Diva Tongue
Getting an 8-year-old picky eater to try new foods
Picky eating is common and not usually cause for much concern.
Emily’s case was different. She was eight years old and would/could eat practically nothing her parents put in front of her. Her diet was basically noodles without sauce. First signs of malnutrition were starting to show.
Her parents tried the usual. Encouragement. Rewards. Pressure. Ignoring it.
Nothing shifted.
When working with her we took a closer look at her tongue. She told me it was very sensitive. Unusually so.
I asked: “So your tongue is a bit of a diva?”
She burst out laughing. “Yes! Exactly. A diva!” I asked Emily to describe her tongue.
Fancy fingernails. Long artificial eyelashes. The full picture.
“And what does your Diva Tongue say when she doesn’t want to eat something?”
Emily in theatrical voice:
“Noooooo. I don’t want to.”
We first took the diva tongue on a journey. To hungry children in other parts of the world. Children who had to be grateful for whatever food they could find. Any food.
Diva Tongue became quieter. And a bit ashamed.
Back from the journey, we imagined her standing in front of two tables. The left table had foods Diva liked. The right table foods she dislikes.
The deal was, Diva Tongue would try each food two times.
We started with rice.
First bite: a dramatic “Eeeuuuuuuwwwww.”
Second bite: manageable.
We moved on to carrots, peas, chicken. Same pattern: Resistance first, more acceptance on the second try.
When we tried potatoes, Diva Tongue crossed her arms, turned up her nose, and refused. Categorically.
“No way! I am NOT eating those”.
And that was fine. We had already made significant progress.
I gave her a homework assignment:
To add 9 foods to her list of “willing to try”.
Two weeks later Emily came for her follow up. Proudly she told me of multiple foods she tried.
In Emily’s words her tongue had become less of a diva and more “chill”.
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