I feel like I am failing when it comes to feeding my daughter proper food. I have tried every healthy option available but it’s impossible. She will scream and yell and not even try anything. She wants to snack on packet foods all day. She won’t eat anything decent. I’ve tried hiding things in their foods my older daughter will eat it but my younger daughter won’t even try. We are going to see a paediatrician in June for possible sensory issues. I am worried as she wants to live off junk. She wants macaroni cheese every night and will either refuse dinner or just pick at her Mac and cheese. Won’t try the multivitamin gummies, won’t try smoothies. It’s becoming increasingly worrying. Gp has not been helpful at all.
4 Replies
Friends son was like this. He got better with age but they weren’t overly concerned when he was checked. Don’t allow her to have anything else, no snacks etc or treats until she can eat something different then give her a treat each time but only then. If not it’s Mac and cheese only. Let her see older sister eat something then get a treat.
Get her involved with preparing meals. Allow her to serve herself. If she puts something on her plate she has to at least try it. While my son doesn’t have a specific sensory disorder, he was tube fed for many years and struggled with textures when he was able to start oral feeds. He was more likely to want to try new foods if he was able to help prepare what we were eating and if he could serve himself. Early on it was touching the food with his tongue. Then we moved on to holding it in his mouth for a few seconds then spit it out. Eventually he would chew and swallow. And to see him eat now, you would never know there was feeding issues early on!
I think until she’s seen the paediatrician and been assessed for any underlying conditions, let her eat what you know she’ll eat. Continue to encourage her to at least touch other foods with her fingers, but at the moment as long as she’s eating something, that’s a good thing. And praise her every time she does touch a new food!
Mine was like this because I was lazy and the junk was there and was a regular food, so they get addicted and it gets out of control. It was also a mix of being second kid and being more defiant. Would refuse, knowing they can fill up on milk and will ask for something later and not wanting them to be hungry I’d give in, even milk and a banana.
You have to get rid of it all and make them eat proper food, reset their tastebuds and habits. They enjoy their little bitsa plates with fruit and cheese and salami and little sandwich quarters, roast chicken drumsticks, pasta. Corn on the cob. Eggs are a winner.
Have her help you make the food.
If she likes Mac n cheese, make it from scratch, it’s really easy. Then you can add the cheese sauce to other things and have her “sample them” (some steamed veg for example).
We have always had the simplest rules about food. If you’re served something, don’t look at it and say I don’t like that. Try it. If you don’t like it, don’t eat it. No fussing or fighting.
Carrots and celery cut into sticks with a dip (seriously it can be cheese sauce or cream cheese at first) is a good way to get them started on some healthy snacks.
Don’t buy junk food. If she wants biscuits, cakes, etc… make them at home with the kids helping.
I grow vegetables and it’s amazing how many of the “eww I don’t like that” vegetables become “oh, I helped grow this, now I want to taste it”.