As most of us know, the childhood obesity rate is rising. It can be difficult to get children to eat vegetables, especially if your child is a “picky eater.”

East Cooper Medical Center is stepping in to help this month by offering a program for families of picky eaters.

“Knowing what you want to feed your child is one thing; helping them to take a chance to try it is another,” says Rebecca Doolittle McFalls, pediatric rehabilitation manager at East Cooper Medical Center. “This program is about the whole family – the child learning to stretch their choices while teaching the parents their role in guiding them. It is a food revolution to change the way the dinner table looks and sounds.”

This approach helps the parent and child work together as a team to build the child’s trust, confidence and enjoyment in eating. The program will highlight various medical histories that may have an impact on a child’s eating habits and educate the kids about making healthy choices. It will also explore various sensory experiences and oral motor utensils involved with cooking and eating.

The six-week Picky Eaters group is Wednesdays 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. July 7–Aug. 11. Cost is $90 and includes a curriculum for the parents to make food changes a part of everyday life. Call 416-6636 to register.