Hey there! I’m Lena, and as both a mom and a pediatric feeding specialist with over 12 years in the trenches, I’ve seen it all when it comes to mealtime struggles. I know that sinking feeling when your child refuses yet another meal you’ve lovingly prepared, or the worry that creeps in when their “picky phase” doesn’t seem to be ending.
What I’ve discovered through my professional journey (and honestly, through my own health challenges) is that the traditional approaches to feeding therapy often miss the bigger picture. That’s why I developed the BLOOM Framework – a holistic approach that’s changing how we support children with feeding challenges.
Why Traditional Approaches Often Fall Short
If you’re nodding along right now, I’m guessing you’ve tried it all:
- “Just keep offering new foods” (and watching them get rejected over and over)
- “They’ll eat when they’re hungry enough” (but they don’t, and your worry grows)
- “It’s just a phase they’ll outgrow” (but months or years pass with little change)
Maybe you’ve created sticker charts, tried the “one bite rule,” or secretly hidden veggies in their mac and cheese. Or perhaps you’ve worked with professionals who focused on isolated skills without seeing the whole picture of your child’s health.
Trust me, I get it – and I promise, it’s not your fault these approaches haven’t worked.
Here’s why: most methods treat the symptoms rather than addressing what’s really going on beneath the surface.
A Fresh Perspective on Feeding Challenges
The BLOOM Framework grew out of my frustration seeing families try everything “by the book” but still struggle. As a speech-language pathologist specializing in feeding therapy, I knew there had to be a better way – one that considered how all of our body systems work together when it comes to eating.
This isn’t just professional knowledge for me. My personal health journey (let’s just say me and sauerkraut are besties for a reason!) has shown me firsthand how interconnected our gut health, sensory processing, and eating habits truly are.
The BLOOM Framework bridges the gap between traditional therapy approaches and holistic wellness – because your child deserves the best of both worlds.
The Five Pillars of BLOOM (Because I Love a Good Acronym!)
B – Balanced Health
This is our foundation – because a child who feels uncomfortable in their body simply can’t focus on trying new foods. This pillar addresses:
- Tummy troubles that might be making mealtimes uncomfortable
- Food sensitivities that could be flying under the radar
- Physical comfort during eating (those little bodies need to feel good!)
- How medications might be affecting appetite and digestion
I can’t tell you how many “picky eaters” I’ve worked with who actually had underlying GI discomfort that no one had connected to their eating habits!
L – Learned Oral Skills
This is where my speech-language pathology background really shines. Many children need support with:
- The physical skills needed for chewing different textures
- Sensory processing (because that “slimy” feeling some foods have can be genuinely overwhelming for some kiddos!)
- Developmental feeding skills appropriate for their age
- Coordination of all the tiny muscles involved in eating safely
Sometimes what looks like pickiness is actually a child’s way of avoiding foods they don’t feel safe managing in their mouth.
O – Optimal Microbiome
This is the game-changer pillar that many approaches miss entirely!
The gut-brain connection impacts:
- How hungry your child feels (or doesn’t feel)
- The way they perceive tastes and textures
- Their immune system’s reaction to certain foods
- Even their overall mood and behavior at mealtimes
As someone who’s personally experienced the transformation that comes with healing gut health (yep, that’s my GAPS journey), I’ve seen this connection work miracles for the families I support.
O – Open Exploration
This is where we bring back the joy! This pillar focuses on:
- Creating pressure-free opportunities to explore food
- Making food fun again (because mealtimes should be happy, not battlegrounds)
- Building sensory comfort through playful interactions
- Developing your child’s natural curiosity about food
When we remove pressure and expectations, it’s amazing how children’s natural tendency to explore can flourish.
M – Mealtime Boundaries
Finally, we create the structure that helps everyone feel secure:
- Consistent routines that your family can actually maintain
- Clear roles for parents and children (you decide what and when, they decide if and how much)
- Creating an environment that supports focused eating
- Age-appropriate expectations that honor your child’s development
These boundaries aren’t about being strict – they’re about creating a safe framework where exploration can happen naturally.
BLOOM in Real Life: What This Looks Like
When I work with families, we don’t just focus on getting your child to eat broccoli (though that might happen!). Instead, we take a step back and look at the whole picture, identifying which pillars need the most support.
Here’s a peek at what this looked like for one family (details changed for privacy):
Four-year-old Max came to me eating only five foods – all crunchy carbs. His parents had tried everything from rewards to consequences, and previous therapy had focused solely on getting him to “take one bite” of new foods.
Our BLOOM assessment revealed:
- Mild reflux causing discomfort he couldn’t articulate (Balanced Health)
- Good oral-motor skills but extreme tactile sensitivity (Learned Oral Skills)
- Signs of microbiome imbalance affecting his appetite and sensory system (Optimal Microbiome)
- High anxiety around new foods from previous pressure (Open Exploration)
- Inconsistent mealtime routines adding to his stress (Mealtime Boundaries)
By supporting all five pillars simultaneously – introducing gut-healing foods, engaging in sensory play, removing all pressure, and establishing gentle routines – Max’s relationship with food transformed. Within a few months, he was voluntarily exploring new foods and actually enjoying family meals.
The best part? His parents reported improvements not just in eating, but in his sleep, mood, and even his ability to focus during playtime. That’s the power of addressing the whole system!
Beyond the Dinner Table: The Ripple Effect
What makes me most excited about the BLOOM Framework is seeing how its benefits extend way beyond food. Parents consistently tell me they notice:
- Better sleep (hallelujah!)
- Fewer meltdowns and more emotional regulation
- Happier tummies with less complaints
- Improved focus and attention
- And my favorite – more peaceful, connected family meals
When we support a child’s system holistically, everything improves. It’s like watching a flower unfold one petal at a time (hence the name BLOOM!).
Is BLOOM Right for Your Family?
This approach tends to be particularly effective if your child:
- Has tried other feeding therapies without lasting success
- Seems sensitive to textures, smells, or other sensory experiences
- Experiences tummy troubles alongside eating challenges
- Has anxiety around mealtimes or new foods
- Has you feeling stuck in negative mealtime patterns
But honestly? The principles of BLOOM can benefit any child, even those with mild pickiness or families simply wanting to prevent challenges before they start.
Let’s Connect!
If you’re reading this and thinking, “This sounds like my child!” – I want you to know there’s hope. I’ve seen remarkable transformations in children whose parents were told they would “always be picky eaters.”
True change happens when we address the root causes rather than just managing behaviors. Your child has everything they need to become a happy, healthy eater – sometimes they just need a little support for their system to BLOOM.
I’d love to chat about how this approach might help your family. You can schedule a free discovery call where we’ll talk about your child’s specific challenges and whether my approach might be the missing piece in your journey.
Remember, mama (or dad!) – you’re doing an amazing job. Feeding challenges aren’t a reflection of your parenting, and there’s a path forward that feels good for everyone.
When Lena’s not supporting families through feeding challenges, you might find her sipping ginger tea in fuzzy socks with a good book, creating GAPS-friendly recipes in her kitchen, or playing with her son Nate and dog Luna. With 12+ years as a certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Pediatric Wellness Practitioner, she combines clinical expertise with real-world parenting wisdom. Lena supervises a pediatric feeding clinic and hosts The Livin’Sky Podcast, exploring holistic approaches to help children thrive.
