Food Chaining: The Proven 6-Step Plan to Stop Picky Eating, Solve Feeding Problems and Expand Your Child's Diet by Cheri Fraker & Mark Fishbein & Sibyl Cox & Laura Walbert Summary

1. Food Chaining uses taste and texture bridges to expand picky eaters’ diets.
2. Cheri Fraker’s 6-step plan stops mealtime battles through gradual sensory transitions.
3. Build food chains by matching color, shape, or temperature to preferred foods.
4. PreChaining prepares hesitant eaters with non-food steps like utensil or plate changes.
5. Flavor masking and mapping help children tolerate new tastes without stress.
6. Food Chaining prioritizes child-led pacing over parental pressure to prevent aversion.
7. Analyze core diets to identify nutritional gaps and create targeted food chains.
8. Transition from chicken nuggets to grilled chicken via texture and brand variations.
9. Rate new foods on a 1-5 scale to gauge readiness for chain progression.
10. Food Chaining addresses medical, sensory, and allergy-related feeding disorders holistically.
11. Use dips and temperature tweaks to make unfamiliar foods feel safer.
12. Fraker’s method reduces anxiety by linking food exploration to existing preferences.

About the Author

Cheri Fraker, Mark Fishbein, Sibyl Cox, and Laura Walbert are the multidisciplinary experts behind Food Chaining: The Proven 6-Step Plan to Stop Picky Eating, Solve Feeding Problems, and Expand Your Child’s Diet, a groundbreaking guide for parents and clinicians addressing pediatric feeding disorders.

Fraker, a registered pediatric dietitian and lactation consultant, partners with Walbert, a speech-language pathologist specializing in feeding therapy, Fishbein, a pediatric gastroenterologist, and Cox, an occupational therapist, to merge decades of clinical experience into this evidence-based approach. Their work stems from collaborative practice at a leading pediatric feeding clinic, where they developed the food chaining methodology to address sensory aversions, medical complexities, and developmental challenges.

Fraker and Walbert’s expertise extends to their professional education course, PreChaining and Food Chaining Therapy for Extreme Feeding Aversion, which has trained thousands of clinicians globally. Fraker also co-authored Evaluation and Treatment of Pediatric Feeding Disorders, a foundational text for feeding therapists.

The Food Chaining framework is widely adopted in clinical settings, with its six-step system praised for improving nutritional outcomes and reducing mealtime anxiety. The book’s strategies, endorsed by therapists and parents alike, have helped children worldwide expand their diets while fostering positive food experiences.

FAQs About This Book

What is Food Chaining by Cheri Fraker about?

Food Chaining presents a medically proven 6-step method to address picky eating and feeding challenges in children. It focuses on gradually introducing new foods by linking them to accepted favorites through similarities in taste, texture, and temperature. Designed by a team of pediatric experts, the approach helps parents expand their child’s diet while addressing underlying medical, sensory, or allergic issues.

Who should read Food Chaining?

This book is ideal for parents of children with extreme food aversions, pediatric healthcare professionals, and caregivers of kids with sensory processing issues or feeding disorders. It’s particularly valuable for families navigating allergies, autism-related eating challenges, or neurological conditions that impact nutrition.

Is Food Chaining worth reading?

Yes, it’s a standout resource for its evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach endorsed by feeding therapists and dietitians. The book provides actionable strategies like flavor mapping and sample food chains (e.g., transitioning from French fries to zucchini sticks), making it practical for real-world use.

What is the 6-step plan in Food Chaining?

The six steps are: 1) Identify accepted foods, 2) Analyze taste/texture/temperature preferences, 3) Create “chains” of similar target foods, 4) Gradually introduce new items, 5) Monitor reactions using a 1-10 rating system, and 6) Expand to all food groups. This systematic method reduces anxiety while improving dietary variety.

How does Food Chaining address taste and texture sensitivities?

The method groups foods by sensory profiles—for example, linking crunchy textures (crackers → veggie chips) or mild flavors (mashed potatoes → cauliflower puree). By respecting a child’s sensory preferences, it builds acceptance through subtle variations rather than abrupt changes.

What are sample food chains from the book?

• French fries → Sweet potato fries → Baked zucchini sticks
• Chicken nuggets → Shredded chicken → Ground meat in sauces
• Yogurt tubes → Smoothies → Fruit blends

Each chain progresses from preferred foods to nutritionally richer options.

Does Food Chaining help with food allergies?

Yes, it includes guidance on navigating common allergens while expanding diets. The authors provide strategies for safely introducing alternatives—like using sunflower seed butter in a peanut-free chain—and identifying allergy-related aversions.

What is the “pre-chaining” method mentioned in Food Chaining?

Pre-chaining prevents aversions by exposing infants to diverse flavors and textures early. It involves introducing transitional foods (e.g., moving from breast milk to purees with similar temperatures) and celebrating exploratory eating behaviors.

How does Food Chaining assist special needs children?

The book tailors strategies for autism, Down syndrome, and oral-motor delays. It emphasizes nonverbal communication during meals, adaptive utensils, and incorporating sensory integration therapy principles into feeding routines.

What does the Wall Street Journal quote say about Food Chaining?

The Wall Street Journal notes, “Food Chaining [has treated] thousands of severely picky eaters,” highlighting its effectiveness for extreme cases like children who eat only three foods. This endorsement underscores its clinical validation.

How does Food Chaining compare to traditional “just try it” approaches?

Unlike coercion-based methods, food chaining respects a child’s sensory boundaries. It uses science-driven desensitization instead of pressure, resulting in lower mealtime stress and higher long-term success rates for dietary expansion.

Can Food Chaining help teenagers or adults?

While focused on children, the principles apply to older individuals with lifelong eating challenges. The rating system and gradual exposure techniques are adaptable for addressing adult food neophobia or ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder).