Many professionals and parents describe common frustrations at mealtime: refusal to eat, tantrums, rigid routines, or insistence on a narrow set of familiar foods. While behavioral feeding interventions have been shown to improve food variety and reduce problematic behaviors in children with avoidant or selective feeding patterns (Bloomfield et al., 2018), not all providers have experience working on these skills. In this session, we’ll examine those typical complaints, exploring how social, cultural, and familial expectations shape mealtime interactions. We’ll use a neuro-affirming framework to learn how to distinguish which behaviors are suitable targets for behavioral intervention versus those better left untouched or accommodated. We’ll also explore typical developmental behaviors associated with mealtime versus those that might fall into the category of restrictive eating (e.g., overly controlling practices, limited food repertoire, strong insistence on sameness). Finally, we’ll review evidence-based strategies to promote positive mealtime behaviors including cooperation, reducing refusal, and tasting new foods all while prioritizing choice and assent through the process.