Feeding a Child with OCD Tendencies

First, let’s clarify Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). If your child likes his room organized, for example keeping his Legos in the red bin and his toy cars in the blue bin, then most likely he just wants to make sure he knows where his toys are for the next time he wants to play with them. That’s similar to how you keep your kitchen or tool shed “organized.” If your child has to have his books lined up so that the spines are perfectly aligned, then that might be more of OCD territory. Your child’s doctor or therapist will help guide you on this.  
 
Either way, if your child has OCD tendencies, then most likely you are also dealing with feeding issues. Here are some simple tips that might help ease your meal time.
 

• Use a plate that has built in dividers. This will help keep the food from touching the other food on the plate. Yes, this is a real concern!
• Use the same plate and utensils each time and vary the food choices. This will help reduce the anxiety around the meals and maintain some consistency.
• Instead of serving food that are mixed in colors, try for example, putting a red food in one compartment, a brown in another, and a green in the last. 
  • Slowly start mixing food colors and keep presenting them.

 
I would love for you to share any tips you feel will help too!