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How to Help Your Child Learn to Eat Jalapeños
January 2022
Last reviewed: January 2022
Author:
Lauryn Woodruff
Coauthors:
Johane Filemon, MS, RDN, CLT
Alexandria Delozier, PHD
Laura Petix, M.S. OTR/L
Erinn Jacobi, M.S. OTR/L
Stefanie Kain, B.S. M.Ed
About Kids Eat in Color
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
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Author:
Lauryn Woodruff
Coauthors:
Johane Filemon, MS, RDN, CLT
Alexandria Delozier, PHD
Laura Petix, M.S. OTR/L
Erinn Jacobi, M.S. OTR/L
Stefanie Kain, B.S. M.Ed
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Mariel quietly peaked her head around the corner to get a look at what was happening, wishing she had eaten more of her afternoon snack.
Saturday night means Mariel’s parents are out for a date, so it’s grandpa’s job to babysit and fix dinner.
Her grandpa caught her and said, “Are you spying Mariel? That’s okay, come and let’s eat.”
Mariel sat at the table and her grandpa brought out a bowl of chili and cornbread. She didn’t even think twice about the green jalapeño bits mixed with the corn, beans, and tomatoes. Mariel just felt relieved that she recognized the food instead of one of her grandpa’s fancy meals that he usually made. Mariel didn’t like new foods, and her grandpa served a lot of them.
Mariel took a big bite of chili. As she chewed, her forehead began to sweat, her eyes started watering, and suddenly her mouth was on fire! Swallowing quickly and flapping her hands to cool her tongue off she yelled, “Ahhh, grandpa, it’s so hot it burned my tongue. Don’t you remember, I don’t eat spicy food!”
Her grandpa could not believe her reaction. “Mariel, you have been taught to be respectful,” he replied sternly. “Eat your dinner, it’s not even that spicy. I took the seeds out and washed the peppers. The jalapeños are there for flavor. Plus, they are good for you. If you really don’t like them, you can eat around them.”
“I won’t eat it. You can’t make me,” she shouted back.
Her grandpa, now very upset, yelled, “Go to your room!”
Feeding kids is a lot of work, especially if they are selective eaters who don’t like to try new foods. It can be even more difficult when other caregivers are involved. We understand how hard it can be. In this guide, we will help you learn how to get your child to eat jalapeños.
Jalapeños are a type of chili pepper from Mexico. There are many varieties like the Fresno and the Sierra Fuego as well as colors which can be green, red or even purple. On the Scoville heat scale, jalapeños rank fairly low at 18 out of 24 which gives it mild-medium temperature and spiciness.
When it comes to nutrition, kids can benefit most from the vitamin C found in jalapeños. It won’t replace all the other fruits and veggies we eat to get adequate vitamin C, but it is really cool that it has this vitamin, which is beneficial for healing cuts and maintaining skin health.
In addition, jalapeños have a compound called capsaicin. Capsaicin gives chili peppers their spicy tastes and is helpful for reducing pain and inflammation.
Jalapeños have many health benefits for kids and it makes sense why Mariel’s grandpa wanted to serve them with their dinner.
Jalapeños are not really the star when it comes to cooking, but they are amazing when it comes to adding flavor, texture, and spice. With just about any savory dish you can think of, and even some sweet ones like jelly, you can add jalapeños. They can be cooked, eaten raw, or pickled.
Serving spicy foods
When it comes to serving spicy foods to kids, there is no right way to do so. One thing to be mindful of with spicy foods is to make sure your child doesn’t touch their eyes or nose after touching jalapeno.
When eating spicy foods, there is an increase in body temperature. For some children with sensory processing disorder (SPD), this sensation of a quick change in body temperature can feel stressful. Also, the sensation on the tongue can be very new and painful for some touch-sensitive children.
Introducing spicy foods to kids & toddlers
When you decide to serve jalapeno and other spicy foods, you can take it slow by introducing foods that are only slightly spicy, then working your way up to more spicy foods. With jalapeños, you can begin to introduce your little one to them without the seeds to reduce the spicy level. When they become more comfortable with spice, you can add in the seeds. You may notice that sometimes your picky eater is really into spicy foods, and then changes their mind and wants nothing to do with it.
