The Real Story Behind Picky Eating (EP 118)

Mealtime battles can wear a family down in a hurry. You start out trying to serve a decent meal, then suddenly you are negotiating over one bite of chicken, making a second dinner, or wondering whether your child is getting enough nutrition. I sat down with pediatric speech-language pathologist and holistic feeding specialist Lena Livinsky to talk about why picky eating can be more than just a frustrating phase.Lena shares how her own son’s struggles with food changed the way she viewed feeding therapy. We talk about sensory needs, oral-motor development, gut concerns, breathing and airway issues, nutritional deficiencies, and nervous-system regulation. The goal is not to blame parents or turn dinner into another stressful project. It is to get curious about what may be making food feel difficult for a child, and to know when it is time to ask for help.=== Chapters00:12 Healthy Without Shame01:18 When Mealtimes Become Battles03:41 Why Picky Eating Is Rising07:49 Understanding a Child’s Total Load10:02 Lena Livinsky’s Feeding Therapy Path14:20 When Feeding Strategies Stop Working17:56 Looking for Root Causes24:30 Building a Better Path Forward26:06 Why Interdisciplinary Care Matters30:23 Picky Eating Red Flags for Parents=== Guest: Lena LivinskyWebsite: https://lenalivinsky.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenalivinskyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lena.livinsky/=== Shout-outsMelanie Potock, Feeding Specialist: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniepotockBeth Lambert, Documenting Hope: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-lambert-ma-46246b5/=== Resources / Companies / Books / PodcastsB.L.O.O.M. Framework: https://lenalivinsky.com/Munchbug: https://mymunchbug.com/Documenting Hope: https://documentinghope.com/A Compromised Generation (Book): https://amzn.to/4c8g39W=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements ItemItem Title: Healthy EatingItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/healthy-eating-VNN4M4PAuthor Username: CrazyTunesLicensee: Marvin BeeRegistered Project Name: Unhealthy PodcastLicense Date: January 3rd, 2026Item License Code: XPFS6HD54W