Feeding Therapy at Rooted & Rising: Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Rooted & Rising’s feeding therapy different from traditional feeding programs?
What sets Rooted & Rising apart is our commitment to a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming approach to feeding therapy. We build on each child’s unique communication style, sensory preferences, and developmental profile—including how Gestalt Language Processors engage with the world—within a child-led, naturalistic environment.
Grounded in training in the Sensory Oral Sequential (SOS) Approach and Responsive Feeding, our work prioritizes emotional safety, shared regulation, and choice. Rather than directing or pressuring eating behaviors, we support children in exploring unfamiliar foods in ways that feel manageable and respectful to their nervous system.
Feeding therapy with us is about building a positive, lifelong relationship with food—not forcing short-term results.
Do you use rewards, bribes, or consequences to get children to eat?
No. We do not use rewards, bribes, stickers, or consequences to encourage eating.
At Rooted & Rising, we believe eating should never be tied to pressure or performance. Instead of trying to “get” a child to eat, we focus on creating safe, supportive experiences with food that build curiosity, confidence, and comfort over time.
Our approach helps children learn to trust their bodies—and to trust the adults supporting them.
What if my child only eats a very limited number of foods?
You are not alone—many of the families we support come to us with this exact concern.
Neurodiversity-affirming feeding therapy is designed specifically for children with highly selective eating patterns. We meet your child where they are and gently expand their comfort zone at a pace that feels safe to them.
Rather than focusing on forcing new foods, we focus on:
Reducing anxiety around mealtimes
Building sensory tolerance
Increasing flexibility
Supporting small, meaningful steps toward variety
Over time, these foundations naturally support a broader and more confident relationship with food.
Is this approach appropriate for autistic children?
Absolutely. Our feeding therapy model is intentionally designed to be autism-affirming and sensory-informed.
We understand that many autistic children experience food differently due to sensory processing, motor planning, interoception, and communication differences. Our approach respects those differences rather than trying to override them.
We create environments that honor autonomy, reduce demand, and support regulation—so children can explore food without fear, pressure, or masking.
Will my child have to sit at a table or be strapped in a high chair the entire session?
No.
Feeding sessions at Rooted & Rising are flexible and responsive to each child’s needs. Children are not expected to remain seated or confined for the duration of a session. Instead, we follow the child’s lead and incorporate movement, play, and natural routines, because we know learning and exploration happen best in environments that feel safe, regulated and non-pressured. Children are free to engage in ways that work for their bodies, which can look like feeding therapy on the floor or in a swing.
How do you measure progress if you aren’t focused on compliance?
Rather than trying to “get” a child to eat, we focus on creating positive, regulated experiences with food that support curiosity, comfort, and choice. Progress in feeding therapy should never be about compliance or how many foods a child ate because we forced them.
At Rooted & Rising, we measure success differently from traditional models. Instead of counting bites or demanding specific foods, we look for meaningful changes such as:
Increased comfort being near new foods
Greater willingness to interact with foods
Reduced anxiety at mealtimes
Improved regulation around eating
Expanded sensory tolerance
Growing independence and confidence
Progress is about adding tools to your child’s toolbox—not checking boxes on a chart.
With this fundamental difference, your child will feel safe, curious, and supported as they explore foods in ways that work for their body and sensory system. Over time, this may lead to greater autonomy, confidence, and flexibility with food, always at the child’s own pace.
What if my child has had negative feeding therapy experiences before?
Many of the children we meet have had stressful or compliance-based feeding experiences in the past.
Our first priority is to rebuild trust—with food, with therapists, and with the feeding process itself. We move slowly, respect boundaries, and never pressure children to eat.
Healing a child’s relationship with food takes time, and we are committed to doing that work gently and compassionately.
Do parents participate in sessions?
Yes—parent involvement is a key part of our model.
We encourage caregivers to participate so strategies can be carried over into real-life routines at home. Feeding therapy is most effective when it is collaborative, practical, and supportive for the entire family.
You will leave sessions with tools, understanding, and confidence—not just homework.
Is your goal to make my child eat everything?
No.
Our goal is not to create “perfect eaters.” The goal is to help your child develop a safe, flexible, and positive relationship with food while meeting their individual nutritional needs.
We honor sensory preferences and differences. Success does not mean eating every food—it means helping your child feel secure, nourished, and empowered.
How do I know if my child needs neurodiversity-affirming feeding therapy?
Feeding therapy may be helpful if:
Your child struggles to gain weight or maintain their growth pattern
Their range of accepted foods is very limited
Transitions between textures are stressful or overwhelming
Trying new foods causes distress or avoidance
Mealtimes are consistently difficult for your child or family
If any of these sound familiar, a supportive, affirming approach can make a meaningful difference.
How long does feeding therapy take?
There is no fixed timeline—because we follow your child’s readiness, not a rigid program.
A responsive, neurodiversity-affirming approach may feel slower than compliance-based methods, but that time is spent building trust, foundational skills, and a healthy relationship with food that lasts far beyond therapy.
Progress unfolds at each child’s own pace, with families and therapists working together every step of the way.
We’re Here to Help
At Rooted & Rising Therapies, feeding therapy is about more than food—it’s about connection, confidence, and creating mealtimes that feel safe for the whole family.
If you’re wondering whether our approach might be right for your child, we’d love to talk with you.