ARFID and pediatric feeding disorders take center stage this week on The Untethered Podcast.
Hallie welcomes pediatric feeding expert Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP, to discuss the connection between ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), pediatric feeding disorders (PFD), and childhood anxiety.
Melanie, a licensed speech-language pathologist and internationally recognized author, breaks down how anxiety plays a central role in many feeding challenges—and how understanding this connection can help families and professionals create meaningful progress.
Whether you’re a parent navigating extreme picky eating or a professional working with feeding clients, this episode offers practical, compassionate strategies to reduce anxiety, build trust, and promote lasting change.
If this episode resonates with you, take a screenshot while you’re listening, post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag Hallie @halliebulkin and Melanie @mymunchbug_melaniepotock
In this episode, you’ll learn:
✔️ What differentiates picky eating from ARFID and PFD
✔️ How anxiety influences feeding behavior and progress
✔️ Ways to reduce anxiety for both children and parents
✔️ Why parent coaching is essential in feeding therapy
✔️ How autism spectrum disorder intersects with feeding challenges
✔️ The power of a transdisciplinary treatment model
✔️ Tools and strategies for making mealtimes less stressful
Whether you’re a parent, therapist, or educator, this episode provides a roadmap to better understanding and supporting children with complex feeding needs.
Related episodes to explore:
🔹 Episode 306: Ped Feeding 101 with Hallie Bulkin
🔹 Episode 313: For The Love of Feeding with Cathy Stys
🔹 Episode 325: Introducing Solids with Catherine Callahan & Cinthia Scott
LINKS
Get to know Melanie Potock on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymunchbug_melaniepotock/
Check out her website: https://mymunchbug.com/
Be part of our Myo Fam! Join us inside The Myo Membership: www.themyomembership.com
Become a Certified Myofunctional Therapist™ (CMT®). Enroll here: www.themyomethod.com
Ready to turn your “myo eyes” on? Join our webinar: https://www.feedthepeds.com/myo-webinar
Download a Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet Here: FastMyoScreening.com
Find a myofunctional therapist: www.themyodirectory.com
Connect with Hallie on Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIN
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