Feeding challenges aren’t just for toddlers—many parents find themselves facing a new kind of mealtime stress when their kids become tweens and teens.
In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino is joined by Dena Kelly, a licensed counsellor, board-certified behaviour analyst, and paediatric feeding therapist, who specializes in helping families navigate the emotional and physical toll of picky eating in older children.
Kelly shares evidence-based strategies for tackling picky eating, while unpacking how adolescence, hormonal shifts, social pressures, and parental communication all play a role in shaping a child’s relationship with food.
From creating structured yet flexible mealtime routines to empowering kids with independence in the kitchen, this episode offers practical tools to reduce food-related anxiety and foster healthier eating habits—for both parents and kids.
Takeaways:
- How picky eating affects emotional well-being and social development in older children
- Why adolescence and hormonal changes can trigger or intensify feeding issues
- The role of social media and peer influence in shaping food preferences
- Strategies to promote independence and reduce conflict during meals
- When and why to seek professional help—even if your child seems to be coping
- How to turn mealtimes into a source of connection rather than conflict
DENA KELLY, LPC, BCBA, LBS
Licensed Professional Counsellor
Board Certified Behaviour Analyst
Founder and CEO, Focused Approach
Licensed Behaviour Specialist
Paediatric Feeding Therapist
Mom of 2
“Most parents will report that they spent all day dreading dinner time because it would end up being such an exhausting experience for them. Once we work on an appropriate intervention for that child and for that family, it reduces a lot of that stress and anxiety and allows the child to access social experiences that they didn’t get to before.”