-
Register Now
Free
We're offering this course free because we're passionate about helping families find mealtime peace and joy!
On Demand
From Power Struggles to Peaceful Plates: A Parent’s Guide to Mealtime Pressure
with Karen Dilfer, OTR/L & Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, M. Ed., FAOTA
Expected release December 2025
Coming Soon On Demand
Expected release December 2025
Course Description
Feeding our children can be one of the most emotionally charged parts of parenting. We want them to grow strong, eat well, and enjoy food—but despite our best intentions, mealtimes can become stressful. This course helps parents explore how pressure—both subtle and obvious—can show up at the table, and how to gently shift toward a more relaxed, responsive approach.
Together, we’ll look at pressure from a child’s perspective and unpack why it’s so common, even when we’re trying to be supportive. You’ll learn to recognize the many faces of pressure—from encouraging “just one more bite” to offering rewards or negotiating food choices—and how these tactics can affect a child’s physical cues and emotional relationship with eating.
We’ll dive into the research behind pressure and feeding, and explore practical, compassionate strategies to reduce tension at mealtimes. Whether you’re navigating picky eating, food refusal, or simply want more peace at the table, this course offers tools to help you feel more confident and connected.
Most importantly, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how to support your child’s autonomy, trust their appetite, and create a mealtime environment that nurtures both body and spirit.
In this 2 hour discussion, you will learn to:
-
Understand how pressure around eating feels—for both you and your child
-
Recognize why pressure often shows up at mealtimes
-
Identify ways pressure can manifest, from subtle nudges to overt expressions.
-
Describe how pressure affects a child's internal cues and emotional connection to food.
-
Learn practical strategies to reduce pressure and build trust at the table
-
Explore the research behind pressure-free feeding and why it matters
Instructors
Founders and Senior Instructors Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, M.Ed., FAOTA and Karen Dilfer, OTR/L
Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, M.Ed., FAOTA
Marsha is a pediatric occupational therapist who has specialized in pediatric feeding for almost 50 years. She has co-authored Pre-Feeding Skills, First Edition, Pre-Feeding Skills: Second Edition, Mealtime Participation Guide, and Homemade Blended Formula with Suzanne Evans Morris, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. She co-authored Feeding and Nutrition for the Child with Special Needs with Tracy Delaney. Her newest book is Anxious Eaters, Anxious Mealtimes: Practical and Compassionate Strategies for Mealtime Peace. When it is not the middle of a global pandemic, she presents nationally and internationally. She is a food celebrator and is passionate about supporting children and their families.
Karen Dilfer, OTR/L
Karen Dilfer is an occupational therapist, feeding specialist, and food enthusiast. She has a strong pediatric background and loves to help children with motor, sensory, and mealtime challenges. A Chicago native, Karen enjoys discovering new restaurants and cooking with friends and family. She is a founding member of the Chicago Feeding Group, a non profit organization that seeks to support parents and professions who work with children who struggle to eat. Karen was recently featured in the Chicago Tribune. Karen has a bachelor of science degree from Calvin College and a master’s of science degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She is Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) trained and has also completed post-graduate education in Sensory Integration. Karen trained under Marsha Dunn Klein at Mealtime Connections, LLC, in Tucson, Arizona. Karen is a contributing member to the Get Permission team and regularly teaches Get Permission workshops and webinars. She maintains a private practice and actively treats children with feeding challenges. You can learn more about her work here: www.eatwithkaren.com.
Marsha is a pediatric occupational therapist who has specialized in pediatric feeding for almost 50 years. She has co-authored Pre-Feeding Skills, First Edition, Pre-Feeding Skills: Second Edition, Mealtime Participation Guide, and Homemade Blended Formula with Suzanne Evans Morris, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. She co-authored Feeding and Nutrition for the Child with Special Needs with Tracy Delaney. Her newest book is Anxious Eaters, Anxious Mealtimes: Practical and Compassionate Strategies for Mealtime Peace. When it is not the middle of a global pandemic, she presents nationally and internationally. She is a food celebrator and is passionate about supporting children and their families.
Karen Dilfer, OTR/L
Karen Dilfer is an occupational therapist, feeding specialist, and food enthusiast. She has a strong pediatric background and loves to help children with motor, sensory, and mealtime challenges. A Chicago native, Karen enjoys discovering new restaurants and cooking with friends and family. She is a founding member of the Chicago Feeding Group, a non profit organization that seeks to support parents and professions who work with children who struggle to eat. Karen was recently featured in the Chicago Tribune. Karen has a bachelor of science degree from Calvin College and a master’s of science degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She is Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) trained and has also completed post-graduate education in Sensory Integration. Karen trained under Marsha Dunn Klein at Mealtime Connections, LLC, in Tucson, Arizona. Karen is a contributing member to the Get Permission team and regularly teaches Get Permission workshops and webinars. She maintains a private practice and actively treats children with feeding challenges. You can learn more about her work here: www.eatwithkaren.com.