6 Year Old Picky Eater

My son has sensory processing disorder. He also had a rough time after birth sice he was premie and needed oxygen. He is very picky with what he eats and if he tries something with a texture he is sensitive to he will gag horribly. I would see if you can have her evaluated by an Occupational Therapist who is familiar with the sensory processing. There are things you can do to reduce the sensitivities if this is what it is. At least you would know.

Seems more like a control issue than anything. My son LIKES to take cold lunch, so regardless of the lunches at school, he'll ask for cold. I allow him one cold lunch a week, that is all. There is no reason he can't eat lunch at school.

ANd maybe that comes from us not letting our kids get picky. They would get what we served them and if they didn't wnat it then they didn't eat. As a result of that, they eat whatever they are served. OF course they both have foods they don't care for (My oldest doesn't like potato in any form, my youngest doesn't like cauliflower) but I know this, but I still serve those foods on their plates.

ANYWAY, could it be that the 'cool' kids bring cold lunch? Do they start taht this young with girls? I do'nt think its a food issue, sounds like its a control issue.

My son is now 6, and is still fairly picky, but as a preschooler, he was down to crackers, peanut butter & carrots for every meal! My husband & I agreed that after his 4th birthday, he would need to start eating what we were having at dinner (for the most part - we make exceptions for foods he has tried several times & genuinely doesn't like). We talked to him about it ahead of time, so he knew what the deal was. It was a tough 3-4 weeks of him eating pretty much nothing for dinner & dramatically gagging on what he did try until he realized that we were not going to back down. He is still resistant at times, but his menu has expanded dramatically! It was definitely not an easy way to do it, but it worked for us. You do need to be ready to stick to your guns.... it will backfire terribly if you back down before your daughter does!

I also agree with the posters who mentioned sensory processing disorder. If it's really the texture that bothers her, it's worth considering SPD. You could try to get a referral to an Occupational Therapist at Gillette or Children's. I believe they both have programs to help picky eaters.

Good luck!

When I was growing up I took cold lunches every day(it was cheaper....) I ate PBJ, chips, and a 'snack' with schools milk every day for YEARS. If there's a cold lunch meal that she likes and she'll eat, then let her take the cold lunch. Most can be made the night before so they're ready to grab and go in the morning. A sandwich or meat and cheese with chips/crackers, and fruit or snack, with school milk is a good lunch...if she'll eat it. If she takes her lunch box, you may even be able to tell if she ate or not(unless she figures out she can throw/give it away....)
Maybe put short notes in her lunch she can read to let her know you're thinking of her. Maybe she just needs some thing to make her feel more at home.

my philosophy is, they do not eat what is provided for them then to bad. a kid will not starve themselves, sure they may decide to go hungry a couple of times before they figure out that your not kidding, but it is easyer to deal with picky eaters while they are young then to be catering to them all the way through. there isnt anything wrong with a little tough love

i just heard this on the radio yesterday...maybe she has some kind of tactile sensory issues...google it for more info and talk to you doctor about it...i dont know if its curable, but maybe if you are aware of it you can better understand it and work with your daughter and end the food struggles...

Hi L.
I have to agree with the other post of sensory proccssing disorder. My daughter has this and would not eat much of anything until she was diagnosed and treated. Have her evaluated and if she has sensory issues your life will be much easy when she is treated Good Luck:) T.