Micro portions
When serving new foods to your picky eater, we recommend a micro portion. This is a teeny, fingernail-sized portion for your picky eater to try. Your picky eater may feel intimidated by a larger or regular sized portion of a new food, which is why micro portions can be so effective. The bonus benefit for you is that it decreases food waste, and you can enjoy as many jalapeños as you want.
Pressure-free meals
Along with serving micro portions, allowing your picky eater to decide if they want to try jalapeños without pressure is important. Mariel’s grandpa put pressure on her to eat the chili with jalapeños by saying, “eat your dinner.” Pressure can also sound like:
“It’s not even that spicy. Eat your food.”
“I’m in charge, and I say you have to eat the chili whether you like it or not.”
“It’s disrespectful to complain about your food. Just eat a couple of bites.”
The reason having no-pressure meals is so important is because when we pressure selective eaters, they will be less likely to try new foods.
Mariel’s grandpa probably did not even realize what he was doing. The next time Mariel’s grandpa wants spicy chili, he can put a couple of pieces of jalapeño on the side for her to try if she wants.
How to Talk About Jalapeños to Help Your Child Try Them
Negative talk about food is common with picky kids. They will say things like, “the jalapeno is too spicy,” or “I can’t stand the smell,” or “spicy foods hurt my mouth!” Although this behavior is normal, it sustains the picky eating.
Changing this behavior is an important strategy in reversing picky eating. In place of the negative language, you can teach your kid to use neutral language. This will take some time for them to get used to. You can help them by modeling this behavior and setting an example for your kid or toddler. When they hear you use neutral language, they will begin to speak that way too.
We emphasize using neutral language because it is not overly positive or negative. We want to change how your kid thinks about the new food and give them the room to try it when they are ready. Your selective eater probably won’t choose to eat jalapenos right away, but this strategy will be very helpful long term.
Here are some words you can use to describe jalapeños to your selective kid:
Green
Spicy
Smooth
Vegetable
Medium
Medium spicy smell
Medium sound
Crunchy/crispy (if raw)
Soft (if cooked)
Mariel’s grandpa could have said, “Jalapenos are green and, yes, they can be spicy.”
How to Help Your Child Understand What Jalapeños Do in Their Body
What we tell our children, and how we talk to them about new foods, can shape their thoughts about food. We know this is challenging because you want what’s best for them. We work so hard to talk them into trying a new food which often leads them to do the exact opposite.
Rather than telling your kid that a food is good for them, we can explain what the new food actually does for and inside their body. Sharing information that is age-appropriate helps your picky kid learn how the food works in their body. This can shift how they feel about a new food and increase their willingness to try it. Will it work right now? Probably not right away, but it’s a step forward.
Here are some messages you can share about jalapeños.
Age 0-3: Jalapeños help keep our teeth and gums strong!
Age 3-5: Jalapeños are good for our teeth and gums because they have something called vitamin C.
6-11: Pirates and other sailors used to get a disease called scurvy. This disease affected their teeth because they weren’t able to eat foods that have vitamin C, like jalapeños.
Age 12-18: Jalapeños have the nutrient vitamin C which helps keep our teeth and gums strong. When we don’t get enough vitamin c for extremely long periods of time, like pirates on long voyages at sea, we can get vitamin c deficiency, which damages our teeth and gums.
To add to our example of how Mariel’s grandpa could have responded, he could have said, “Jalapenos are green. They can be spicy, and they are good for our teeth.” This information could have peeked Mariel’s curiosity and may have changed her thoughts about jalapeños.
A great way to help your child learn to like jalapeños is by interacting with the vegetable. We call this food play. Food play can involve looking, touching, smelling and, eventually, tasting a new food. Food play is important to incorporate because when kids are introduced to new foods, they may perceive it as a danger and it could trigger their fight, flight, or freeze response.
By interacting with a new food, picky kids get more used to it and become desensitized. So now your selective eater won’t think jalapeños are too spicy or too crunchy and, at the same time, they can learn more about the food through the activity.
Food play can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. If your child is more reluctant to play with jalapeños, start out with activities where they can look and touch before moving to smelling and tasting. You may notice that your child moves back and forth along this spectrum, which is normal.
You and your picky eater are going to make stamp art with jalapeños. This activity won’t necessarily get your child to like jalapeños right away but it is an important part of the process.
