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Parenting: Elementary Ages Community

Elementary school brings new adventures and challenges for parents and kids. ... more

Last Reply:

picky eater

maryberrylicious posted:

I have a 7 yr old daughter who is a picky eater! she won't eat "normal" kid foods like ht dogs, mac n cheese, pizza, or mashed potatoes... Not even mcdonalds! All she will eat is plain noodles(cooked eldente & have to b rotini) and honey nut cheerio cereal! I am beginning to feel the blame! should i MAKE her eat other foods? Ped. says its just a phase & is ok as long as shes growing! This is a 5 yr "phase" and I've had enough of being short order cook! I need some good ideas & advice! If she tries a new food(once every 6 months) she makes herself gag on it! I'm wondering if she needs counceling! I will if i can't put an end to this! How do I take control-nicely! help, Mary

9 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:picky eaterI have a 7 yr old daughter who is a picky eater! she won't eat "normal" kid foods like ht dogs, mac n cheese, pizza, or mashed potatoes... Not even mcdonalds! All she will eat is plain noodles(cooked eldente & have to b rotini) and honey nut cheerio cereal! I am beginning to feel the blame! should i MAKE her eat other foods? Ped. says its just a phase & is ok as long as shes growing! This is a 5 yr "phase" and I've had enough of being short order cook! I need some good ideas & advice! If she tries a new food(once every 6 months) she makes herself gag on it! I'm wondering if she needs counceling! I will if i can't put an end to this! How do I take control-nicely! help, Mary

Haylen_WebMD_Staff responded:

I feel your frustration! My 2.5 and 6 year old eat pretty healthy but I do make sure they take a multivitiman to cover all the bases.

Here's a video with a great suggestion I had not considered - include your child in shopping, menu planning and food prep activities:

http://www.webmd.com/video/persuading-picky-eaters

I usually try to grocery shop alone...and keep the kids OUT of the kitchen when I'm making dinner - I think I'll invite them in tonight!

Does your daughter have an annual doctor's visit coming up? Might be a good topic to bring up at that time.

Please report back!

Haylen

Report This| Share this:picky eaterI feel your frustration! My 2.5 and 6 year old eat pretty healthy but I do make sure they take a multivitiman to cover all the bases. Here's a video with a great suggestion I had not considered - include your child in shopping, menu planning and food prep activities: <a href="http://www.webmd.com/video/persuading-picky-eaters">http://www.webmd.com/video/persuading-picky-eaters</a> I usually try to grocery shop alone...and keep the kids OUT of the kitchen when I'm making dinner - I think I'll invite them in tonight! Does your daughter have an annual doctor's visit coming up? Might be a good topic to bring up at that time. Please report back! Haylen

maryberrylicious replied to Haylen_WebMD_Staff's response:

thanks so much for your help! I'm starting a journal of foods Emily will eat and try for her next dr. visit since I don't really think they know how serious this is! She does take a multivitamin so she gets her vitamins from there! I just don't want this messing her up for life if we don't find the cause! I asked her alot of questions tonight about food and her opinions about it & got some strange and interesting info! I wrote it all down to tell her pedi! I want them to dig deeper since I don't feel this is a "phase"! I feel this could be helped while she's young if I only knew what to do for her! I want them to give me answeres, not excuses! I wish I knew of a specialist in this subject! I will keep you updated! Mary

Report This| Share this:picky eaterthanks so much for your help! I'm starting a journal of foods Emily will eat and try for her next dr. visit since I don't really think they know how serious this is! She does take a multivitamin so she gets her vitamins from there! I just don't want this messing her up for life if we don't find the cause! I asked her alot of questions tonight about food and her opinions about it & got some strange and interesting info! I wrote it all down to tell her pedi! I want them to dig deeper since I don't feel this is a "phase"! I feel this could be helped while she's young if I only knew what to do for her! I want them to give me answeres, not excuses! I wish I knew of a specialist in this subject! I will keep you updated! Mary

mjr88 replied to maryberrylicious's response:

I am having same problem with my 7 yr old son,he has been a picky eater since he was about 2 his dr always told me he would grow out of it but never has. I cant even get him to taste different foods to even see if he likes or dislikes. I am frustrated,worried and sad because he will only eat pizza,chicken nuggets or breaded chicken patty. we finally got him to taste hamburger but whether he eats that or not comes and goes. he will not eat any veggies and barely any fruit. He takes vitamins and will occassionally drink the V-8 splash. He is 5'1 and weighs @ 124 lbs. He is gonna be tall as his father is 6'6. He definitely loves his chocolate but I have been monitoring that for about a yr now. He plays sports and when it is nice outside he is out all day. We recently switched drs and he had strep throat the new dr told us it looks like he has an oversized uvula almost like 2 together when i explained the eating issues he said that wasnt a reason to look into taking out tonsils or anything. Any suggestions advice would be greatly appreciated...

