5 year old only eats 3 things - help!

[Anonymous]

Tell her what her favorite superhero eats.

[Anonymous]

I know your kid isn’t ASD, but there are good tips here for introducing new foods.
https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com/lists/five-tips-for-introducing-new-foods-to-your-child-with-autism/?amp=1

[Anonymous]

You can get the applesauce with the veggies hidden in it.

Use protein powder in your waffle mix.

Pasta + block cheese you shred can be good if you make it yourself.

My niece had a "condition" called geographic tongue (?). It changed the way she tasted food and it would "move" around her tongue. So depending on where the patch was on her tongue, she would like certain categories of foods for example sweet or salty. Maybe this is what is going on with your daughter?

[Anonymous]

Try non meat proteins. Peanut butter on Almond butter with the apple or on a piece of toast. Black beans or kidney beans mixed in with rice, Keep putting different fruits and veggies on her plate in very small amounts..

[Anonymous]

She is a lot like my son when younger, only would eat white foods. I got him to eat vegetables like broccoli if I dipped it in ranch dressing, you can also try cauliflower with butter. Try chicken nuggets or my son would eat simply grilled thinly sliced chicken. I was able to get him to eat chicken fried rice, homemade, you can add carrots in it. If she likes the ranch dressing she can try it with baby carrots. It turned out he had sensory integration issues, that he resolved as he got older

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Take a look at this:


https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/05/16/477660671/breaking-down-the-science-of-picky-eating


It can take dozens and dozens of exposure to a particular food before a child might be willing to accept it. Most parents don't realize this and give up on various foods way to early.

We are still working through this with our children(5 and 8) but from what I have seen, their pallet is much better than their peers and we are at a point where we, for the most part, don't need to prepare special dinners for them, they eat what we eat the vast majority of the time, which also has the benefit of making dinner prep and time easier.

What kid could be convinced to try something dozens of times? I never understand this concept. Kids can see it is broccoli. They tried it before. They do not want it. Maybe a year later my kid would try it again if they forgot about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nutritionist

Correction: Registered Dietitian, one who specializes in pediatrics. (A "nutritionist" means nothing; anyone can use this title. An RD is a licensed healthcare professional.)

OP, go to the website of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.eatright.org), put in your zip code and you will find RDs in your area, by specialty.

[Anonymous]

Well, that is two more things than my 5 year old then used to eat! Apples! What I would have done for her to eat apples or apple sauce.
DD had severe GERD, go see specialists if you think it is that bad. If you are only offering those and a horrible cook, learn to cook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Take a look at this:


https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/05/16/477660671/breaking-down-the-science-of-picky-eating


It can take dozens and dozens of exposure to a particular food before a child might be willing to accept it. Most parents don't realize this and give up on various foods way to early.

We are still working through this with our children(5 and 8) but from what I have seen, their pallet is much better than their peers and we are at a point where we, for the most part, don't need to prepare special dinners for them, they eat what we eat the vast majority of the time, which also has the benefit of making dinner prep and time easier.

What kid could be convinced to try something dozens of times? I never understand this concept. Kids can see it is broccoli. They tried it before. They do not want it. Maybe a year later my kid would try it again if they forgot about it.

For us, we were aware of this research before hand so we started from the beginning with both kids. The longer you wait, the harder it will be and at some point the ship will have sailed. For OP, I think 5 is still young enough to try this approach.

Part of this approach for us was the concept of a "no thank you bite" - they have to have at least one bit of something if it's served and then they can say "no thank you". Because we've done this from the start, it just what we do and the kids accept it and do it. I could see where this might be problematic if you attempt to introduce it later.

I know that this approach can have some detractors but we also have a "no dinner, no dessert/treat" policy that can incentivize sometimes but that can vary by kid and seem to motivate one of our kids more than the other.