Jalapeño Stamp Art
Age: 5+ Materials
3 jalapeños, washed and seeds removed
Gloves, to protect eyes and nose from spice, optional
Knife, can be kid friendly
Sauce(s) like ketchup, mustard, etc.
Plate, cutting board or paper
Directions
Wash hands and put on gloves (if you have them).
Cut the top off the jalapeño and remove the seeds. If you feel comfortable, your child can do this part.
Have your child dip the jalapeño into the sauces and create stamp art.
Note: You can do this activity with younger children but they should be watched very closely so they do not touch their face as they may feel the spice on their skin from jalapeños.
Thanks for being part of our community that’s teaching kids to eat more foods!
References
Baylin, Jonathan. “Behavioral Epigenetics and Attachment: The New Science of Trust and Mistrust.” The Neuropsychotherapist 1, no. 3 (2013): 68–79. https://doi.org/10.12744/tnpt(3)068-079.
Benson, Jeryl D., Carol S. Parke, Casey Gannon, and Diane Muñoz. “A Retrospective Analysis of the Sequential Oral Sensory Feeding Approach in Children with Feeding Difficulties.” Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention 6, no. 4 (2013): 289–300. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2013.860758.
Berk, Laura E. Development Through the Lifespan. 7th ed. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc., 2018.
Bodison, Stefanie C., and L. Diane Parham. “Specific Sensory Techniques and Sensory Environmental Modifications for Children and Youth with Sensory Integration Difficulties: A Systematic Review.” American Journal of Occupational Therapy 72, no. 1 (December 2017). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2018.029413.
Bost, JeffreyW, Adara Maroon, and JosephC Maroon. “Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agents for Pain Relief.” Surgical Neurology International 1, no. 1 (December 13, 2010): 80. https://doi.org/10.4103/2152-7806.73804.
Case-Smith, Jane, and Jane Clifford O’Brien. Occupational Therapy for Children. Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby/Elsevier, 2010.
Cooke, L. “The Importance of Exposure for Healthy Eating in Childhood: A Review.” Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 20, no. 4 (2007): 294–301. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-277x.2007.00804.x.
Copple, Carol, and Sue Bredekamp. Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs: Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8. 3rd ed. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2008.
Hagan, Joseph F., Judith S. Shaw, and Paula M. Duncan, eds. Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents (Pocket Guide). 4th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2017. https://brightfutures.aap.org/Bright%20Futures%20Documents/BF4_POCKETGUIDE.pdf.
Huizen, Jennifer. “Scurvy: Symptoms, Risk Factors, Treatment, Recovery, and More.” Healthline. Healthline Media, September 18, 2018. https://www.healthline.com/health/scurvy.
Min, Kyoung-Chul, and Yoo-Im Choi. “Review of Effectiveness Sensory Integration Therapy on Feeding and Oral Function of Children Focus on Single-Subject Research Design.” Journal of Korean Society of Occupational Therapy 29, no. 1 (2021): 101–13. https://doi.org/10.14519/kjot.2021.29.1.08.
Padayatty, SJ, and M Levine. “Vitamin C: The Known and the Unknown and Goldilocks.” Oral Diseases 22, no. 6 (January 25, 2016): 463–93. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.12446.
Papalia, Diane E., Ruth Duskin Feldman, and Sally Wendkos Olds. Human Development. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009.
Parham, L. Diane, Gloria Frolek Clark, Renee Watling, and Roseann Schaaf. “Occupational Therapy Interventions for Children and Youth with Challenges in Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing: A Clinic-Based Practice Case Example.” American Journal of Occupational Therapy 73, no. 1 (January 2019). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2019.731002.
Roley, Smith Susanne, Erna I. Blanche, and Roseann C. Schaaf. Understanding the Nature of Sensory Integration with Diverse Populations. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed, 2007.
Rozin, Paul, and Deborah Schiller. “The Nature and Acquisition of a Preference for Chili Pepper by Humans.” Motivation and Emotion 4, no. 1 (March 1980): 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00995932.
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
Lauryn Woodruff is the Nutrition Information Specialist at Kids Eat in Color. She creates content that provides helpful nutrition information for picky eaters. Lauryn has a BS in Nutrition and Food Science and is completing her Dietetic Internship at Virginia Tech University. She enjoys cooking, trying new foods, and being outdoors!
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Mariel quietly peaked her head around the corner to get a look at what was happening, wishing she had eaten more of her afternoon snack.
