So fed up with my kid who won't eat anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t sound like you are the problem it could be anxiety related for her. But what non meat proteins have you tried? Will she eat black beans? My kid loves them on tortilla cheese with some shredded cheese with it all stuck under the broiler for 2 mins. Apple with PB and honey is a favorite snack of hers too. If she won’t touch meat look at no meat options…. Eggs, try different ways of cooking them, my kid won’t eat a fried egg by itself for example but loves it on a mini bagel. French toast, loves it.

OP here and I hear you. She stopped eating meat around 3.5 and non-meat proteins have become a big focus. She used to consistently eat beans but that's actually what prompted my frustrations today -- I meal prepped rice and beans for her this week which is usually one of our go-tos, and then both yesterday and today she rejected it, and told me she doesn't like how beans taste anymore, and picked at the rice. Losing that is such a blow -- we're down to yogurt, peanut butter, nuts, and a few protein-fortified foods now. And milk. But again, looking at maybe there being lactose intolerance, which cuts us down peanut butter and nuts, and I can't send peanut butter to school or camp.

Thinking about this makes me so exhausted.

Will she eat almond butter? Mac and cheese with puréed white beans? Edamame or fried tofu?

Almond butter, yes. Any nut or seed butter, actually -- we do sunbutter and wow butter for school lunches, and peanut/almond butter or hazelnut spread at home. Edamame is hit or miss -- we do it a lot as a snack or with dinner and sometimes she will eat a few if they are warm and seasoned. Tofu has been a failure -- she hates the texture (I actually do too, so I can't blame her). I'll try the pureed white beans -- that's a new one for me but I could see it working if I incorporate it well.

Do you think it might be sensory/texture related? I have this issue, I don't like most meat because I don't like the texture. I don't have any solutions for you, but just wanted to put that out there as a reason she might not like meat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- Breaded and browned chicken tenderloins

- Marinated and grilled chicken tenderloins

- Rib eye steak

- Spaghetti

- Creamy pasta with shredded chicken

Do you cook foods like this for dinner? We still do, DD age 10

I make stuff like that daily (OP here). My DD would not touch it with a ten foot pole. I don't understand what the suggestion is here... the problem isn't that I don't serve her healthy or protein-rich foods. It's that she will not eat them.

I've never met anyone who makes breaded tenderloins outside of NY. Mine are so good, I'd be shocked if anyone didn't like them. I dip in egg, dip in Italian bread crumbs and push it flatter at same time, then fry in olive oil till crisped and slightly brown each side.

Maybe she might like ditalini. You take these 3, mix, serve with parm cheese sprinkled on top. It's so easy:

1 box Ditalini pasta - cooked + drained.
1 box Pacific or Trader Joe's (only brands!) CREAMY tomatoe soup
1 can Campbell's tomatoe soup

Heat and serve. It's like homemade spaghettios

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t sound like you are the problem it could be anxiety related for her. But what non meat proteins have you tried? Will she eat black beans? My kid loves them on tortilla cheese with some shredded cheese with it all stuck under the broiler for 2 mins. Apple with PB and honey is a favorite snack of hers too. If she won’t touch meat look at no meat options…. Eggs, try different ways of cooking them, my kid won’t eat a fried egg by itself for example but loves it on a mini bagel. French toast, loves it.

OP here and I hear you. She stopped eating meat around 3.5 and non-meat proteins have become a big focus. She used to consistently eat beans but that's actually what prompted my frustrations today -- I meal prepped rice and beans for her this week which is usually one of our go-tos, and then both yesterday and today she rejected it, and told me she doesn't like how beans taste anymore, and picked at the rice. Losing that is such a blow -- we're down to yogurt, peanut butter, nuts, and a few protein-fortified foods now. And milk. But again, looking at maybe there being lactose intolerance, which cuts us down peanut butter and nuts, and I can't send peanut butter to school or camp.

Thinking about this makes me so exhausted.

Just wanted to point out that most people who have lactose intolerance can still eat yogurt. So you may not have to lose that if she has lactose intolerance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- Breaded and browned chicken tenderloins

- Marinated and grilled chicken tenderloins

- Rib eye steak

- Spaghetti

- Creamy pasta with shredded chicken

Do you cook foods like this for dinner? We still do, DD age 10

I make stuff like that daily (OP here). My DD would not touch it with a ten foot pole. I don't understand what the suggestion is here... the problem isn't that I don't serve her healthy or protein-rich foods. It's that she will not eat them.

I've never met anyone who makes breaded tenderloins outside of NY. Mine are so good, I'd be shocked if anyone didn't like them. I dip in egg, dip in Italian bread crumbs and push it flatter at same time, then fry in olive oil till crisped and slightly brown each side.

