What is food chaining and how does it work for oral desensitization?

Food chaining is a technique that starts from an accepted food and evolves through small modifications. You identify a food the child already eats, change only ONE characteristic at a time, and progress very gradually. For example: French fry → Sweet potato fry → Sweet potato cubes → Sweet potato puree → Carrot puree.

How many times should I present a new food before a child accepts it?

A child may need to see a food 15-20 times before accepting it, which is completely normal. The repeated exposure technique involves offering the food 10-15 times minimum without comment or pressure, always in small quantities.

What is sensory play in oral desensitization?

Sensory play involves exploring foods through play without any obligation to eat. Activities include painting with colored purees, making prints and drawings, sorting, stacking, and crushing foods. For example, you can use beetroot puree as paint, pasta to make necklaces, or vegetables to make stamps.

How does modeling work in oral desensitization therapy?

Modeling involves an adult or peer eating the food in front of the child. You should eat the same food with pleasure, describe it positively (like saying 'Mmm, it's crunchy!'), but never insist that the child taste it. Peers such as brothers, sisters, or friends are often more effective than adults for modeling.

What are micro-portions and how should they be introduced?

Micro-portions start with tiny amounts that are almost invisible - beginning with the size of a grain of rice. You should increase the portions very gradually and mix the new food with an already accepted food. For example, start with a micro-drop of tomato sauce in puree, then 2, then 3, until it lightly colors the food.

What are the 6 key techniques for oral desensitization?

The 6 key techniques for oral desensitization are: 1) Food chaining - starting from accepted foods and making gradual modifications, 2) Repeated exposure - presenting foods multiple times without pressure, 3) Sensory play - exploring foods through play activities, 4) Modeling - having others eat the food in front of the child, 5) Micro-portions - starting with very small amounts, and 6) Progressive techniques to introduce new foods systematically.

Oral Desensitization Cards | Orality | DYNSEO

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Oral Desensitization Cards

Progressive techniques to introduce new foods

🃏 The 6 key techniques

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Food chaining

Start from an accepted food and evolve through small modifications

📖 How to do it

Identify a food the child eats
Change ONE characteristic at a time
Progress very gradually

💡 Example

French fry → Sweet potato fry → Sweet potato cubes → Sweet potato puree → Carrot puree

Click to see details

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Repeated exposure

Present the same food without pressure, again and again

📖 How to do it

Offer the food 10-15 times minimum
Without comment or pressure
Always in small quantities

💡 Tip

A child may need to see a food 15-20 times before accepting it. This is normal!

Click to see details

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Sensory play

Explore foods through play, without obligation to eat

📖 How to do it

Paint with colored purees
Make prints, drawings
Sort, stack, crush

💡 Example

Use beetroot puree as paint, pasta to make necklaces, vegetables to make stamps.

Click to see details

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Modeling (imitation)

The adult or a peer eats the food in front of the child

📖 How to do it

Eat the same food with pleasure
Describe positively ("Mmm, it's crunchy!")
Don't insist that they taste it

💡 Tip

Peers (brothers, sisters, friends) are often more effective than adults for modeling.

Click to see details

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Micro-portions

Start with tiny amounts, almost invisible

📖 How to do it

Size of a grain of rice at first
Increase very gradually
Mix with an accepted food

💡 Example

A micro-drop of tomato sauce in the puree, then 2, then 3... until it colors lightly.

Click to see details

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Kitchen involvement

Involve the child in meal preparation

📖 How to do it

Wash the vegetables
Mix the ingredients
Choose at the supermarket

💡 Why it works

The child takes ownership of the food, they're proud of their creation and more inclined to taste "their" dish.

Click to see details

📋 Desensitization protocol

Observe and identify

Note accepted foods, rejected foods, problematic textures. Understand the child's sensory profile.

Choose a target food

Select ONE food close to an accepted food (same color, texture, or family).

Expose without pressure

The food is present at the table, the adult eats it with pleasure. No request is made to the child.

Encourage exploration

Offer to touch, smell, play with. Celebrate each positive interaction.

Offer to taste

When the child is ready, offer a micro-portion. Accept refusal without negative comment.

Repeat and generalize

Continue exposure, vary presentations, then move to the next food.

🖨️ Mini-cards to print

Print these cards and keep them in the kitchen as a reminder!

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Chaining

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Repetition

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Sensory play

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Modeling

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Micro-portions

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Cook together