Saturday night means Mariel’s parents are out for a date, so it’s grandpa’s job to babysit and fix dinner.
Her grandpa caught her and said, “Are you spying Mariel? That’s okay, come and let’s eat.”
Mariel sat at the table and her grandpa brought out a bowl of chili and cornbread. She didn’t even think twice about the green jalapeño bits mixed with the corn, beans, and tomatoes. Mariel just felt relieved that she recognized the food instead of one of her grandpa’s fancy meals that he usually made. Mariel didn’t like new foods, and her grandpa served a lot of them.
Mariel took a big bite of chili. As she chewed, her forehead began to sweat, her eyes started watering, and suddenly her mouth was on fire! Swallowing quickly and flapping her hands to cool her tongue off she yelled, “Ahhh, grandpa, it’s so hot it burned my tongue. Don’t you remember, I don’t eat spicy food!”
Her grandpa could not believe her reaction. “Mariel, you have been taught to be respectful,” he replied sternly. “Eat your dinner, it’s not even that spicy. I took the seeds out and washed the peppers. The jalapeños are there for flavor. Plus, they are good for you. If you really don’t like them, you can eat around them.”
“I won’t eat it. You can’t make me,” she shouted back.
Her grandpa, now very upset, yelled, “Go to your room!”
Feeding kids is a lot of work, especially if they are selective eaters who don’t like to try new foods. It can be even more difficult when other caregivers are involved. We understand how hard it can be. In this guide, we will help you learn how to get your child to eat jalapeños.
The Benefits of Jalapeños for Kids
Jalapeños are a type of chili pepper from Mexico. There are many varieties like the Fresno and the Sierra Fuego as well as colors which can be green, red or even purple. On the Scoville heat scale, jalapeños rank fairly low at 18 out of 24 which gives it mild-medium temperature and spiciness.
When it comes to nutrition, kids can benefit most from the vitamin C found in jalapeños. It won’t replace all the other fruits and veggies we eat to get adequate vitamin C, but it is really cool that it has this vitamin, which is beneficial for healing cuts and maintaining skin health.
In addition, jalapeños have a compound called capsaicin. Capsaicin gives chili peppers their spicy tastes and is helpful for reducing pain and inflammation.
Jalapeños have many health benefits for kids and it makes sense why Mariel’s grandpa wanted to serve them with their dinner.
Related: Learn how to cope with picky eating.
How to Serve Jalapeños to Picky Eaters
Jalapeños are not really the star when it comes to cooking, but they are amazing when it comes to adding flavor, texture, and spice. With just about any savory dish you can think of, and even some sweet ones like jelly, you can add jalapeños. They can be cooked, eaten raw, or pickled.
Serving spicy foods
When it comes to serving spicy foods to kids, there is no right way to do so. One thing to be mindful of with spicy foods is to make sure your child doesn’t touch their eyes or nose after touching jalapeno.
When eating spicy foods, there is an increase in body temperature. For some children with sensory processing disorder (SPD), this sensation of a quick change in body temperature can feel stressful. Also, the sensation on the tongue can be very new and painful for some touch-sensitive children.
Introducing spicy foods to kids & toddlers
When you decide to serve jalapeno and other spicy foods, you can take it slow by introducing foods that are only slightly spicy, then working your way up to more spicy foods. With jalapeños, you can begin to introduce your little one to them without the seeds to reduce the spicy level. When they become more comfortable with spice, you can add in the seeds. You may notice that sometimes your picky eater is really into spicy foods, and then changes their mind and wants nothing to do with it.
Micro portions
When serving new foods to your picky eater, we recommend a micro portion. This is a teeny, fingernail-sized portion for your picky eater to try. Your picky eater may feel intimidated by a larger or regular sized portion of a new food, which is why micro portions can be so effective. The bonus benefit for you is that it decreases food waste, and you can enjoy as many jalapeños as you want.
Pressure-free meals
Along with serving micro portions, allowing your picky eater to decide if they want to try jalapeños without pressure is important. Mariel’s grandpa put pressure on her to eat the chili with jalapeños by saying, “eat your dinner.” Pressure can also sound like:
“It’s not even that spicy. Eat your food.”
“I’m in charge, and I say you have to eat the chili whether you like it or not.”