Maybe she might like ditalini. You take these 3, mix, serve with parm cheese sprinkled on top. It's so easy:

1 box Ditalini pasta - cooked + drained.
1 box Pacific or Trader Joe's (only brands!) CREAMY tomatoe soup
1 can Campbell's tomatoe soup

Heat and serve. It's like homemade spaghettios

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm seeing lists by folks of mostly breakfast and snack foods, although the snacks include fruit. I wonder if your kids have not been exposed to cooked meals for dinner 5-6 days a week that are kid friendly? Not trying to be snarky. Exposure is key to adding new foods.

Did you read anything the OP wrote? She cooks every day. She offers her child a variety of meals. Stop with the sanctimommy, it's not applicable here, a-hole.

OP here, and thank you. Like I started by simply offering my kid cereal and yogurt and then called it a day! Some people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t sound like you are the problem it could be anxiety related for her. But what non meat proteins have you tried? Will she eat black beans? My kid loves them on tortilla cheese with some shredded cheese with it all stuck under the broiler for 2 mins. Apple with PB and honey is a favorite snack of hers too. If she won’t touch meat look at no meat options…. Eggs, try different ways of cooking them, my kid won’t eat a fried egg by itself for example but loves it on a mini bagel. French toast, loves it.

OP here and I hear you. She stopped eating meat around 3.5 and non-meat proteins have become a big focus. She used to consistently eat beans but that's actually what prompted my frustrations today -- I meal prepped rice and beans for her this week which is usually one of our go-tos, and then both yesterday and today she rejected it, and told me she doesn't like how beans taste anymore, and picked at the rice. Losing that is such a blow -- we're down to yogurt, peanut butter, nuts, and a few protein-fortified foods now. And milk. But again, looking at maybe there being lactose intolerance, which cuts us down peanut butter and nuts, and I can't send peanut butter to school or camp.

Thinking about this makes me so exhausted.

Just wanted to point out that most people who have lactose intolerance can still eat yogurt. So you may not have to lose that if she has lactose intolerance.

That's good to know. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t sound like you are the problem it could be anxiety related for her. But what non meat proteins have you tried? Will she eat black beans? My kid loves them on tortilla cheese with some shredded cheese with it all stuck under the broiler for 2 mins. Apple with PB and honey is a favorite snack of hers too. If she won’t touch meat look at no meat options…. Eggs, try different ways of cooking them, my kid won’t eat a fried egg by itself for example but loves it on a mini bagel. French toast, loves it.

OP here and I hear you. She stopped eating meat around 3.5 and non-meat proteins have become a big focus. She used to consistently eat beans but that's actually what prompted my frustrations today -- I meal prepped rice and beans for her this week which is usually one of our go-tos, and then both yesterday and today she rejected it, and told me she doesn't like how beans taste anymore, and picked at the rice. Losing that is such a blow -- we're down to yogurt, peanut butter, nuts, and a few protein-fortified foods now. And milk. But again, looking at maybe there being lactose intolerance, which cuts us down peanut butter and nuts, and I can't send peanut butter to school or camp.

Thinking about this makes me so exhausted.

Will she eat almond butter? Mac and cheese with puréed white beans? Edamame or fried tofu?

Almond butter, yes. Any nut or seed butter, actually -- we do sunbutter and wow butter for school lunches, and peanut/almond butter or hazelnut spread at home. Edamame is hit or miss -- we do it a lot as a snack or with dinner and sometimes she will eat a few if they are warm and seasoned. Tofu has been a failure -- she hates the texture (I actually do too, so I can't blame her). I'll try the pureed white beans -- that's a new one for me but I could see it working if I incorporate it well.

Keep offering the things that are hit or miss. A hard no is one thing, but otherwise keeping options in the rotation is really important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t sound like you are the problem it could be anxiety related for her. But what non meat proteins have you tried? Will she eat black beans? My kid loves them on tortilla cheese with some shredded cheese with it all stuck under the broiler for 2 mins. Apple with PB and honey is a favorite snack of hers too. If she won’t touch meat look at no meat options…. Eggs, try different ways of cooking them, my kid won’t eat a fried egg by itself for example but loves it on a mini bagel. French toast, loves it.

OP here and I hear you. She stopped eating meat around 3.5 and non-meat proteins have become a big focus. She used to consistently eat beans but that's actually what prompted my frustrations today -- I meal prepped rice and beans for her this week which is usually one of our go-tos, and then both yesterday and today she rejected it, and told me she doesn't like how beans taste anymore, and picked at the rice. Losing that is such a blow -- we're down to yogurt, peanut butter, nuts, and a few protein-fortified foods now. And milk. But again, looking at maybe there being lactose intolerance, which cuts us down peanut butter and nuts, and I can't send peanut butter to school or camp.

