10 Things You’ve Been Told About Feeding a Picky Eater — And What’s Actually True

Myth #1

Why Some Kids Don’t Respond to Hunger Cues

And What Parents Can Do About It

Have you ever been given those dreaded, unsolicited advice from well meaning individuals….particularly this one: “They’ll eat when their hungry”. In theory, sounds simple, right? But for many kids — especially picky eaters — it’s not that straightforward. Some kids don’t respond to hunger in the way we expect. And it’s not because they’re being difficult. In many cases, there’s something deeper going on.

If your child has ever:

• Skipped multiple meals with no signs of hunger

• Melted down at the table when asked to try something new

• Seemed anxious or overwhelmed around food

• Struggled with chewing or gagging on certain textures

Then hunger cues alone aren’t driving their eating decisions. Here's what could be the cause:

• Fear of unfamiliar foods shuts down appetite

• Anxiety or pressure at mealtime can override hunger

• Sensory or oral-motor challenges make eating physically harder

• Routine + structure are more important than waiting for hunger cues

Fear, anxiety, and oral-motor challenges can override even the strongest hunger signals. If your child has had a negative experience with food (like choking, gagging or even being pressured to eat), their brain may associate mealtime with stress rather than nourishment. When this happens, their appetite cues may shutdown. Other children may have sensory sensitivities that make certain textures, smells or temperatures overwhelming — again, overriding the natural hunger driving them to eat connection. And for some, it’s about autonomy. Young kids are learning to assert independence, and mealtime can become a power struggle instead of a peaceful experience.

So, no — hunger alone isn’t always enough.

But here’s the good news: You can help rebuild your child’s relationship with food by creating a safe, pressure-free environment at the table. That means offering a variety of foods consistently, trusting your child’s internal cues, and focusing on connection over consumption.

The goal isn’t to make them eat. It’s to make eating feel safe again.

This is why a responsive, non-pressured approach matters so much — because eating is about more than hunger.

What if the picky eating problem isn’t because of your kid, but actually the bad advice you were given? Feeling stuck and not sure what to believe?

I’ve created a FREE myth-busting email series that tackles the most common (and frustrating) feeding beliefs and replaces them with evidence-based guidance that gets results.

When you sign up, you’ll receive weekly emails debunking the biggest lies you’ve likely been told about picky eating.

The first email revisits this hunger myth in detail, and each week after, you’ll get a new myth—along with practical, actionable steps to start making real progress at mealtimes.

Ready to shift from stress to success? [Sign up here!]