This is a hot topic, and four words simply arenāt enough to explain
something this complex.
So Iāve added 3 new slides to this post to help break it down, including
important language directly from ASHAās Scope of Practice.
šš» And hereās something we canāt overlook: Counseling IS within our scope
of practice, including counseling around the thoughts, feelings & behaviors
that arise because of the disorders we treat.
Back in January, I approached ASHA about this statement because I believe
the words we use matter. They can influence whether children get the right
therapy, the right team & potentially the insurance coverage they need.
Hereās what I want to be very clear about:
ā SLPs do not diagnose ARFID.
ā SLPs do not provide psychotherapy.
But understanding anxiety does not make us psychotherapists, just as
understanding nutrition does not make us dietitians & understanding GI
disorders does not make us gastroenterologists.
š It makes us better feeding therapists.
Children with ARFID deserve access to mental health professionals AND
appropriately trained feeding specialists working collaboratively within
their respective scopes.
Iāve spent years studying, treating, teaching & speaking about ARFID and
anxious eating, and Iām passionate about helping feeding professionals
understand where we fit on that team.
šš» Please read all the way through the carousel, including the 3 new
slides. This topic deserves more than four words.
Comment ASD for my on-demand course ARFID, Autism & Anxiety, PLUS a discount codeš
š¤ Need a speaker for your hospital, clinic or organization? DM me. I have
just 5 in-person openings remaining for 2027. Having taught my ARFID
Masterclass at Cleveland Clinic and other incredible hospitals and clinics
in 4 different countries, I would love to bring this course to your
community too.
š„°Melanie
Melanie Potock, ARFID, pediatric feeding disorder, feeding therapy, SLP
scope of practice, ASHA, counseling, anxious eating, pediatric feeding
specialist
Parents of picky eaters sometimes tell me, āWeāre not making progress!āš¤¦š¼āāļø
Not always, but often...
Thatās not the case. ā„ļø Itās that progress comes in tiny steps, and THEN, it snowballs.
Learning isnāt a straight line.
Children move forward.
Pause.
Move forward again.
Thatās development.
Celebrate every small step.
š„Because those tiny wins become big victories over time.
š¤āWhat questions can I answer? Be sure youāre following me @mymunchbug_melaniepotock to see the replies and tips!
š„°Melanie
Melanie Potock, feeding progress, picky eating, feeding therapy, toddler development, responsive feeding
šš¼Little kiddos have little hands for snacks & school lunch which meansā¦
š©Children canāt eat whatās trapped inside a package they canāt open.
One of the first things I discovered as a new feeding therapist over 25 years
ago was this:
Those little wrappers may seem easy to us, but for young children they can
require more hand strength, coordination, and time than we realize.
Thatās why I created this simple lunchbox hack using @postit tabs!
āļø Snip the package open at home.
āļø Fold the opening over.
āļø Add a Post-itĀ® Repositionable Filing Tab.
āļø Now your child simply grabs the tab and pulls.
ā„ļøIt only takes a few seconds during lunch prep, but it helps children become
more independent and gives them more time to eat instead of wrestling with
their food.
As feeding therapists, we often ask, āWhatās getting in the childās way?ā
Sometimes the answer isnāt the food.
Itās the package.
š Small changes like this can make lunchtime feel much more successful.
š£ļøComment BOX and Iāll send you a link to fun tools & lunchboxes that are
easy-open!
š„°Melanie
Melanie Potock, lunchbox tips, picky eating, feeding therapy, school lunch,
toddler independence, fine motor skills, back to school lunches, feeding
therapist, lunchbox hacks
Maybe āchicā isnāt the right word...
Maybe itās freeing. š
The moment we stop chasing perfect eating and start celebrating progress, mealtimes begin to feel differentāfor our children and for us. Same is true for speech developmentā¦and itās chic to protect your babyās hearing in every loud environment. These are just a sampling of what I believe is freeing, or chic!
āØ Which slide made you smile and think, āThatās usā?
š£ļøComment the number below (1ā6). Iād love to know which one was your favorite.
š„°Melanie
Melanie Potock, picky eating, feeding therapy, responsive feeding, toddler meals, food play, family mealtimes
ā„ļøParents often apologize when they meet me, because they are worried that their childās picky eating is their fault.
Itās not. No need to apologize.
You love your child.
Youāre doing your best with the information you have.
Thatās all any of us can do.
All you want is a peaceful family mealtime.ā„ļø
3 TIPS:
āØFeeding therapy is customized for your kid! Seek help if youāre stressed about your childās nutritional health.
āØBOOKS are the next best thing to learn how to raise an adventurous eater.
āØTalk to your pediatrician on how to find help. Schedule a private call and come prepared with your talking points. Sounds intense, I know, but stress that youāre stressed!
šļøComment BOOKS if youāre ready for practical, evidence-based strategies you can start using today. Be sure youāre following @mymunchbug_melaniepotock to get the links!
š„°Melanie
Melanie Potock picky eater help, feeding therapy, family meals, responsive feeding, toddler meals
Maybe Your Kid Doesnāt Hate Lunch... They Might Hate Their Lunchbox.
Sometimes the biggest problem is the lunchbox itself.
A lunchbox thatās hard to open, has too many containers, or a setup that feels overwhelming can make lunchtime much harder than it needs to be.
š Comment BOX and Iāll send you my favorite lunchboxes, containers, and fun tools that make school lunches easier (and a little more exciting) for kids. #amazonaffiliate
š„°Melanie
Melanie Potock, school lunch, lunchbox, picky eating, back to school, feeding therapy, school cafeteria, kids lunches
āMy child came home from school with a full lunchbox.āš¤¦š¼āāļø
If youāve ever had that thought during the first weeks of school, youāre not alone. As a feeding therapist, Iāve seen many children eat beautifully at home but struggle in the school cafeteria.
Sometimes they truly donāt like the food.
But often, the cafeteria itself is the challenge.
Itās loud, busy, rushed, and full of distractions. Children are opening containers, finding seats, trying to talk with friends, and trying to finish before recess.
A little preparation at home can make a big difference.
š Here are a few of my favorite tips:
āļø Practice opening every lunch container.
āļø Pack familiar favorites during the first week.
āļø Nowās the time for āLunchbox Dinnerā at home.
āļø Talk through what the cafeteria will be like.
āļø If your child has food allergies, practice creating a designated eating space with a large paper napkin. It helps as a ācleanerā space but also is a visual boundary for kids sitting on either side of your child.
āļø Give your child time to adjust before worrying about an untouched lunch.
š Comment MAP and Iāll send you my FREE Lunchbox Packing Map to help make lunchtime feel more predictable, independent, and less stressful.
These ideas are inspired by Chapter 11 of the award-winning book, Raising a Healthy, Happy Eater (written by me and pediatrician Dr. Yum!) because feeding is about so much more than the food itself.
š¾ Save this post before school starts so you have these tips when you need them.
š„°Melanie
Melanie Potock, back to school, school lunch, school cafeteria, lunchbox, picky eating, feeding therapy, feeding therapist, school anxiety, ARFID, ADHD, autism, food allergies, lunch routines, parenting tips, child development
Canāt get enough family, friends & š¦š¦š¦š¦ from @thecrabplace ā„ļø
Have you ever had fresh steamedš¦?
Crab feasts all summer!
š„°Melanie
Melanie Potock, Picky eaters , pediatric feeding therapy , raising adventurous eaters , Maryland Blue Crab
Did you know there are over 1 million colors in a rainbow? š And if youāre
lucky enough to see a double rainbow, like the one over my house last night... thatās 2 million beautiful reminders that
nature is full of surprises.
If youāre raising a child who struggles with trying new foods, I hope youāll take this as your reminder not to give up.
Progress in feeding isnāt usually one big, dramatic moment.
Itās built through hundreds of tiny, patient moments:
š One meal.
š One playful exposure.
š One gentle nudge.
š One opportunity to feel safe around food.
Then one day... your child surprises you.
It might be a lick.
A tiny bite.
Or simply sitting at the table with a little less worry than yesterday.