Thinking about this makes me so exhausted.

Will she eat almond butter? Mac and cheese with puréed white beans? Edamame or fried tofu?

Almond butter, yes. Any nut or seed butter, actually -- we do sunbutter and wow butter for school lunches, and peanut/almond butter or hazelnut spread at home. Edamame is hit or miss -- we do it a lot as a snack or with dinner and sometimes she will eat a few if they are warm and seasoned. Tofu has been a failure -- she hates the texture (I actually do too, so I can't blame her). I'll try the pureed white beans -- that's a new one for me but I could see it working if I incorporate it well.

Do you think it might be sensory/texture related? I have this issue, I don't like most meat because I don't like the texture. I don't have any solutions for you, but just wanted to put that out there as a reason she might not like meat.

Oh, it's definitely texture related -- that's a huge part of it. She's a sensitive kid and it's texture, smell, and visual, too. I think the reason bread/baked goods are so popular with her is that they have predictable and consistent texture and color.

[Anonymous]

What about baked goods with protein in them? Chicken pot pie?

My kid has texture issues and only eats breaded things. Chicken fingers and fish sticks.

[Anonymous]

Are you a SAHM? I assume so because nobody who works has this much time to talk about food with their kid. Sounds like she gets protein and fruits so what's the problem. Offer her one thing at dinner that she likes and if she doesn't eat the rest, oh well. My kid ate cereal after he refused most dinners for years. I think I did too which is where I got the cereal after dinner idea from. When she goes to school, pack her something that she likes and be done with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid eats:
PB&J
Pasta that he dips in hummus
Bacon
Yogurt with granola
Apples (2-4 per day)
Chicken nuggets
Raw baby spinach
Quesadilla
Cheese and crackers
Pizza
Cantaloupe
mango
cucumber slices
Muffins
Toaster waffles

That’s pretty much it. No burgers or hot dogs. No sandwiches.
No sauces on food. No dipping sauce except hummus.
Ped says he eats too many food for feeding therapy. We just let him eat from his rotation. On the bright side - he can and will eat the same thing every day. When we were home for the early pandemic, he ate PB&J, apple slices, and milk for lunch every day from mid-March until the end of June. 7 days a week. When he was 3 or 4, I made him Annie’s Mac and cheese every day for 6 months.

OP here. My kid is similar but the list is similar. It's more like:

PB&J
Mac & cheese (sometimes, only if from the box)
Yogurt with fruit and/or granola
Apples
Berries
Cheese and crackers (sometimes won't eat the cheese)
Muffins (any baked good really)
Toaster waffles
Corn (sometimes)
Mangos (in a smoothy)
Bananas (in a smoothy)
Citrus fruit (definitely in a smoothy, and sometimes also on its own)
Rice
Beans (sometimes)

No veggies, no pizza, no quesadillas, and the proteins are soooo limited. She does drink milk so that helps a bit, but I have been getting worried that she may have lactose intolerance issues because she complains of digestive issues frequently.

Not sure if this is limited enough for intervention. But still interested to know what an intervention would look like.

Nothing wrong with the list of what she eats and no with a list like that she isn’t going to meet the diagnostic criteria for needing feeding therapy. From what you listed, she is getting the standard basic nutritional needs met by willingly eating them.

Let it go for now. Just make these things and serve them and stop talking about and begging her to try new food. Offer her a taste every now and then but if she declines shrug it off.

[Anonymous]

You should look into getting professional guidance but in the meantime, I’d work with what your daughter will eat. Muffins? Make protein packed muffins. Protein fortified pasta. Smoothies. As long as she’s getting the appropriate balance of carb protein and fat, you can supplement vitamins. Nothing wrong with bread and butter. it’s not ideal but it’s entirely possible to have a healthy kid without meat and vegetables. Keep offering the other stuff but try not to sweat it so much. You said yourself she is growing well.

[Anonymous]

OP, this may be helpful

https://amyboyers.com/arfid-treatment-what-to-expect/

Lots will come up if you Google, hope you can find something helpful. You are not alone.

[Anonymous]

Find a couple shelf stable or refrigerated items she will eat and leave them in her reach. If she doesn't eat a meal she can either finish the meal or have one of these free choice items. Don't cook 15 times a day, make what you make and if she doesn't eat it move on. Keep introducing new foods regardless and don't make it a big deal if she eats it or not. If she goes to bed hungry it's her choice.

[Anonymous]

I honestly think her list is fine!
If she takes vitamins then I wouldn’t worry at all
I would just rotate the things she likes and if she stops liking a food I would wait and come back to it later
Maybe run blood tests to ease your mind?