Happy Hungry Hippos: Pediatric Feeding Clinic

Happy Hungry Hippos: Pediatric Feeding Clinic Happy Hungry Hippos: Pediatric Feeding Clinic bringing hope and healing to children who struggle to Pediatric Feeding Clinic
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04/24/2026

"But they’re on track with their growth chart!"

I hear this so often. And while physical growth is important, it doesn't tell the whole story of your child’s relationship with food.

A child can be gaining weight and meeting height requirements while still living in a "Safe Food Loop" of only 5–10 items. In my decades of clinical practice, I’ve learned that calories might cause growth, but variety is what helps a child thrive.

When a child has major food limitations, we look beyond the scale to:

✅ Nutritional Gaps: Are they getting the micronutrients their brain needs?

✅ Oral Motor Skills: Are they learning how to process different textures?

✅ Social Connection: Can they enjoy a birthday party without mealtime anxiety?

✅ Sensory Flexibility: Is their world staying open to new experiences?

Variety builds a flexible nervous system and a capable body. If your child is growing but their food world is shrinking, it’s okay to ask for support.

We don't just want them to grow; we want them to explore and engage.

🦛 See you at the table.

04/21/2026

It's 6:00 PM, and the "I'm not hungry" battle has officially begun.
Here's what I've come to understand — this "no" often has nothing to do with the belly and everything to do with the brain.

Sometimes our little hippos are just plain overwhelmed by the day. When the nervous system is full, the appetite shuts down. Instead of arguing, try a "sensory reset" to change the atmosphere! ✨

✅ Swap the chair: Move to a new spot at the table.
✅ Swap the room: Try a "floor picnic" in the living room.
✅ Check the clock: Make sure there is a solid 2.5 to 3-hour gap between snacks and dinner.

Grazing throughout the afternoon is the fastest way to a "not hungry" evening. By protecting that window and lowering the pressure, you give their body the space it needs to actually feel hunger.

Small changes, big wins.

🦛 See you at the table.

04/20/2026

With everything I see every day at my table, the perspective I have now is so much deeper than the one I started with. If I could go back and whisper a few things to my younger self — and to every parent currently in the thick of it — these would be the three core truths.

✖️ It was never about the food
My younger self focused so much on the "what." What are they eating? How many bites? But now I know it's always about the "how." How does the body feel? How does the nervous system feel? When we prioritize sensory safety and trust, the food eventually follows.

✖️ Progress isn't a straight line
I used to want to see a win at every single session. Now, I see the beauty in the "messy" middle. A child touching a 🥦 or just tolerating it on their plate is a massive neurological victory. Don't let a "hard" dinner distract you from the skill-building happening under the surface.

✖️ You are the expert on your child
I may have the clinical degrees, but you have the heart-knowledge. The best therapy happens when we combine my OT science with your intuition. You aren't "failing" if a meal goes sideways — you're just gathering data for the next win.

If I knew then what I know now, I would have worried less and celebrated the "tiny" moments more. You're doing a great job, and your little hippo is lucky to have you.

🦛 See you at the table.

04/17/2026

We all do it. We want our kids to eat, so we find workarounds that help in the moment — but might be stalling real progress.

Here are 3 common mealtime habits worth rethinking:

✖️ Making a separate meal
When kids always get their own dish, they miss the chance to see — and slowly learn from — what the rest of the family is eating. Exposure matters, even if they never touch it.

✖️ Hiding the veggies
Sneaking food might work short-term, but if they find it? You've lost trust in the one place you need it most — their "safe" foods.

✖️ Constant face-wiping
For sensory kids, mid-meal wiping is a physical interruption that can completely shut down appetite and focus. Sometimes the mess is part of the process.

Small shifts in how we show up at the table create massive shifts in how our kids show up.

🦛 See you at the table.

04/15/2026

I didn’t write Hugo’s Brave Bite to become an author.

I wrote it for the parents sitting at the table… not knowing what to do next.

After 30 years as an OT, I’ve sat across from families who felt overwhelmed, frustrated, and scared at mealtimes.

Because feeding isn’t just about food.

Children don’t need pressure.

❤️ They need safety.

❤️ They need curiosity.

❤️ They need small, achievable wins.

This book models the same sensory-based approach I use in feeding therapy every day—helping children build trust with food, one step at a time.

📘 Hugo’s Brave Bite is available on Amazon.

🔗 Grab your copy through the link in my bio.

04/14/2026

My grandson Jesse gave broccoli a shot this week. 🥦

That little hesitation before he tried it? That's not being difficult — that's a nervous system doing exactly what it was designed to do.

When a child says "no" to a new food, they're responding to a rush of sensory input all at once: the loud crunch, the prickly texture of the buds, the way it changes as they chew, the intense smell. For a cautious eater, those are a lot of "sensory surprises" hitting at the same time.

This April — OT Month and Autism Awareness Month — I want parents to hear this: for many of the kids I work with, "pickiness" isn't a behavior problem. It's a sensory defense. Their brain is reading that piece of broccoli as a threat.

At Happy Hungry Hippos, we don't start with "just take a bite." We build a Sensory Bridge — beginning with "you can look, touch, and smell" long before we ever ask them to taste.

To every family in the thick of this — I see you.

🦛 See you at the table.

04/10/2026

This week my granddaughter Finley and I are busting one of the biggest myths I hear from parents..."Why are they being so difficult?"

