Food exposure is not just about eating.

Children with fussy eating or ARFID may need many gentle, repeated experiences with a food before they feel safe enough to taste it.

This diary is designed to help you track small steps of progress using the SOS Approach to Feeding’s 32 steps to eating - simplified here for parents.

The Steps to Eating (Simplified)

1. Tolerates food in the room

2. Looks at the food

3. Moves closer to the food

4. Touches the food with fingers or utensils

5. Smells the food

6. Touches the food to lips

7. Licks or tastes the food

8. Holds food in mouth briefly

9. Chews and spits out

10. Chews and swallows

Food Exposure Tracking

Use this table to record your child’s progress with different foods. Remember: even tiny steps forward are progress worth celebrating:

Final Thoughts

Every child’s journey with food is unique. The key is to celebrate small wins and avoid pressure. Tracking progress helps you see the little steps that add up over time.

✨ If you’d like support in using exposure strategies with your child, Nourish & Grow offers 1:1 tailored guidance for families managing fussy eating and ARFID.