Healthy Lunch Ideas for Picky ADHD Kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send chicken nuggets. Or if your kid will eat them, chunks of chicken.

Heat up a thermos with hot water, then dump it out, and put in hot chicken nuggets and they will stay hot until lunch.

Before you start this habit, check and see if your kid will eat cold nuggets. Many kids don’t care at all, and being able to pack them the night before is really nice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With a kid who isn’t hungry due to meds, getting something with calories and protein in a few bites is priority. If that means a sugary whole milk Greek Yogurt or skyr, or home made or some Just Bare nuggets I am good with that. Work on variety and vegetables when the meds are in full force and the environment is less distracting.

Absolutely this. Lunch is not the time to worry about a fully complete nutritional meal. Breakfast and dinner you can control but lunch may just end up in the bin if it isn’t appetizing or they are too distracted to eat it.

One of mine really liked pasta with pesto or Raos tomato sauce — we cooked it in the morning and put it in a heated thermos. You can use protein pasta if they’ll eat that. Sometimes I also send whole wheat banan chocolate chip muffins. The rachel ray breakfast cookies are also okay for protein and fiber. Sometimes we also just do “snack lunch” which is like a cheese stick, an apple sauce and a cereal bar and maybe some dried fruit or grapes. Texture can be an issue with packed fruit as it tends to get mushy. It you pack a paper towel under it in the container that helps prevent the mush factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does ADHD have to do with anything? As a person with ADHD, I was someone who always wanted different things. if they're picky eaters that's because they're picky eaters, not because of ADHD.

My kid is a picky eater and at the bottom of the growth and weight charts and isn't hungry because of the ADHD meds.

Lack of appetite is different from only wanting chicken nuggets.

ADHD can contribute to picky eating in many ways.

At lunch time, when many kids are medicated and distracted y their chaos, a kid might be enticed to take a few bites of a favorite food, but there might be other foods that they will reject even if they eat more variety at other times. A parent who prioritizes academics or behavior might make the choice to send chicken nuggets to get those few bites in, because they know that it will help them sustain attention.

Often, when medication wears off, kids experience sudden intense hunger. This can lead to kids filling up on snack foods, which makes them less hungry and willing to try new foods when dinner is on the table later.

A kid with significant hyperactivity may burn more calories than a typical kid, and be less able to stay at the table to finish a meal. This can lead to weight stalling or dropping which can lead to parents prioritizing weight gain over variety.

Parents of kids with ADHD are often needing to do more helicoptering, and disciplining than parents of NT kids. They might cook less variety because they have less time and energy for cooking. They might also recognize that too much power struggling and helicoptering isn’t good for their relationship with their kids or their kids mental health and drop the rope on dinner.

Impulsivity can make some kids reflexively reject anything that’s novel, and can make it hard for them to change that position. (Note: other kids impulsively seek novelty. Kids with ADHD are different)

Interoception can be hard for kids with ADHD which can make it hard for them to slow down and listen to their bodies clues. For some kids, this means they don’t stop when they are full, and for others it means they don’t eat enough. Strategies that rely on kid hunger to get them to eat variety may not work for them.

While anxiety and sensory issues aren’t diagnostic features of ADHD they are absolutely more frequent in kids with ADHD. Both of those can contribute to picky eating.

Or they could be like my kid whose ADHD inattentive doesn’t make him impulsive, and whose nonstimulant medication doesn’t impact appetite, and who eats a lovely variety. Because each kid with ADHD is different.

This is a very nice reply to someone who was just kind of being a jerk. As someone with ADHD and a mom to two kids with adhd (one of whom has significant eating restrictions due to sensory deregulation. and the other does not, but struggled with lunch due to distraction), I appreciate your kind and thoughtful response.

[Anonymous]

My ADHD 13yo takes Ritalin in the morning so never wants lunch. If yours are on a stimulant they may not be hungry. She eats a good filling breakfast then just has a drink at lunchtime, dinner around 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does ADHD have to do with anything? As a person with ADHD, I was someone who always wanted different things. if they're picky eaters that's because they're picky eaters, not because of ADHD.

My kid is a picky eater and at the bottom of the growth and weight charts and isn't hungry because of the ADHD meds.

Lack of appetite is different from only wanting chicken nuggets.

ADHD can contribute to picky eating in many ways.

At lunch time, when many kids are medicated and distracted y their chaos, a kid might be enticed to take a few bites of a favorite food, but there might be other foods that they will reject even if they eat more variety at other times. A parent who prioritizes academics or behavior might make the choice to send chicken nuggets to get those few bites in, because they know that it will help them sustain attention.

Often, when medication wears off, kids experience sudden intense hunger. This can lead to kids filling up on snack foods, which makes them less hungry and willing to try new foods when dinner is on the table later.

A kid with significant hyperactivity may burn more calories than a typical kid, and be less able to stay at the table to finish a meal. This can lead to weight stalling or dropping which can lead to parents prioritizing weight gain over variety.

Parents of kids with ADHD are often needing to do more helicoptering, and disciplining than parents of NT kids. They might cook less variety because they have less time and energy for cooking. They might also recognize that too much power struggling and helicoptering isn’t good for their relationship with their kids or their kids mental health and drop the rope on dinner.