If you’ve found yourself asking this during a mealtime meltdown, I want you to take a deep breath. ⚓

Here's what I know after working with hundreds of families: I can tell you one thing for certain: It is not manipulation.

What looks like defiance is almost always overwhelmed. When a child's sensory system is triggered or their anxiety is high, their "fight or flight" response takes over. They aren't trying to give you a hard time—they are having a hard time. 🧠

Feeding struggles are usually rooted in:

Sensory Processing: The smell, texture, or even the light in the room feels like an attack.

Anxiety: The fear of the unknown ("What will this feel like in my mouth?") creates a physical barrier to eating.

At Happy Hungry Hippos, we stop looking at the "behavior" and start looking at the safety. When we lower the sensory volume and build trust, the meltdowns begin to fade, and curiosity begins to grow.

You aren't failing, and your child isn't "bad." You’re both just navigating a complex sensory world. Let's find the bridge together.

🦛 See you at the table.

04/08/2026

I've seen these three 'standard' pieces of advice backfire more times than I can count... they come from a good place, they often skip over the most important part of the meal: the sensory system.

Here's why I've retired these moves, and what I do instead:

✖️ The "One-Bite" Rule
Forcing a child to swallow something they aren't ready for creates a "fight or flight" response. It turns the table into a battlefield rather than a safe space.

✅ What to do instead: Focus on interaction, not ingestion. Let them poke it, smell it, or even just have it on their "learning plate." Curiosity grows when pressure goes.

✖️ Hiding the Veggies
When we hide veggies, we might get a few nutrients in, but we lose trust. If they find a hidden piece of broccoli, they might become suspicious of every meal you serve.

✅ What to do instead: Be the "Food Scientist." Serve the veggie alongside a "safe" food. Let them see it, touch it, and get comfortable with it without the trickery.

✖️ Ignoring the Wiggles
If a child can’t sit still, it’s rarely "naughty" behavior—it’s a sensory search for stability. They feel like they are floating away, and it’s hard to eat when you don't feel grounded.

✅ What to do instead: Try Heavy Work before the chair! 5 minutes of "bear crawls" or a quick yoga flow gives their brain the "anchor" it needs to finally sit and focus.

Parenting a picky eater is hard enough without using outdated rules that don't work for sensory brains. Let's stop the struggle and start the science.

🦛 See you at the table.

On World Health Day, we often talk about the food on the plate—but as an OT for 30 years, I want to talk about the littl...
04/07/2026

On World Health Day, we often talk about the food on the plate—but as an OT for 30 years, I want to talk about the little hippo sitting in front of it.

This year’s theme is "Stand with Science," and the science of feeding tells us one very important thing: A child cannot eat well if they do not feel safe with food.

When a picky eater says "no," their nervous system is often in a state of protection, not defiance.

Health for our hippos isn't just about the nutrients they swallow; it’s about:

✅ A regulated nervous system.
✅ A body that feels grounded and "anchored."
✅ A mealtime free from "fight or flight" pressure.

Today, let’s celebrate the "Whole Child." We aren't just building better eaters; we are building confident, regulated, and healthy humans from the inside out.

🦛 See you at the table.

04/03/2026

I hear the weight of those dinner table battles—the way your heart sinks when the plate is pushed away before you’ve even sat down. 🦛 When mealtime feels like a fight, it’s because your child’s body has gone into "survival mode." Their brain is screaming "danger," making it physically impossible for them to feel hungry or brave.

To find our way back to peace, we have to stop the battle and start the connection:

🧠 Safety Over Stress: Pressure releases cortisol, which actually turns off their appetite. When we focus on laughter and connection, we release Oxytocin—the "safety hormone" that lets their body relax enough to eat.

🤝 You Are Their Anchor: Your child mirrors your energy. When you take a deep breath and let go of the "one more bite" struggle, their nervous system begins to calm down alongside yours.

🍽️ Enjoy Your Own Plate: When we stop watching their every move, we take the spotlight off their plate. By simply enjoying our own food, we show them that the table is a safe, happy place to be.

You’re doing a great job in a really tough situation. Let's lower the pressure together.

04/02/2026

This is what OT looks like when we build skills first—and trust always. 🎓

Zion came to us eating purées only, without the ability to chew.

Not because he wouldn’t…
but because his body wasn’t ready.

Chewing is a complex motor skill.
And when a child doesn’t feel safe or capable at the table, fear takes over.

So we didn’t push bites.
We built the foundation.

Step by step, Zion developed the oral motor skills needed to manage food—
learning how to bite, chew, and move textures with confidence.

And just as importantly…
he worked through the fear that once stopped him.

Today, he’s eating and chewing a wide range of textures.
Not forced. Not bribed.
Skilled. Confident. Curious.

That’s the work of occupational therapy.

That’s what we celebrate.

So proud of you, Zion. 💛

🦛 See you at the table

04/01/2026

During OT Month, we’re highlighting what it actually looks like—especially at the table.

For the families we serve, OT isn’t just play.

It’s:

• building trust with food
• supporting sensory regulation
• developing oral motor skills
• helping children feel safe enough to try

And those small steps?

They’re everything.

If mealtimes feel overwhelming, you’re not alone.

Follow along this month for real strategies that help.

🦛 See you at the table.

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Roswell, GA
30064

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Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm

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