TRY NEW FOODS

[midnightsable]

I'm back again with a different question, are they any other parents out there with very picky eaters ? and I mean PICKY, my DS8 will only eat a very small variety of things, anything new or even things he ate in the past but have not had for awhile - he will NOT even put to his mouth, if we actually manage to get it into his mouth, he GAGS, and cries, and has on some occasions thrown the food across the table (usually half chewed) needless to say by this time tempers are flaring and we have a battle on our hands. My doctor says not to worry as long as he continues to gain weight, which he does, although he his very tall and slim. We have tried disguising things, we have tried bribes, a new food every week rule, etc,etc. I do not expect him to eat a plate full, but to just TRY. Should I just leave him alone ? I am so tired of making two different meals three times a day.
Any suggestions ??

[AustinsMom]

My child does not take this to quite the extreme that your child does, however he is a picky eater and I can relate. I have several thoughts for you to consider. The first is, do you notice that the foods he rejects are of a rougher texture, like they have lumps in them, or anything like that? Some kids have tactile defensiveness (referring to their reaction to being touched by different textures). If that were the case, he might hate to walk in sand, or get his hands in certain textures. Or they can be ok with touching things with their hands and just be orally defensive. So if he is ok with smooth items but is rejecting lumpier things, I would look into sensory integration problems.

The other thought--that I think pertains to my child--is that the automatic rejection of food items is part of that automatic "NO" ressponse you see with oppositional kids. Amen's web site has some interesting info on that. www.brainplace.com

My child is almost 9, and I just finally took a stand with him that he just has to eat healthier food. I presented it as we all are going to eat 5-7 vegetables or fruits a day, and I just prepare them with meals, and rewarded him for just trying new things, not eating all of them. And slowly, over a period of several months, he has started being more accepting. It seems to me that a food has to be presented over and over before he starts admitting it's not to bad and actually eating it.
I have resorted to "stealth cooking" and sneaking things in like mashing cooked cauliflower in the mashed potatoes, and he doesn't know the difference also.

This is such a tough issue; sorry you are having to fight your way through it. Good luck as you try to figure out something that will work for you.

[Allanque]

Texture can definitely be a big thing.

I remember one notorious incident where I absolutely refused to eat fettuccine alfredo because of the texture of the grated cheese they put on it. I've realized years later that if they would have popped it in the microwave for about 10 seconds, it would have been just fine. Mom was not happy with me that day.

Someone else suggested before letting the kids help cook stuff. Apparently they can be more accepting when they know what went into it.

[LitlBaa]

My DD12 is horribly picky, I almost have to pry her mouth open to get her to eat protein. Pasta with butter, bread, corn, pizza, popcorn, and almost anything in a fast food bag is acceptable.

I'm almost to the point where I say "fine, starve", but she's so darn stubborn, she would just for spite!

[midnightsable]

It is some what of a texture thing I think, but mostly a fear of something new (unknown). We have sliced,diced,and blendered. But I am running out of things to make. Anything that we actually get onto his plate these days needs to be covered with either cheese of ketchup.
Thanks Austinsmom I really like the suggestion that we all try new foods together, maybe if DS sees me trying the things I do not like he will be more accepting to trying. Believe me I keep trying, there are some foods that he used to eat that he actually has made himself sick of eating because he has eaten it so often. When we are getting ready for school in the mornings I ask him to come and help get his lunch prepared, he picks the same thing day in and day out and then complains that its BORING.
Next stop for me www.brainplace.com thanks for the link.

[AustinsMom]

My ds takes PB&J EVERYDAY in his lunch. I buy whole fruit jelly, healthy peanut butter, and wheat bread and just go with it. However, it has taken me months to make the switch to wheat bread. He just refused to eat it. He would send his sandwich home untouched. So I kept switching breads around, whites but with different textures, then finally I made the switch to a soft wheat and he didn't say a word. So I definitely do understand! By the way, does he like smoothies? That's a great way to get some good fruit in and you can mix in protein powder, etc.

[Allanque]

Hehe...cheese and ketchup.

A staple in one of my friends' house used to be Robbie eggs - because that was something he'd always eat. Scrambled eggs with ketchup and cheese.

[Honeysmom]

Honey is also picky, but I think it is just so he can say no. I give him 2 choices for breakfast and lunch and I make what the kids want. But for supper he either eats what I make, or he goes hungry. I know it sounds mean, but in the long run it works out. I know there are a few things he just does not like and I don't make him eat them, but then he can have extra of something else. I don't care if he eats potatoes only one night and chicken only then next. He is growing and gaining and learning really fast that I am not a short order cook.

I make up his plate for him, and I purposly underestimate how much he wants. (I don't want to make him stuff himself) He has to eat everything on that plate before he has any snacks, even something good for him. Otherwise, he rejects what I make and goes for something else. Supper time can be a real struggle for us also. In fact, tonight I had to take his bowl and practically glue it to the table b/c he wanted to eat in his room. We had supper at 6 and I think he finally finished at about 8:45.

Do you notice any pattern in what he will eat? Another way to see if he really dislikes the food or if he is being a stinker would be to have him eat a someone else's house, maybe a friend, and have the parents report back as to what he ate and what he did not. Just a thought, I like those covert operations!!

Good Luck...

[midnightsable]

Oh yes we have a pattern, I can count on both hands and have fingers left over for what he will eat. When he was in daycare he would eat everything provider gave to him he was with her from age 5mths to 6yr but this was all pre-diagnosis and meds. Does one thing relate to the other I wonder Probably not. He now has grandma and other family members call me to see what to make for him if we are having a meal together ! Oh boy what are we doing ??!! Its time to take back control. I like the suggestion about offering two choices for breakfast and lunch - but who's choices are these your's or honeys ?
Also - ds loves his sweets, and we now have to keep all desserts under lock and key or he gets up very early and sneaks food, he will hord it in his bed ( I have had alot of chocolate chips melt to the sheets), and he hides wrappers (we found some stuffed between the bookcase and the wall when we moved). We have started giving him a late night snack - fruit or yogurt usually and this seems to keep him out of the cupboards. Smoothies - another great suggestion - have to try that one.

[catatonic]

One of my boys is a picky eater. When younger (he's 12 now) he would actually barf on the dinner table if forced to try a bite of something he'd decided was unacceptable. The only thing that has worked for me in getting him to eat a wider variety of foods (and healthier foods) is simply to not have any of his favorite junk food items in the house. No cheerios. No waffles. No ice cream. No pringles. He's actually eating fruits for snacks, and has consumed vegetables on several known occasions. He's decided tofu and brown rice are GOOD and he ASKS me to make him boiled chicken breast with ranch dip. But I could do nothing at all using persuasion or force. Only the truly drastic measure of making sure he had nothing else to eat convinced him that there were foodgroups other than those devoted to sugar, fat, and processed potatoes.