Supporting Regulation Through Chewing

Some kids just love to chew, bite, and crunch, and there’s actually a reason! Foods that are crunchy, chewy, or a little resistive give your child’s mouth and jaw important sensory input. This can help them feel more calm, focused, and ready to take on the day. By adding these kinds of foods to snacks and meals, you can meet their sensory needs in a fun and tasty way.

Oral motor foods that are resistive and crunchy provide the oral cavity with rich proprioceptive and tactile sensory input. This type of input is often organizing and regulating for many children, as it delivers strong, predictable feedback to the jaw, lips, and tongue. Chewing resistive textures can help support improved attention, body awareness, and overall self-regulation.

Proactively incorporating foods with these qualities into your child’s diet can help meet their sensory needs in a functional and natural way. Offering crunchy or chewy foods throughout the day, especially during transitions, before seated activities, or when your child appears dysregulated, may provide the oral sensory input they are seeking and support improved regulation and participation in daily routines.

Below is a list of foods to incorporate:

• Beef /turkey jerky

• Fruit jerky/fruit leathers

• Dried fruits

• Bagels

• Apples

• Carrots

• Cucumbers

• Celery

• Peppers

• Snap peas

• Corn chips/tortilla chips

• Frozen fruit

• Crunchy chickpeas or edamame

• Nuts

• Pita chips

• Gummy bears

• Popsicles

• Sour/mint candies

• Gum (depending on age)

• Nut butters/nutella

Disclaimer:

Use caution when selecting foods, as some items may present choking hazards depending on your child’s age and developmental stage. Always ensure foods are prepared in a safe and developmentally appropriate manner. Additionally, review nutrition labels carefully for potential allergens and ingredient information prior to offering new foods.

At Creating Connections OT, we’re here to help your child thrive—emotionally, physically, and socially. If this post resonated with you and you're wondering what the next step looks like, our New Client Page has everything you need. From what to expect in your first session to how we support your child’s unique goals, it’s all just a click away.