What Do You Feed Your Picky Eater?

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/extremely-picky-eaters-st...

Since he's 6 he should PROBABLY be over the "gag-yuck-spit-it-out" response that causes MOST picky eaters (it's a neurological thing that happens from apx age 2-5 or 6. Any chemical signature that the brain hasn't catagorized as "food" essentially tastes and smells like dog poo -or pick something else nasty-. "Toddler food" which only has about 11 ingredients, and no spices or herbs to speak of creates most picky eaters... because by the time parents are ready to branch out, their kids' brains have shut the doors on new chemicals. This isn't a conscious thing. It's not stubbornnes, or willfulness, or a power thing. Brain, not mind. None of us have any control over it. Just like if you love cheesecake you can't make it taste like dog poo, you can't make something that tastes like dog poo taste like cheesecake. Even if it IS a cheesecake.).

PRIOR to age 5 or 6 I feed picky eaters what they'll eat. Given a short list of 5-10 ingredients I can make 50-100 dishes based off of those.

Since it's probably NOT that, because of his age... I would be thinking:

1) SPD (sensory processing disorder) or
2) Allergies/intollerances

Either of which = a medical work up to start ((kids often naturally avoid foods that make them feel ill, very few lactose intollerant kids, or celiac kids -for example- crave dairy or wheat. Some do, but most have an aversion to it)). Rule out allergies, intollerance, and diseases FIRST.

THEN move onto a psych eval. SPD often needs "work arounds" (like for food issues avoiding certain textures is a really common one), but the vast majority of the problems can be dealt with via therapy that won't have them being a collapsing mess all the time and will greatly increase what they CAN do/have/eat.

If you think he is bad now, wait until he is a teenager. He will make your life miserable.

Our kids ate what we ate. We had 8 kids and there was no way I was going to turn our dinner time into a fast food restaruant. If my kids didn't like what we had, they waited until the next meal to eat. If they didn't like it then, they waited until the next meal, etc. What they refused to eat became their next meal. All of my adult kids eat a wide variety of things and they always eat what we serve them.

I worked in business with one of these "picky eaters". When we had working dinners we always had a difficult time finding a place to accomodate him and his likes. I know he was passed over for promotion because he wouldn't try new foods. The bosses said if he wasn't willing to try new foods, he probably wasn't willing to try new ideas and we were an innovative company.

Good luck to you and yours.

Hi sweet-

My second son was a VERY picky eater. I was so worried about his food intake for a while...until the pediatrician told me to 'track' his intake over the course of a week...and see what went 'in' over time...rather than worrying day to day. He actually did pretty well when tracking him for a week!

I did give him the peanut butter sammie option...(and only a peanut butter sandwich option)...and fed everyone else the same 'yummie' things I had planned as they were not fussy. There was a period of time where I thought he would NEVER eat much of anything else...

Happy to say...he is now 21...6'2"...and has a healthy appetite for MANY foods now! He was here for christmas...and much to my SHOCK had sushi when we made a 'shushi' run shortly after X mas!

Best Luck!
And...remember...PB has good protein!

Michele/cat

Sometimes there is a reason why this happens.
Taste buds are very strong at this age.
It could be sensory disorder.?
It could be changing tasebuds.
I know with me sometimes, out of the blue, something I liked I just can't
stand anymore. Not sure what to blame it on.
But something definitely changes.
I say roll with the punches now because a gag reflex is actual physical
evidence of something.
Don't push it.
I guarantee you he won't be like this when he's 16 or 20.
I learned in my early childhood classes that w/young kids.....things change.
More so than w/adults.
Hang in there.
Feed him what you know he will eat so you know he gets his nutrients & his food to make his belly full.
It will not be like this forever.
Always still try to offer new things!

Since it's not getting better and he is gagging just smelling the food I think you should take him to see an Occupational Therapist. It probably will get a little better with age but it sounds like he has some sensory processing issues. They will be able to help him.

I have one too (age 5). We went to a nutritionist which was somewhat helpful. She now helps in choosing meals and preparing them. Don't let others judge you that you should make him sit there or force him to eat (other than one or two bite rule). Good luck and be patient, it is so hard!

So frustrating....My daughter was/is picky. It is getting better, but still is hard. My daughter's doctor suggested we do kind of what you are doing, give them an alternative, however, it has to be the same one thing(like cereal(non-sugary kind) or pbj) and nothing other than that - and they have to make it. Mom doesn't make it. I don't really know if that will help in your situation, but you could try it. That way, you really aren't doing doubt the work and hopefully he will grow tired of it eventually and want to try something new. My daughter gags over smells all the time - especially at dinner and I find it is here way of basically "having a tantrum" trying to get what she wants. We did try this technique and it did help us a bit. She is still a little picky.

We now have implimented the one bite rule. She has to try one bite of everything. Some nights are gag nights, but she has actually tried things and ended up liking them. Like potstickers and yakisoba! How crazy is that? Totally out of the box! However, she still will not touch mac and cheese - homemade or store bought.

Good luck to you. I hope you find some ideas that you can try and that will work for you and your family.

I make what I want for dinner and if he eats it great, if not oh well.
I have one that used to not like sauce on anything, he's grown out of it because I didn't let up. When I make spaghetti I put sauce on it and that's what he gets. I didn't give in to the drama. Now I have a sensory disorder myself and I know what it's like with textures I don't like in my mouth. I don't make anythign I wouldn't eat. And if I can eat it so can he. If he doesn't want to eat it he goes hungry. He's learned to eat it. And has learned he likes it.

I agree with the recommendations to have him evaluated by an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory issues. My son had a very limited menu until he started occupational therapy. Now at 8 he eats so much more it constantly amazes us. We still run into issues but he can tolerate more smells (like you we have other children as well) and has added most meats, fish, beans, carrots, tomatoes and even eggs to what he will eat which was mainly soft foods such as pastas and yogurt for a long time. Best of luck!