A few weeks ago Quinn got smacked in the face with the ball at soccer practice. I was trying to assess if she might have a concussion, she seemed fine, but did say she was a little dizzy. After asking her about what she had eaten all day I concluded she was not concussed but turns out she had barely eaten all day. She has never been a big breakfast eater and packs her own lunch for school this year. Her lunch box often comes home almost untouched. Between being easily distracted at lunch, not feeling like the foods she packed, and also being on a stimulant that impacts her appetite, she is getting home from school running on empty.
Her accepted foods list has gotten smaller and smaller over the years and I often find myself so frustrated trying to feed her and make sure she is eating enough and some variety.
First of all lets define selective/picky eating as these terms are often thrown around a lot, but it can look different with each kid and can sometimes be a more serious type of eating disorder.
“Selective eating is a behavior characterized by a limited diet, refusal to eat specific food groups, or strict preferences regarding texture, temperature, or food placement. While common in children as a temporary, picky phase, it can persist into adulthood and, if extreme, may indicate Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). ARDIF is now a DSM-5 diagnosis and may need professional support.
Tips that have helped:
I offer meals deconstructed
I try to make sure there are foods on her approved list available alongside foods she is less comfortable with. I allow her to make her own plate. This is a very low pressure meal environment and more often than not she will to add something different to her plate since she is doing it herself.
I got her a kid friendly cookbook
I got Quinn this cookbook because she does like being in the kitchen and getting more involved in cooking. On the weekends when we have more time, I will ask her to pick our a recipe, create the grocery list and help me make it. She realized she likes a baked potato bar and side Caesar salads from this book.
You can also check out kid friendly cookbooks at the library and obviously a bunch online. You can let them create a Pinterest board on your computer for all their recipes.
The more involved they are with the meal the more likely they are to try it…make them interested and curious.
I take her to the grocery store with me
When I’m most frustrated with Quinn’s eating and I drag her to the store with me. I let her cruise the aisles and pick out what she wants for her school lunches. I encourage her to pick at least one fruit and vegetable she will eat for the week along with whatever else she adds to the cart.
It’s always a work in progress for us. It can be a very slow process to increase their accepted food list, so be patient (coming from the least patient person 😉 ). If you feel like their health is impacted due to the severity of selective eating, I encourage you to speak with their pediatrician for referrals to a specialist.
xx, A
Leave a Reply