Picky eater and vitamins

[Anonymous]

If you have a super picky eater do they take vitamins? Or any sort of growth nutrients? I am very worried about my one child who is the worst eater. I do give a multivitamin but think I want to try something like TruHeight or something like that. Does anyone use that? Or what would you recommend?

[Anonymous]

How is their growth? I give my picky eater normal gummy vitamins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is their growth? I give my picky eater normal gummy vitamins.

Op - growing fine but worried about lack of true nutrients and vitamins. Girl in the 75% for height and weight. 9 years old 4’8” and 75 pounds.

[Anonymous]

Tou should talk to your pediatrician, but a normal kids multivitamin should be enough, barring actual deficiencies.

[Anonymous]

I get it OP- I also have a really picky either, and our pediatrician, who I generally like otherwise, hasn't been very helpful on this. I've asked about multivitamins, but they say the evidence on whether they are worthwhile is mixed, unless there's a specific deficiency, but they don't routinely test for defieicencies unless there is an obvious sign of one. I don't really want to get to the point where there is an "obvious" deficiency before addressing it, so I feel like I'm going in circles and wonder if I should just give a multivitamin. Right now we just do vitamin D during the colder months.

[Anonymous]

The doctor recommended regular gummy vitamins. I also worry that it’s not enough but she’s generally healthy and on her curve. I also realize that for my kid, while the variety is very limited her diet DOES include food from different food groups - yogurt and cheese and fruit are staples so there are some vitamins and protein and calcium there.

[Anonymous]

Op - I am worried because she pretty much just eats carbs (I do use protein pasta), fruit, and goldfish/snacks.

Obviously she is growing fine and has maintained her curve and doctors aren’t worried about that.

But she doesn’t get any calcium, no vegetables and barely any protein. To be honest I don’t know how she is even growing, let alone taller than 75% of her peers. She is rarely sick so it’s not affecting her immune system.

She would rather be starving hungry than eat something she dislikes. The other day she was out with friends without me and she was so hungry she had a huge headache when she got home but refused to eat the food at the restaurant they went to because she didn’t like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op - I am worried because she pretty much just eats carbs (I do use protein pasta), fruit, and goldfish/snacks.

Obviously she is growing fine and has maintained her curve and doctors aren’t worried about that.

But she doesn’t get any calcium, no vegetables and barely any protein. To be honest I don’t know how she is even growing, let alone taller than 75% of her peers. She is rarely sick so it’s not affecting her immune system.

She would rather be starving hungry than eat something she dislikes. The other day she was out with friends without me and she was so hungry she had a huge headache when she got home but refused to eat the food at the restaurant they went to because she didn’t like it.

Personally I think volume eaten, and eating real food over processed snacks and meals are more important to growth. Yes, give a vitamin to cover nutritional deficiencies, but I wouldn’t worry too much about growth if she’s on the curve.

[Anonymous]

You described a lot of kids that age and they do fine. They grow older and expand their taste buds, some just a little, some a lot.

There are so many snacks that are liked by picky kids that have more value than goldfish. That snack is good for toddlers because they practice fine motor skills and are non-choking. nine year olds don’t need that.

Go through the snack aisle and have her pick something out

[Anonymous]

Will she drink a smoothie or even a milkshake? Almond milk has more calcium that cows milk
So you could try that.
My DD ( not really picky) likes a strawberry smoothie with actual strawberries, almond milk, couple spoons of yogurt and a spoon of Nutella.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will she drink a smoothie or even a milkshake? Almond milk has more calcium that cows milk
So you could try that.
My DD ( not really picky) likes a strawberry smoothie with actual strawberries, almond milk, couple spoons of yogurt and a spoon of Nutella.

Op - no we have tried everything. She hates it all. She won’t drink anything but water.

I have other kids who eat everything. So it’s not like we are a family who doesn’t offer a wide range of food. Other kids eat salmon and sushi and steak, etc.

[Anonymous]

This is a question for your pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like ARFID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op - I am worried because she pretty much just eats carbs (I do use protein pasta), fruit, and goldfish/snacks.

Obviously she is growing fine and has maintained her curve and doctors aren’t worried about that.

But she doesn’t get any calcium, no vegetables and barely any protein. To be honest I don’t know how she is even growing, let alone taller than 75% of her peers. She is rarely sick so it’s not affecting her immune system.

She would rather be starving hungry than eat something she dislikes. The other day she was out with friends without me and she was so hungry she had a huge headache when she got home but refused to eat the food at the restaurant they went to because she didn’t like it.

Can you tell us what she might eat in a typical day? She's doing well for growth, so she's clearly getting enough calories, which is great.

I think there are kids who are so picky that nutrition is compromised, but I also think there are a lot of parents who overestimate the variety and quantity of things that kids need.

Can you give examples of what she eats in a day? That would help guide my advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op - I am worried because she pretty much just eats carbs (I do use protein pasta), fruit, and goldfish/snacks.

Obviously she is growing fine and has maintained her curve and doctors aren’t worried about that.

But she doesn’t get any calcium, no vegetables and barely any protein. To be honest I don’t know how she is even growing, let alone taller than 75% of her peers. She is rarely sick so it’s not affecting her immune system.

She would rather be starving hungry than eat something she dislikes. The other day she was out with friends without me and she was so hungry she had a huge headache when she got home but refused to eat the food at the restaurant they went to because she didn’t like it.

Can you tell us what she might eat in a typical day? She's doing well for growth, so she's clearly getting enough calories, which is great.

I think there are kids who are so picky that nutrition is compromised, but I also think there are a lot of parents who overestimate the variety and quantity of things that kids need.

Can you give examples of what she eats in a day? That would help guide my advice.

OP - I am surprised the previous posted suggested ARFID. That definitely did not cross my mind.

Typcial eating:

Breakfast - hash browns and bacon and forced couple of gulps of yogurt smoothie
Lunch - Protein pasta, goldfish, crackers, piece of fruit
Dinner - Protein pasta or rice, maybe some air fried chicken nuggets, strawberries or banana

Snacks include goldfish, pretzels, popcorn, fruit