“It’s disrespectful to complain about your food. Just eat a couple of bites.”
The reason having no-pressure meals is so important is because when we pressure selective eaters, they will be less likely to try new foods.
Mariel’s grandpa probably did not even realize what he was doing. The next time Mariel’s grandpa wants spicy chili, he can put a couple of pieces of jalapeño on the side for her to try if she wants.
Related: Try BetterBites – the best-selling picky eating course for families.
How to Talk About Jalapeños to Help Your Child Try Them
Negative talk about food is common with picky kids. They will say things like, “the jalapeno is too spicy,” or “I can’t stand the smell,” or “spicy foods hurt my mouth!” Although this behavior is normal, it sustains the picky eating.
Changing this behavior is an important strategy in reversing picky eating. In place of the negative language, you can teach your kid to use neutral language. This will take some time for them to get used to. You can help them by modeling this behavior and setting an example for your kid or toddler. When they hear you use neutral language, they will begin to speak that way too.
We emphasize using neutral language because it is not overly positive or negative. We want to change how your kid thinks about the new food and give them the room to try it when they are ready. Your selective eater probably won’t choose to eat jalapenos right away, but this strategy will be very helpful long term.
Here are some words you can use to describe jalapeños to your selective kid:
Mariel’s grandpa could have said, “Jalapenos are green and, yes, they can be spicy.”
Related: Tired of meal planning? Try Real Easy Weekdays: The Meal Plan for Busy Families.
How to Help Your Child Understand What Jalapeños Do in Their Body
What we tell our children, and how we talk to them about new foods, can shape their thoughts about food. We know this is challenging because you want what’s best for them. We work so hard to talk them into trying a new food which often leads them to do the exact opposite.
Rather than telling your kid that a food is good for them, we can explain what the new food actually does for and inside their body. Sharing information that is age-appropriate helps your picky kid learn how the food works in their body. This can shift how they feel about a new food and increase their willingness to try it. Will it work right now? Probably not right away, but it’s a step forward.
Here are some messages you can share about jalapeños.
Age 0-3: Jalapeños help keep our teeth and gums strong!
Age 3-5: Jalapeños are good for our teeth and gums because they have something called vitamin C.
6-11: Pirates and other sailors used to get a disease called scurvy. This disease affected their teeth because they weren’t able to eat foods that have vitamin C, like jalapeños.
Age 12-18: Jalapeños have the nutrient vitamin C which helps keep our teeth and gums strong. When we don’t get enough vitamin c for extremely long periods of time, like pirates on long voyages at sea, we can get vitamin c deficiency, which damages our teeth and gums.
To add to our example of how Mariel’s grandpa could have responded, he could have said, “Jalapenos are green. They can be spicy, and they are good for our teeth.” This information could have peeked Mariel’s curiosity and may have changed her thoughts about jalapeños.
Related: Download our free guide, From Stress to Success: 4 Ways to Help Your Child Eat Better Without Losing Your Mind.
Jalapeño Food Activity
A great way to help your child learn to like jalapeños is by interacting with the vegetable. We call this food play. Food play can involve looking, touching, smelling and, eventually, tasting a new food. Food play is important to incorporate because when kids are introduced to new foods, they may perceive it as a danger and it could trigger their fight, flight, or freeze response.
By interacting with a new food, picky kids get more used to it and become desensitized. So now your selective eater won’t think jalapeños are too spicy or too crunchy and, at the same time, they can learn more about the food through the activity.
Food play can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. If your child is more reluctant to play with jalapeños, start out with activities where they can look and touch before moving to smelling and tasting. You may notice that your child moves back and forth along this spectrum, which is normal.
You and your picky eater are going to make stamp art with jalapeños. This activity won’t necessarily get your child to like jalapeños right away but it is an important part of the process.
Jalapeño Stamp Art
Age: 5+
Materials
Directions
Note: You can do this activity with younger children but they should be watched very closely so they do not touch their face as they may feel the spice on their skin from jalapeños.
Thanks for being part of our community that’s teaching kids to eat more foods!
References
Baylin, Jonathan. “Behavioral Epigenetics and Attachment: The New Science of Trust and Mistrust.” The Neuropsychotherapist 1, no. 3 (2013): 68–79. https://doi.org/10.12744/tnpt(3)068-079.