Another good suggestion from a PP is to incorporate the child in the shopping for food and the meal prep. Both of our children are involved in these at times and that encourages a deeper connection with food other than it just something that appears in front of you by magic.

[Anonymous]

Sounds within the range of normal for a 5yo.

Just keep offering new foods alongside the things she likes, and don’t comment one way or another on what she eats.

She WILL eventually eat other foods, I promise.

If the ped is not concerned, I wouldn’t be either. Her size likely has little relation to what she is or is not eating (again- absent any concern from the ped).

Try not worry about this (she will pick up on it) or turn it into a power struggle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Take a look at this:


https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/05/16/477660671/breaking-down-the-science-of-picky-eating


It can take dozens and dozens of exposure to a particular food before a child might be willing to accept it. Most parents don't realize this and give up on various foods way to early.

We are still working through this with our children(5 and 8) but from what I have seen, their pallet is much better than their peers and we are at a point where we, for the most part, don't need to prepare special dinners for them, they eat what we eat the vast majority of the time, which also has the benefit of making dinner prep and time easier.

+1
You have to keep offering it. We require one no-thank you bite, and it could take many times before she'd readily eat it. But it works. Sometimes I served her a deconstructed version of what we were eating, but always the same foods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Take a look at this:


https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/05/16/477660671/breaking-down-the-science-of-picky-eating


It can take dozens and dozens of exposure to a particular food before a child might be willing to accept it. Most parents don't realize this and give up on various foods way to early.

We are still working through this with our children(5 and 8) but from what I have seen, their pallet is much better than their peers and we are at a point where we, for the most part, don't need to prepare special dinners for them, they eat what we eat the vast majority of the time, which also has the benefit of making dinner prep and time easier.

+1
You have to keep offering it. We require one no-thank you bite, and it could take many times before she'd readily eat it. But it works. Sometimes I served her a deconstructed version of what we were eating, but always the same foods.

+2
We do the exact same (but do not require the no-thank you bite). The kids get curious and eventually try (most, not all) foods eventually, and in most cases end up liking the food. Gosh, I think my DD must’ve been served chili about 50 times before trying some. She’s 13 now and it’s one of her favorites (loves loading it up with toppings). I’d just serve her a small bowl of it, and proactively set out some sides she likes as well (easy stuff- veggies and dip, bread, cheese etc…nothing that requires much effort on my end).

[Anonymous]

I have a truly picky eater who will absolutely vomit if you pressure her to eat food that grosses her out. We know know she has severe acid reflux and some foods can really be painful. If your kid can tolerate the one bite approach without a battle/meltdown sure, go for that. For us we continue to eat and enjoy a variety of food around her but the main thing that has helped is gradual food chaining (e.g. pancakes, then half whole wheat pancakes, then whole wheat pancakes then waffles eventually. Etc). But agree with previous advice to get protein and iron in her however you can. Most gummy vitamins don’t have iron so be careful. If nothing helps you can look into feeding therapy; she’s a good age for it.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Thank you for the many useful comments! I read through them once but will read them again - thank you! Excellent idea about mixing protein in the waffle mix - i actually did buy pea protein a while ago but haven't been able to get her to drink any smoothie/yogurt with it, that's the only method I thought of for giving it.

On height she is 80th percentile, weight 20th, we are tall people.

I cook a ton at home and am decent at cooking and try hard to prepare healthy and balance meals, which makes it that much harder to see her eat yet again just pain white rice or noodles.

I have tried presenting things in fun ways, asking only for one bite, and so on....its a hard NO from her. She has actually vomited things up with repulsion when I forced her to try something, then I feel horrible and give up altogether. Aside from that I haven't really tried anything else more scientific.

[Anonymous]

I don’t have suggestions, but my kids are HUGE meals at age 1. So it’s not surprising the 15 month old eats more. Just pointing that out. New walkers expend a huge amount of energy and are growing insanely fast. Mine would eat adult portions and then need more food later. It felt like endless dinner sometimes!