The Claire Byrne Show Advice for parents who have fussy eaters at home
Mar 19, 2026
Louise Lennox, a chef and children’s eating specialist who turned personal experience into training, shares practical advice. She discusses when picky eating commonly appears and signs that need attention. She covers why treats as rewards backfire and how posture, patience and repetition helped her son learn to eat.
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How Alex's Eating Crisis Sparked A Career Change
- Louise Lennox discovered children's eating problems firsthand after her son Alex stopped eating and she entered training as a feeding therapist.
- Alex's refusal led to weight loss, constipation, stomach cramps and a medical referral, which propelled Louise into specialised training and practice.
Why Picky Eating Typically Starts Around Toddlers
- Picky eating often appears between 18 months and three years as children assert independence and develop food neophobia.
- Louise explains this is evolutionary protection against poisons and linked to developing sensory awareness and oral motor skills.
Watch For The Food Funnel And Act Early
- Look for patterns and a shrinking food range (the "food funnel") to know when picky eating needs action.
- If foods disappear from the diet repeatedly and weight or digestive issues arise, seek help before the problem snowballs.