Sensory mealtimes: smell, texture, the canteen
A canteen is smell, noise, other people’s food and a clock. We plan one change — a quieter seat, a packed lunch they can touch, a texture near the plate — not a rebuilt diet overnight.
Written by the Inclusive Developmental and Therapy Center therapy team — our Speech & Language Therapist, psychology and ABA staff. This page is awaiting its clinical review.
Home vs canteen
Home can be one plate, one smell. School is not. Ask for a seat, a packed lunch, time to eat. Mealtime skills, feeding, when to see a doctor.
Safety
Gagging that looks like choking, weight loss, a child who drinks only milk at seven — paediatrician first. We will not coach past that.
Mealtimes — questions parents ask
They eat at home and not at school.
Then the room is the load. Packed lunch and a quieter seat beat a lecture about trying the curry.
Relatives say they are spoiled.
Texture and smell are not manners. Explaining to relatives.
Can you come to a meal on video?
A consultation is Rs 1,500 and lasts up to 50 minutes. A calm snack, not a packed Eid table.
Is this sensory integration?
No. Practical mealtime support. Licensed SI/OT is a different door.
Ask about mealtimes
A short, friendly conversation is the best first step. Call, text or WhatsApp us — we’ll listen and guide you, with no pressure.
MPS Road, Block A Model Town, Multan (near Bloomfield Hall School, Street No. 2) · Mon–Fri, 2 PM – 6 PM