How Food Helps Speech: The Link Between Chewing and Language in Children
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How Food Helps Speech: The Link Between Chewing and Language in Children
When we think of language development, we immediately think of the first words, nursery rhymes, and songs. In reality, the ability to speak begins much earlier, and begins precisely… in the mouth at the table. Chewing and orofacial development. In the first years of life, the mouth serves more than just feeding: it is a veritable "gym" for the muscles that will one day allow us to articulate words.
- The tongue moves to move food from one side of the mouth to the other.
- The cheeks support and guide chewing.
- The lips close tightly to hold food and, later, to pronounce sounds like p , b , m .
Varied and complete chewing strengthens these muscles, also preparing the child for the correct production of sounds.
During weaning, it's not just what you eat that matters, but how you eat it.
- Soft baby food and smoothies : these are great for starting out, but they shouldn't be the only consistency.
- Soft pieces (cooked vegetables, ripe fruit, well-cooked pasta) : stimulate the first lateral movements of the tongue.
- Slightly firmer foods (soft bread, fresh cheeses, meatballs) : help strengthen the jaws and lips.
Offering different consistencies promotes oral motor coordination, which is essential for both good nutrition and language development.
Signs to watch for in pediatric children
Sometimes, difficulties in chewing can indicate small problems that should be monitored by a pediatrician, speech therapist or ENT specialist:
- The child tends to push food out with his tongue .
- He has a lot of trouble with non-blended foods .
- He often breathes with his mouth open while eating.
Intervening early means preventing these difficulties from affecting future language and eating habits.
- Expert tip: Alternate between soft and firmer textures frequently, starting from the first year.
- Useful baby food accessory: silicone plates divided into compartments → help present different consistencies in the same meal.
- Easy recipe: soft vegetable and ricotta meatballs, easy to chew and perfect for exercising the tongue and jaw.
🥦 Recipe: Soft Vegetable and Ricotta Meatballs
- 200g cooked vegetables of your choice (zucchini, carrots, spinach, pumpkin)
- 150 g of fresh cow's or sheep's milk ricotta
- 1 small egg
- 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs (preferably wholemeal)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
- Steam or boil vegetables until very soft.
- Drain them well and blend them roughly (they must not become a cream, better to leave a few very small pieces to encourage chewing).
- In a bowl, mix the vegetables with the ricotta, egg, Parmesan, and a tablespoon of breadcrumbs.
- Shape the mixture into small meatballs with your hands.
- Coat them lightly in breadcrumbs.
- Place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper and brush them with a drizzle of oil.
- Bake at 180° for about 15-20 minutes, until golden but soft inside.
- The soft but not homogeneous consistency trains the tongue and chewing .
- The small size allows the child to easily pick them up with his hands, encouraging independent feeding .
- Ricotta makes the meatballs creamy, preventing them from being too dry and difficult to swallow.
Scientific Insights :
Development of eating skills in infants and toddlers from a neuropediatric perspective
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