Benson, Jeryl D., Carol S. Parke, Casey Gannon, and Diane Muñoz. “A Retrospective Analysis of the Sequential Oral Sensory Feeding Approach in Children with Feeding Difficulties.” Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention 6, no. 4 (2013): 289–300. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2013.860758.
Berk, Laura E. Development Through the Lifespan. 7th ed. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc., 2018.
Bodison, Stefanie C., and L. Diane Parham. “Specific Sensory Techniques and Sensory Environmental Modifications for Children and Youth with Sensory Integration Difficulties: A Systematic Review.” American Journal of Occupational Therapy 72, no. 1 (December 2017). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2018.029413.
Bost, JeffreyW, Adara Maroon, and JosephC Maroon. “Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agents for Pain Relief.” Surgical Neurology International 1, no. 1 (December 13, 2010): 80. https://doi.org/10.4103/2152-7806.73804.
Case-Smith, Jane, and Jane Clifford O’Brien. Occupational Therapy for Children. Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby/Elsevier, 2010.
Cooke, L. “The Importance of Exposure for Healthy Eating in Childhood: A Review.” Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 20, no. 4 (2007): 294–301. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-277x.2007.00804.x.
Copple, Carol, and Sue Bredekamp. Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs: Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8. 3rd ed. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2008.
Cronometer. Accessed August 12, 2021. https://cronometer.com.
Hagan, Joseph F., Judith S. Shaw, and Paula M. Duncan, eds. Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents (Pocket Guide). 4th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2017. https://brightfutures.aap.org/Bright%20Futures%20Documents/BF4_POCKETGUIDE.pdf.
Huizen, Jennifer. “Scurvy: Symptoms, Risk Factors, Treatment, Recovery, and More.” Healthline. Healthline Media, September 18, 2018. https://www.healthline.com/health/scurvy.
Julson, Erica. “7 Surprising Health Benefits of Jalapeños.” Healthline. Healthline Media, March 10, 2018. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/jalapeno-health-benefits.
Kramer, Paula, Jim Hinojosa, and Tsu-Hsin Howe. Frames of Reference for Pediatric Occupational Therapy. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer, 2020.
Milestone Moments: Learn the Signs, Act Early. Atlanta, GA: Department of Health & Human Services USA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/pdf/parents_pdfs/MilestoneMomentsEng508.pdf.
Min, Kyoung-Chul, and Yoo-Im Choi. “Review of Effectiveness Sensory Integration Therapy on Feeding and Oral Function of Children Focus on Single-Subject Research Design.” Journal of Korean Society of Occupational Therapy 29, no. 1 (2021): 101–13. https://doi.org/10.14519/kjot.2021.29.1.08.
Padayatty, SJ, and M Levine. “Vitamin C: The Known and the Unknown and Goldilocks.” Oral Diseases 22, no. 6 (January 25, 2016): 463–93. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.12446.
Pagán, Camille Noe. “Jalapeños: Nutrition, Benefits, Risks, & More.” WebMD. WebMD, July 22, 2021. https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/health-benefits-jalapenos.
Papalia, Diane E., Ruth Duskin Feldman, and Sally Wendkos Olds. Human Development. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009.
Parham, L. Diane, Gloria Frolek Clark, Renee Watling, and Roseann Schaaf. “Occupational Therapy Interventions for Children and Youth with Challenges in Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing: A Clinic-Based Practice Case Example.” American Journal of Occupational Therapy 73, no. 1 (January 2019). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2019.731002.
“Preschooler Development.” MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002013.htm.
Roley, Smith Susanne, Erna I. Blanche, and Roseann C. Schaaf. Understanding the Nature of Sensory Integration with Diverse Populations. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed, 2007.
Rozin, Paul, and Deborah Schiller. “The Nature and Acquisition of a Preference for Chili Pepper by Humans.” Motivation and Emotion 4, no. 1 (March 1980): 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00995932.
Sun, Fang, Shiqiang Xiong, and Zhiming Zhu. “Dietary Capsaicin Protects Cardiometabolic Organs from Dysfunction.” Nutrients 8, no. 5 (April 25, 2016): 174. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8050174.
“Top 10 Ways to Enjoy Jalapenos.” Have A Plant. Produce for Better Health Foundation, April 8, 2019. https://fruitsandveggies.org/stories/top-10-ways-to-enjoy-jalapenos/.