02/19/2026
Feeding Foundations: Building Motivation, Not Pressure
A few takeaways from our OTs who are currently taking the AEIOU Feeding Course:
At mealtimes, our goal is not to “get bites in,” but to help children build comfort, curiosity, and trust around food. Frameworks like the AEIOU of Feeding and the Merry Mealtime Guide remind us that learning happens best when children feel safe and in control.
We avoid using rewards, pressure, or “just one more bite” strategies because they can shift motivation from internal cues to external rewards and increase stress at the table, which may reduce appetite and skill development.
Instead, we focus on meaningful, qualitative changes, such as increased willingness to sit at the table, exploring foods through looking, touching, or smelling, reduced stress or gagging, and longer engagement in mealtime routines.
These small shifts matter. They are signs that feeding skills are developing, even when the number of bites does not change right away.