Those moments matter. Feeding therapy helps kids make progress, but not every kiddo needs feeding therapy. Sometimes just expert strategies are enough to help experience these moments of success! Thanks for following me for tips.š¤
š By the way...if youāre looking for guidance or if youāre a therapist
getting started in feeding therapy - my most popular on-demand course,
Feeding Development: Understanding the Spectrum of Picky Eating, is 50% off right now! If youād like practical, evidence-based strategies to help your child (or the families you support) build a healthier relationship with food, comment RAINBOW and Iāll send you the link and the discount code.
āØ Be sure youāre following me so the discount code can make it to your DMs!
And if someone you know could use a little extra hope today, please share
this with them. š
Thanks to my friend @beachauthor for taking this video last night! Be sure
to follow her if you love reading like I do!
š„°Melanie
Melanie Potock, picky eating, feeding therapy, responsive feeding, toddler
nutrition, pediatric feeding, food anxiety, feeding development, parent
support
I wonāt stitch the feeding therapy video - youāve probably seen it - a feeding therapist who appears to be overly assertive in getting a child to eat while another adult holds down the childās hands.šThis is a difficult video to watch, and a difficult one for me to comment on. Iāve wrestled with this for days.
A short clip never gives us the whole picture. We donāt know the childās
history, the treatment plan, what happened before or after this moment, or the clinical reasoning behind what weāre seeing. The family who loves this
child is just trying to help this kiddo - letās remember that.
But, my DMs are blowing up, asking me to do something.
So, because this reel is being widely shared, I want families to hear
something important:
This is not what MOST feeding therapy looks like in the USA today.
Iām not saying it never happens, but the majority of specialists are not
using such aggressive techniques.
In 25+ years as a pediatric feeding therapist in the U.S., and after
teaching more than 25,000 therapists over the years, I have seen our field
continue to move toward approaches that respect a childās communication,
regulation and autonomy while still helping children take the next
developmental step.
ā„ļøFeeding therapy can absolutely include gentle nudges. Children sometimes need support tolerating discomfort as they learn something new.
But there is a meaningful difference between gently challenging a child and
physically preventing a child from responding to that challenge.
This video does not represent the feeding therapy I teach. Iāve never used these methods and I know this is the case for the majority of feeding specialists today.ā„ļø
My concern? I donāt want parents who see it to assume that this is what will happen if they seek feeding therapy for their child in the USA.
Iād be so grateful if you would share this post with your own followers, to
reassure our communities that feeding therapy can be, and most often is,
respectful of each child and their unique skill sets.
ā„ļøMelanie
Melanie Potock, feeding therapy, pediatric feeding therapy, feeding
therapist, picky eating, responsive feeding, child autono
Pediatric Feeding Expert and Author
Melanie's Advice Shared In...
Courses for Parents & Professionals
Melanie offers both on-demand courses and live-streaming Masterclasses.Ā 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?Ā As a parent, SLP or OT, what do you need to know about child nutrition?Ā What about the anxious eater ā Could this be more than just picky eating?Ā Melanieās on-demand course subscriptions provide the answers!
Want more in-depth instruction in a small group, virtual setting?Ā Register for one of Melanieās Masterclass!
Explore course options here.
Parenting Advice
Melanieās 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 Melanieās advice to be practical and possible, even in the most challenging cases.Ā Thatās 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 Associationās National Conference and the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo.
Audiences say it best: If you are looking for a professional speaker who can āprovide practical solutionsā for parents, caregivers and therapists and your company needs a āhighly knowledgeable, organized presenterā with āenergy and enthusiasmā who can deliver a ādynamic courseā, then your best choice is Melanie Potock. Contact Melanie here.
Product Consulting
Need expert input on your new parenting product?Ā 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?Ā Feeding is developmental, just like learning to crawl, walk, run. At least 1 in 4 typically developing children have trouble learning to eat! Ā Raising a healthy, happy eater requires the right tools and the right advice. Ā Melanie provides company education and collaboration via webinars, social media and creating educational videos for your audience.
Contact Melanie here.
