Pregnancy
Discussion Title: Scared of New Foods
Created by: tiadawn
Created on: Wed, 06/13/2007 - 7:08pm.
Created by: tiadawn
Created on: Wed, 06/13/2007 - 7:08pm.
I am just curious as to whether or not anyone else has had a similar problem, and what I can do about it, because I'm at my wits-end. My seven year old daughter is an extremely picky eater, and will only dine from a select menu, every time I try to get her to eat a new entree she goes into a panic attack that ends up with her in hysterics, to the point that if she does eventually try it she gags on it because she is so worked up. I'm a single mother and I am having trouble tackling this by myself, PLEASE HELP!!!!
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Replied: 6/13/2007 9:01pm.
Hey tiadawn,
I was always really serious about this, I saw so many of my daughter's friends that just would not try anything. I told my daughter that she had to try new things. I started by making her try bites of my meals when I had things that she hadn't eaten before.
I think your daughter knows that if she goes into hysterics that you will not force the point. If she acted like that at a restaurant, I would just take her out of the restaurant and I would tell her that she wasn't going back to a restaurant until she could not act like that. If she acted like that at the table at home, she would be excused and not allowed back until she was under control and able to try the new thing. I would try and talk to her about this when she is not in one of these fits. I would talk about trying new things and how important it is to not prejudge things without giving them a chance. Has she ever given you any idea why she is so picky or why she acts the way she does when she is asked to try new things? At seven she is old enough to know better than that, we are not talking about a baby or toddler here, and I would tell her that she is a big girl and that I expected her to act like a big girl.
Anyone else have any ideas?
Marti
http://www.familyeducation.com/home/
Replied: 6/14/2007 7:27pm.
Hi,
I agree with Marti. I am a teacher, and I do see kids go into hysterics about nothing--usually, because they are taught that they get what they want when they act like that. If you are firm about your expectations, and remove her from the table/restaurant during a "fit", she will quickly learn that the embarassment just isn't worth throwing the fit.
As for the food issue, just offer her whatever you fix, and if she chooses not to eat it, make it clear that she may not have anything else that evening. Trying to fix different meals just for her, or spend the evening fighting over dinner will just exhaust you--and will only teach her that she gets what she wants by a show of drama.
You may also talk with her (during a calm time) about why she's so afraid of trying new things. You could try letting her help design a menu-- make a deal with her where she can choose a new dish from a few choices that you give her. She can also choose the night she tries it (say, Tuesday). Then, if she's interested, show her ways she can help you fix it. If you help her feel more in control by choosing the dish, the night, and how to help fix it, she may decide not to fight new menu items quite so much.
HTH! ~~Jenn
Replied: 6/16/2007 10:43am.
My 10 year old likes what he likes when it comes to food. He
does not eat things new and different. I really can't complain
because he does like some healthy choices I just always feel like he
needs some variety not just the same old thing. I guess this is
my hang up not his. The following article suggests that you don't
want to get in a power struggle over food. It can lead to
struggles down the road that could be more serious. I think it is worth
reading. Good Luck!!
http://www.connectwithkids.com/tipsheet/2006/277_apr19/thisweek/060419_picky.shtml
Replied: 6/25/2007 8:57am.
I have 8 and 10 year old girls. When we were having trouble with picky eater syndrome it was around New Years. We were talking about resolutions and we all made one try new foods. Whenever one of our daughters turned up there nose at something at the table we reminded them of their resolution and they would try it. I find that those problems come and go. Right now my older one is more picky than the younger one. Hope that helps.
Replied: 6/25/2007 8:59am.
Also if you have her help choose the menu and cook kids are usually more invested in trying new foods. Introduce one per meal.. my younger daughter likes garbonzo beans and will eat them out of the can if I let her.
Replied: 6/25/2007 9:36am.
I too was at my wit's end with my son's eating habits. Nutrition is paramount as far as I am concerned, and I felt he ate too many sweets and starches too few nutritional foods. Now he is nine but this has been an issue almost his whole life. He rejected the texture of cereal as an infant and gagged on many foods as a small child. If I withheld other food til he ate his veggies, he would fast for a whole day.
You cannot win a food battle; I finally accepted this. He is a good compliant boy and wants to please me; however he cannot eat something unpalatable to him just as I would never drink gasoline no matter how thirsty I become. Now I accept that he will eat limited amounts of nutritious foods, and I try to stick to whole foods served at home and sent out with him as snacks. I limit sweets in the house and try to control the amount of junk food he is offered out side the house.
You might try different approaches to see if you can find textures and flavors your daughter can eat. I discovered that my son happens to like spicy foods and will eat chicken and potates as long as they are not mixed with anything else. He also will eat sweet fruits like strawberries and cantaloup. His menu is limited but not horrible. We tried to take the negative emotions away from the dinner table but it was hard. I had to learn to let go. This is a loving decison we made for our family. Best wishes to you and your little girl.
Replied: 6/25/2007 11:05am.
A lot of kids will not try new foods b/c they find the texture of the food objectionable. Some times this is a sensory issue sometimes just a personal preference. My advice is - don't engage in her hysterics. It's a no win situation. I have a child who needs a high fiber, iron rich diet. I read labels and use cast iron cookware. I encourage her to try a taste of a new food but I try not push it (easier said than done!). You are the parent you decide what foods come into the home. If there is little or no junk food around then there are fewer food choices for her to make and she may decide to try something new. Good luck!
Replied: 6/25/2007 8:13pm.
I have this problem also. It is a battle I choose not to fight. My daughter lives off of plain pasta, grilled cheese, chicken tenders and rice. I refuse to battle over food. Of course I would love it if she ate anything and everything but I cannot force her to eat something, nor do I want to. The less I make an issue out of it, the more cooperative she has become when she DOES want to try something new. Hang in there, it's not the end of the world!
Replied: 6/25/2007 11:03pm.
my 8 year old has always been a picky eater.he only eats a few foods.he is very sensitive to smells, appearance and texture's. he will gag at the sight of new foods.as he has gotten older, we insist he tries different foods,or he does not leave the table,or do an activity that he wants to. sometimes this works,or he chooses not to try the food.I found a food and swallowing clinic at children's hospital that we are going to try.I had to avoid supplement shakes,because he would rather drink his calories then eat them.he does like some breads,and since I can make my own,I mix veggie baby food in the dough.as long as the baked bread is "smooth", and I tell him i used food coloring in the dough, he eats it. good luck!
Replied: 6/27/2007 7:56pm.
Hi, I hate to say this, but it is nice to know we arent the only ones going through this problem. My son is 6 years old and since around 3 all he is willing to eat is french fries, pizza with everything scraped off, and noodles with butter. He wont eat any veg. or fruits. He also doesnt like really any candy or anything sweet, and he also wont try even any new candy. He will eat potato chips and things like that though. The past week we have been making him taste new things, but even if he might like them he still wont eat it. He doesnt seem to be giving us a power play, he actually seems like he is afraid of eating anything new. Does anyone have any suggestions. We have took the french fries away, so now all he's been eating is noodles. Should I just send something I think he might like in his lunch and hope he eats for the day at camp, and break the routine?? This is so stressfull!!!
s