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Everything you need to help reverse picky eating. Created by experts, designed for parents and caregivers.

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Feed Them Well: A Guide to Raising Healthy, Confident Eaters for Life

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Get our expert advice, support, and evidence-based help for feeding kids directly to your inbox.

This information contained herein (including but not limited to text, graphics, images, videos, and other material) is for informational purposes only. The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be used to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s health, you should always consult with your healthcare provider.

Before undertaking a new health care or nutritional regimen, seek the advice of a medical provider and never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen on this website.

Welcome to PSA-Eat

The Pediatric Screener for ARFID and Extreme Picky Eating (PSA-Eat) suggests whether your child’s behaviors or risk factors may be similar to children who have ARFID or extreme picky eating. This picky eating test is not intended to replace a health care provider's advice.

The PSA-Eat will take approximately 3-5 minutes to complete.

Before you get started

When you accept this notice you will be agreeing to receive communications from us, including your screener results, useful picky eating help, and information on nutrition and helping your child have a good relationship with food.

*This screener does not give medical diagnoses or medical advice. This information contained herein (including but not limited to text, graphics, images, videos, and other material) is for informational purposes only.

The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be used to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s health, you should always consult with your healthcare provider. Before undertaking a new health care or nutritional regimen, seek the advice of a medical provider and never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen on this website.

I understand this is not an official diagnosis of ARFID and should talk to my child's healthcare provider.

I agree to the Kids Eat in Color Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

What is it like feeding your child?

Select all that apply.

It is moderately to highly stressful It is mildly stressful It seems harder for me than for other parents It seems about the same as for other parents, but I'm struggling I feel misunderstood, defeated, or frustrated People don't understand my child's picky eating People blame me for my child's picky eating I feel like I'm alone in this It takes a lot of effort NONE of these are true for me

Has your child's healthcare provider ever dismissed your concerns about your child's eating, suggesting it is not a big deal?

Yes

None

Tell us more about their picky eating

Select all that apply.

They eat a small variety of foods It takes a lot of effort or coaxing to get them to try new foods The list of foods they eat is shrinking They are refusing many foods they used to eat More than once a day they eat hardly anything at a meal NONE are true for my child

How selective is your child's eating?

Select all that apply.

They stopped eating food from at least 1 food group including fruit, vegetables, protein (including dairy and legumes), grains

They don't ever try new foods

They have to be exposed to a food 30 times or more before they will eat it

Once they stop eating a food, they never start eating it again

NONE are true for my child

Does your child like eating?

Select all that apply.

They often get bored of foods They aren't interested in eating, they would rather do anything else Meals are very short or very long because they aren't interested in eating They often eat a small amount and can almost never eat a large amount of food They could easily go hungry if I don't make sure they eat NONE are true for my child

Is your child particular about food?

Select all that apply.

They won't eat foods with certain textures, smells, moisture levels, sounds, temperatures, etc. (Example, they refuse mushy foods.)

They don't like food residue around their mouth or on their hands

They will only eat one color of food

They will only eat certain brands of several foods

They won't eat a food if something is different about it (like it's broken or has a ""speck"" on it)

They won't eat a food if it's in a different shape (like a rectangle instead of circle pancake)

Foods have to be perfectly "just right" in smell, texture, flavor, etc. or they won't eat it

NONE are true for my child

Does your child have anxiety related to eating?

Select all that apply.

They won't eat a certain amount because they are scared of vomiting, choking, or GI discomfort

They won't eat certain foods because they are afraid something bad might happen (choking, vomitting, etc.)

Once they have a bad experience with a food they often stop eating it permanently

They avoid coming to the table or eating place to eat

During meal times they are more likely to cry, shake, melt down, hyperventilate, or express anger

NONE are true for my child

How many foods does your child eat? (Different forms of foods count as different foods. For example, chicken nuggets and chicken tenders are 2 different options.)

Select all that apply.

<20 20-30 31+

How is your child's growth?

Select all that apply.

They have been losing weight

They are consistently moving down in percentiles after age 4

They are growing as expected, but barely

Their healthcare provider is concerned about their growth

We have to work really hard to keep them on their growth curve, it's almost always on my mind

NONE are true for my child

How is your child's nutrition?

Select all that apply.

I suspect they have a vitamin deficiency

They needed a GI tube after age 1 to avoid malnutrition

They have required medical intervention or hospitalization because they ate so little

They often experience constipation because of their diet

They have been diagnosed with a deficiency

Their medical provider recommended oral drink supplements due to growth concerns

They HAVE to take a vitamin supplement or there is an obvious positive change when they take one

NONE are true for my child

How does your child's eating affect the family?

Select all that apply.

The rest of the family has had to make BIG changes to accommodate their eating

Their eating causes disputes and difficult behavior at home

It is negatively affecting my (or another caregiver's) work, or physical or mental health

NONE are true for my child

How does your child's eating affect their social life?

Select all that apply.

They worry about social experiences that involve food

They avoid or can't participate in social experiences because of food

They can participate in social experiences with food, but they experience significant distress

They have to bring their own food wherever they go

They are aware of their eating challenges and are unhappy about it

They are teased or bullied by others about their eating

They have low self-esteem related to eating

They typically need to eat something different than everyone else during meals

NONE are true for my child

Does your child's eating affect their mood and behavior at home, school, daycare, extracurricular activities, etc.?

Select all that apply.

I have noticed a change in my child's mood and/or behavior related to their eating habits (examples include new or worsened anxiety, irritability, difficulty focusing, "acting out", moodiness, embarrassment/shame or sadness associated with their eating problems)

It causes problems in their functioning in one area, such as at home or at school

It causes problems in their functioning in 2 or more areas of life, such as at home and school

NONE are true for my child

How old is your child?

How long has your child been picky?

Select all that apply.

They were picky before 12 months old They have been picky for more than 3 years They are 6 or older and still picky NONE are true for my child

Has your child had an upsetting food experience?

Select all that apply

More than one incident of vomiting or spitting up through their nose with an immediate negative or refusal response to food following the experience

Required a newborn feeding specialist or NG tube in the NICU

Had prolonged pain with eating related to sickness or medical condition

Had a very upsetting incident or several with food such as vomitting, choking, allergic reaction, etc.

NONE are true for my child

Does your child have a biological parent, sibling, aunt/uncle, or first cousin who has (or did as a child) extreme picky eating, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), low appetite that resulted in growth or nutrition challenges, or major fear or anxiety related to food?

Select all that apply.

Yes

Not Sure

None

Has your child been diagnosed or are they suspected to have any of the following?

Select all that apply.

Autism spectrum disorder

Sensory processing disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder

Other condition that falls under the category of neurodivergence (examples, anxiety, learning disorders).

NONE are true for my child

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