Food Issues

I am beginning to be at my wit's end with my DD's food habits. (She's 3.5 years old) No matter what I do or what I say I cannot get her to eat a variety of table food....won't even try it! There is very limited things as to what she will eat! Usually (in no particular order and not all in the same day) it will be mini muffins, bologna, yogurt, french toast (the boxed kind from the supermarket), french fries, cheerios, bananas, life cereal, granola bars, crackers, and once in a blue moon I can get her to eat oatmeal. I tried to tell her that she eats what me and DH eat and that is it and when you're hungry, you'll eat (as per what my ped. told me to do) but that just caused a big melt down and crying fit to the point that she was turning beet red and gasping for breath because she was getting herself so worked up. I had her in feeding therapy but she would eat a little there (chicken nuggets) and refused to do it at home so I stopped it. It is exhausting. DH tells me "Well as long as she eats something...." but I can't see how she can sustain on this stuff! She's 31 pounds and probably around 38 inches. She is in pre-school and she is surrounded by kids all day that eat things like pizza, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, etc and she won't budge. I've tried rewards, taking things away from her and nothing. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks!

Re: Food Issues

No advice. Just wanted to let you know you are not alone. My 4 yr old ds has been like this since 2 1/2 yrs old.

Re: Food Issues

I'm in the same boat but with a 5 yr old DD. Our feeding Eval apt is on Tuesday. Sorry to hear it didn't work for you guys. I've been working in this issue with my DD since she was 6 mo old. In addition to that I am a pediatric OT and my sister is a pediatric speech therapist so we have experience but still were unable to reallyake a change. My DD currently eats various forms of bread, cheese, apples, grapes, strawberries, pancakes, French toast and desserts/sweets/snack foods. He repertoire is so small, she gets sick of foods and won't eat them anymore so over time this list is getting smaller and smaller! I'm hoping feeding therapy plus me working with her at home will help her. She has sensory issues and is extremely orally defensive, has a very sensitive gag reflex, has a history of reflex and vomits at the drop of a hat. I'm curious wha approach your feeding therapist took (SOS, Food Chaining, etc...)?

Re: Food Issues

I wish I had advice. My dd (turning 3) is becoming more and more picky. She was 25 lbs at 2.5, maybe a little heavier Now but not much. She won't try anything and her repertoire is tiny. Most nights I give in and just give her pasta or Cheerios b/c at nearly 8 mos pregnant I don't have the energy to do anything else.

Food Issues

My daughter loves when I make food fun. For example, I will lay the food out on the plate in the shape of a face and then pretend that the face is talking like "nooo, don't eat my nose". Silly but she gets a kick out of it and eats the whole thing. I also will have one of her dolls "eat" the food with her and she plays while she eats and will eat the whole thing. My husband has taken the, you eat this or nothing route and it never works. Making food fun does for us.

Re: Food Issues

Interested to hear if anyone has ever converted a picky eater.

My kids have tried to not eat certain things... But we do the starvation route & it's worked for us. They even eat stuff I don't like to eat (but I never show them I don't eat something). But I think in my case, the food pickiness is just a phase.

Re: Food Issues

Pickiness is a phase. It's a huge issue when it moves beyond pickiness and you have a child who is more of a "problem feeder". Starvation and making dinner fun etc. typical strategies that work with typical kids don't work at all with problem feeders and could actually add to the problem and create anxiety and food jags.

Re: Food Issues

Re: Food Issues

Here's some good info:
picky eater vs. problem feeder

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Food Issues

I have a picky eater too. Have you tried dipping in ketchup or other sauce? That's how I get my DD to eat chicken. She loves to eat foods with ketchup and tomato sauce.
This doesn't really work for us, but some kids will eat better if you let them watch TV during dinner. I guess they pay less attention to what they are eating.

Message edited 11/21/2015 12:09:43 PM.

Food Issues

my almost 3yo is super picky too. I was of the "she will eat when shes hungry" mentality and never let it bother me. I pack food for her that I know she likes (which is about 4 things!) whenever we go out just to be safe. About 2 weeks ago she got a goody-bag at a party filled with candy and she is always asking for candy. May not be the best parenting, but i tell her if she eats her dinner she can get one treat a night and it works. She still will only eat certain foods, and will not try anything new...but at least she eats her dinner. At my daughter's age, i would not punish her for not eating

Re: Food Issues

My 5 year old is like this.
She barely eats anything and wont' try anything new.
It's very rare that she will eat any meat at all and she never eats vegetables/
I just let it go.
I can't force feed her. I know eventually she will outgrow it and she is healthy and not malnourished.
She takes a multi vitamin as well

Message edited 11/23/2015 9:54:48 AM.

Food Issues

My 6 year old is like this. He only used to eat about 6 things. He goes to feeding therapy once a week and it's helped a lot! He is eating two more foods than he ever did and now drinks milk. It might not seem a lot, but I'm so happy. He does have ADHD, sensory issues, and anxiety, so it might be different with your child, but I would give it time. 3 is still young!