Report This| Share this:picky eaterI am having same problem with my 7 yr old son,he has been a picky eater since he was about 2 his dr always told me he would grow out of it but never has. I cant even get him to taste different foods to even see if he likes or dislikes. I am frustrated,worried and sad because he will only eat pizza,chicken nuggets or breaded chicken patty. we finally got him to taste hamburger but whether he eats that or not comes and goes. he will not eat any veggies and barely any fruit. He takes vitamins and will occassionally drink the V-8 splash. He is 5'1 and weighs @ 124 lbs. He is gonna be tall as his father is 6'6. He definitely loves his chocolate but I have been monitoring that for about a yr now. He plays sports and when it is nice outside he is out all day. We recently switched drs and he had strep throat the new dr told us it looks like he has an oversized uvula almost like 2 together when i explained the eating issues he said that wasnt a reason to look into taking out tonsils or anything. Any suggestions advice would be greatly appreciated...

momuv4girls replied to mjr88's response:

This is a thought "out-side the box".........

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/picky-eaters.html

I work with children who have this, and its a real concern. You have to have an awareness and understanding of sensory processing difficulties to see its a real issue with these kids.

Hope this helps!
-Kathleen

Report This| Share this:picky eaterThis is a thought "out-side the box"......... <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/picky-eaters.html">http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/picky-eaters.html</a> I work with children who have this, and its a real concern. You have to have an awareness and understanding of sensory processing difficulties to see its a real issue with these kids. Hope this helps! -Kathleen

maryberrylicious replied to momuv4girls's response:

thanx so much! I got so much info from that site! I deffinitely need to bring this up to Emilys pedi! I printed it all and will take it to her appt if I have to! I didn't realize how many other catagories she was in besides picky eating! I have 2 younger boys and just thought she was a dramatic girl but now I'm starting to think there's more to it! I can't thank you enough for taking the time to give me this info! I was feeling lost- but not so alone now! Mary

Report This| Share this:picky eaterthanx so much! I got so much info from that site! I deffinitely need to bring this up to Emilys pedi! I printed it all and will take it to her appt if I have to! I didn't realize how many other catagories she was in besides picky eating! I have 2 younger boys and just thought she was a dramatic girl but now I'm starting to think there's more to it! I can't thank you enough for taking the time to give me this info! I was feeling lost- but not so alone now! Mary

maryberrylicious replied to mjr88's response:

check out the site on the next post! it has helped me understand why my daughter is this way and will be seing her pedi asap to have her checked out! Hope you also find some answers & keep me posted! good luck!

Report This| Share this:picky eatercheck out the site on the next post! it has helped me understand why my daughter is this way and will be seing her pedi asap to have her checked out! Hope you also find some answers & keep me posted! good luck!

momuv4girls replied to maryberrylicious's response:

You're very welcome Mary, I'm glad I could help

I totally understand how frustrating it can be to have a child that is struggling, and no one understand you.

Take care, and the best to you both!
-Kathleen

Report This| Share this:picky eaterYou're very welcome Mary, I'm glad I could help <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0"> I totally understand how frustrating it can be to have a child that is struggling, and no one understand you. Take care, and the best to you both! -Kathleen

maryberrylicious responded:

update=taking EMILY to Children's Institute of Pittsburgh to get an evaluation to get to the bottom of this problem!

Report This| Share this:picky eaterupdate=taking EMILY to Children's Institute of Pittsburgh to get an evaluation to get to the bottom of this problem!

momuv4girls replied to maryberrylicious's response:

Good for you Mary !!!!! I bet they'll be able to shed some light on her picky eating behaviors.

Let us know how it goes.

((HUGS))
-Kathleen

Report This| Share this:picky eaterGood for you Mary !!!!! I bet they'll be able to shed some light on her picky eating behaviors. Let us know how it goes. ((HUGS)) -Kathleen

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