This article shares the best sensory-friendly proteins for picky eaters and kids with sensory needs.
Parents of extreme picky eaters come to me concerned that their child is not getting the nutrition they need to thrive.
Protein is often at the top of that list. Meat textures tend to be hard for picky eaters to eat and extra hard for kids with sensory food aversions.
The sensory-friendly proteins below include soft and crunchy proteins that can be easier for kids with sensory needs to consume and can help ensure your child is eating a balanced diet.
Sensory-friendly proteins: soft and smooth protein foods
- Tofu
- Beans
- Hot cereal (especially fortified with milk or a nutrition supplement)
- Eggs (scrambled, omelet, fried)
- Yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Nut butter
- Hummus
- Milkshake or smoothie
- Ground meat
- Fish
- Ricotta cheese
- Smoothie
- Lentils
- Plant-based protein pasta (like Banza and Chickapea)
- Black bean soup
- Refried beans
- Lentil soup
- Well mixed salmon or tuna salad
- Egg salad
- Quesadilla
- Hummus
Sensory-friendly proteins: crunchy protein foods
- Apple sandwiches with crunchy nut butter
- Sandwich with crunchy lettuce and apple slices
- Celery with nut butter or cream cheese
- Roasted chickpeas
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Crispy salami chips
- Tuna with veggie chunks and crackers
- Trail mix
- Roasted edamame beans
- Meat jerky
- Deli roll ups in crunchy lettuce
- Hard-shelled taco
- Baked cheese crisp
- Fish jerky
- Baked macaroni bites made in mini muffin tin
- Crispy quinoa coated chicken nuggets
- Small portion of yogurt or milk with a lot of granola
- Crunchy pickles wrapped in a slice of deli meat
Looking for sensory-friendly snack foods?
- Sensory-friendly snack guide
- A Dietitian’s Favorite Crunchy Packaged Snacks for Picky Eaters
- Healthy Sensory-Friendly Packaged Snacks for Picky Eaters
- Easy-to-Pack Travel Snacks for Kids with Sensory Issues
My son won’t eat 90% of these listed. I am at such a loss.
Mine too… trying so hard to get her to expand!
I know how you feel, my son will only eat plan pasta for dinner, majority of the time he won’t he his dinner at all. My son should be have a Autism test.
Veg/fruit smoothies with protein sources like SILKEN soft tofu or chia seeds. Then freeze them!!! Then they are popsicles. Lots of recipes online, our favorite thing is putting beets in them to make them purple and nutrients!
My daughter has sensory processing disorder and it effects her eating so much. There is not one food on your list she would eat..you might want to research a little better.
Veg/fruit smoothies with protein sources like SILKEN soft tofu or chia seeds. Then freeze them!!! Then they are popsicles. Lots of recipes online, our favorite thing is putting beets in them to make them purple and nutrients!
Sharing under more than one comment bc they are a life saver for us!