The Food Ladder Approach
A gentle, step-by-step approach to help children with ARFID and selective eating gradually try new foods
Remember: Progress is not always linear. Children may move up and down the ladder, and that's completely OK! Every small step is an achievement worth celebrating.
Your Progress
0 of 7 stepsHow the Food Ladder Works
The Food Ladder breaks down the journey to trying new foods into small, manageable steps. Each step builds confidence and reduces anxiety around unfamiliar foods.
- Start at the step where your child feels comfortable
- Spend as much time as needed at each level - there's no rush!
- It's OK to go back to earlier steps if needed
- Every interaction with food is progress, even without eating
- Keep mealtimes positive and pressure-free
Fun Activity: Meet a New Food!
A fun activity for kids to practice meeting new foods
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Watch this fun activity to learn how to be friends with new foods!
The 7 Steps of the Food Ladder
1
Step 1: Looking at Food
Getting comfortable with seeing new foods without pressure to eat them
Activities to Try:
- Place new food on the table during mealtimes
- Read books about different foods together
- Look at pictures of colorful foods
- Visit the supermarket and point out different foods
Helpful Tips:
- •No pressure to touch or eat - just looking is great!
- •Talk about the food's color, shape, and where it comes from
- •Keep new foods at a distance if needed
- •Praise curiosity and observation
2
Step 2: Touching Food
Exploring foods through touch without eating pressure
Activities to Try:
- Touch food with fingertips
- Play food games (sorting by color/size)
- Help with food preparation (washing vegetables)
- Use utensils to move food around the plate
Helpful Tips:
- •Make it playful - food art or sorting games
- •Start with wrapped foods if direct touch is difficult
- •Have wipes or napkins available for cleaning hands
- •Celebrate any touching, even with utensils
3
Step 3: Smelling Food
Discovering foods through smell in a gentle, non-threatening way
Activities to Try:
- Smell food from a distance
- Bring food close to nose
- Smell while cooking together
- Play smell guessing games
Helpful Tips:
- •Let them control how close the food comes
- •Talk about whether smells are strong or gentle
- •Connect smells to familiar things
- •Respect if they don't want to smell something
4
Step 4: Tasting with Lips
Very first contact with food and mouth - just a gentle touch
Activities to Try:
- Touch food to closed lips
- Kiss the food goodbye
- Lick lips after food touches them
- Touch food to corner of mouth
Helpful Tips:
- •This is a huge step - celebrate it!
- •Don't require them to open their mouth
- •Food can be immediately removed if wanted
- •Have their favorite safe food ready as comfort
5
Step 5: Licking and Tasting
Exploring food with the tongue - tiny tastes count!
Activities to Try:
- Lick the food once
- Touch food to tongue
- Lick a small amount off a utensil
- Taste a tiny crumb or drop
Helpful Tips:
- •Even the tiniest taste is success
- •Have a napkin ready if they want to spit out
- •Don't require swallowing at this stage
- •Celebrate courage in trying
6
Step 6: Biting and Chewing
Taking small bites and experiencing the texture
Activities to Try:
- Take a tiny nibble
- Bite and spit into napkin (allowed!)
- Chew and spit out
- Small bites of familiar textures first
Helpful Tips:
- •Spitting out is OK at this stage
- •Start with textures similar to accepted foods
- •Praise the bravery of biting
- •Keep portions very small
7
Step 7: Eating and Swallowing
Successfully eating and swallowing new foods - the final goal!
Activities to Try:
- Swallow a small piece
- Eat a child-sized portion
- Add food to regular meals
- Eat independently without prompting
Helpful Tips:
- •This step may take the longest - be patient
- •Celebrate every single bite swallowed
- •Gradually increase portion size
- •Make it a regular part of meals once accepted
Additional Tips for Success
Creating a Positive Food Environment:
- Never force or pressure - this can increase anxiety around food
- Celebrate all attempts, even if the food isn't eaten
- Keep mealtimes relaxed and enjoyable
- Model positive attitudes toward trying new foods
- Involve children in food shopping and preparation when possible
- Be patient - expanding food variety can take months or years
When to Seek Professional Help:
Consider consulting with healthcare professionals if your child:
- Eats fewer than 20 different foods
- Has nutritional deficiencies or growth concerns
- Experiences significant anxiety or distress around mealtimes
- Avoids entire food groups
- Shows no progress after several months of trying
Get Professional Support
For personalized guidance and professional assessment of ARFID and selective eating: