Navigating Food Jags

What Are They and How To Prevent Them

As parents, we often encounter various phases in our child's eating habits, and one such phase that can cause concern is food jagging. Food jagging occurs when a child becomes fixated on eating the same foods repeatedly and may eventually eliminate once-preferred foods entirely from their diet (Toomey, 2010). This behavior can lead to a limited range of foods in their repertoire, raising nutritional concerns. However, by understanding the differences between food jagging and picky eating and implementing effective strategies, we can encourage our children to become more flexible and accepting eaters.

Understanding Food Jagging and Picky Eating

Food jagging and picky eating may seem similar, but they have distinct characteristics. Picky eating is a typical part of a child's development, where they may temporarily lose interest in certain foods but often return to them over time. In contrast, food jagging involves prolonged fixation on specific foods, eventually leading to their total elimination without replacement, which can impact nutrition and development (Toomey, 2010). According to Toomey’s SOS (Sequential-Oral-Sensory) Approach, food jags are a red flag when they result in a shrinking food repertoire (Toomey, 2010).

The Importance of a Diverse Diet

The SOS Approach recommends that children have at least 30 different accepted foods across their meals and snacks over a two-day period to ensure nutritional adequacy (Toomey & Associates, 2018). A diverse diet supports healthy growth, proper development, and helps reduce the risk of nutritional deficiencies. When a child’s food choices become too narrow, it can compromise both health and mealtime enjoyment.

Strategies to Encourage Flexibility

To help children become more flexible eaters, Toomey recommends starting with the least nutritious food a child is jagging on and making very subtle changes to it—such as changing the shape, color, flavor, temperature, or texture—one at a time (Toomey, 2010). For example, switch spaghetti noodles to penne, or cut a sandwich into a different shape using cookie cutters. These changes should be noticeable but small enough that the child still accepts the food. The key is to wait for the child to accept each change multiple times before introducing another, reducing the chance of rejection and preventing an abrupt drop of the food.

The Importance of Patience and Consistency

Patience is crucial when helping children through food jags. If too many changes are introduced at once, or if a child feels tricked or overwhelmed, they may refuse the food altogether (Toomey, 2010). Parents should aim to create a supportive and pressure-free mealtime environment. With consistent exposure, encouragement, and the right strategies, children can learn to accept a wider variety of foods and reduce their dependency on limited favorites.

References

Toomey, K. A. (2010). Food jags handout. SOS Approach to Feeding. https://sosapproachtofeeding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Food-Jags.pdf

Toomey & Associates. (2018). Picky eaters vs. problem feeders. SOS Approach to Feeding. https://sosapproachtofeeding.com/picky-eater-questionnaire-parent/

Your Kid’s Table. (n.d.). Are food jags affecting your picky eater? https://yourkidstable.com/are-food-jags-affecting-your-picky-eater/

Ready Set Grow Nutrition. (n.d.). Food jagging in kids: A guide for parents. https://www.readysetgrownutrition.com/post/food-jagging-in-kids