Impulsivity can make some kids reflexively reject anything that’s novel, and can make it hard for them to change that position. (Note: other kids impulsively seek novelty. Kids with ADHD are different)

Interoception can be hard for kids with ADHD which can make it hard for them to slow down and listen to their bodies clues. For some kids, this means they don’t stop when they are full, and for others it means they don’t eat enough. Strategies that rely on kid hunger to get them to eat variety may not work for them.

While anxiety and sensory issues aren’t diagnostic features of ADHD they are absolutely more frequent in kids with ADHD. Both of those can contribute to picky eating.

Or they could be like my kid whose ADHD inattentive doesn’t make him impulsive, and whose nonstimulant medication doesn’t impact appetite, and who eats a lovely variety. Because each kid with ADHD is different.

This is a very nice reply to someone who was just kind of being a jerk. As someone with ADHD and a mom to two kids with adhd (one of whom has significant eating restrictions due to sensory deregulation. and the other does not, but struggled with lunch due to distraction), I appreciate your kind and thoughtful response.

Thanks!

I wasn’t deluded enough to think I could change the PP’s opinion. I just wanted the other parents to know that some people do see the hard work parents do to feed their kids well, and recognize that chicken nuggets can be a part of that!

[Anonymous]

My autistic kiddo with Arfid likes the same thing in his lunch lunch most days of the week. For him that's butter and jam sandwiches, or bagels with PB (he's allowed this at school), dried fruit, pretzels or popcorn. He will occasionally have leftover homemade pizza.

I used to feel the pressure of needing him to have variety, but realized his day is so full of variety and stimulation at school that a consistent lunch was actually a predictable anchor for him. Now I just pack what I know he will eat, so he's full, and we try new things with no pressure at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does ADHD have to do with anything? As a person with ADHD, I was someone who always wanted different things. if they're picky eaters that's because they're picky eaters, not because of ADHD.

I disagree... Kids with ADHD are known to 1) be less hungry when on meds due to appetite suppression 2) want to carb load when the meds wear off and 3) be more prone to want to eat the same things over and over.

Considering the traits of ADHD are impulsivity, and I have ADHD and can tell you impulsive eating is a real problem, I think you just have a kid with ADHD who also for other reasons has been trained up as a picky eater.

Yes- if you read, #2 above is about impulsivity. No one is "trained" as a picky eater. #3 is related to hyperfixating. These are well documented traits - while you are sharing one experience.

picky eating is entirely trained.

They are not well-documented traits, you're just assigning things to ADHD because it's easier than dealing with the root causes.

OK, I'll bite: picky eating is not entirely trained. If you haven't learned this yet, you may be on the wrong forum.

The pickiest eaters in my broader family and friend group are born to parents who didn't make a separate kids meal, didn't cater, shared diverse family meals and involved kids in cooking, ate a variety of meals at home and out, etc etc etc. Sometimes it's just the kid's needs and that's OK. Sometimes the parents have to prioritize their relationship with the child, and the child's relationship with food, rather than forcing them to eat something that feels wrong to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does ADHD have to do with anything? As a person with ADHD, I was someone who always wanted different things. if they're picky eaters that's because they're picky eaters, not because of ADHD.

I disagree... Kids with ADHD are known to 1) be less hungry when on meds due to appetite suppression 2) want to carb load when the meds wear off and 3) be more prone to want to eat the same things over and over.

Considering the traits of ADHD are impulsivity, and I have ADHD and can tell you impulsive eating is a real problem, I think you just have a kid with ADHD who also for other reasons has been trained up as a picky eater.

Yes- if you read, #2 above is about impulsivity. No one is "trained" as a picky eater. #3 is related to hyperfixating. These are well documented traits - while you are sharing one experience.

picky eating is entirely trained.



They are not well-documented traits, you're just assigning things to ADHD because it's easier than dealing with the root causes.

OK, I'll bite: picky eating is not entirely trained. If you haven't learned this yet, you may be on the wrong forum.

The pickiest eaters in my broader family and friend group are born to parents who didn't make a separate kids meal, didn't cater, shared diverse family meals and involved kids in cooking, ate a variety of meals at home and out, etc etc etc. Sometimes it's just the kid's needs and that's OK. Sometimes the parents have to prioritize their relationship with the child, and the child's relationship with food, rather than forcing them to eat something that feels wrong to them.

not entirely, but mostly trained.

Kids will generally eat what is provided to them. If you give your kids chicken tenders and cheese pizza and hamburgers wiht no toppings, that's what they'll expect. If you say things like "let me take that lettuce off for you" or "you wouldn't like this, it's spicy!" you're going to wind up with kids who are picky. Kids are naturally inquisitive and go through phases of levels of interest, but generally if you provide good options, the kids are happy to take them. If you only offer your kids basic crappy food, and frame the subject as something they're not ready for, you're going to get exactly that.

My ILs are always stunned that we allow our kids to eat Mexican food—but they're young, it's too spicy! What the hell do you think kids eat in Mexico? Why can't kids eat sushi?

Anyway, none of this has to do with ADHD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does ADHD have to do with anything? As a person with ADHD, I was someone who always wanted different things. if they're picky eaters that's because they're picky eaters, not because of ADHD.

I disagree... Kids with ADHD are known to 1) be less hungry when on meds due to appetite suppression 2) want to carb load when the meds wear off and 3) be more prone to want to eat the same things over and over.

Considering the traits of ADHD are impulsivity, and I have ADHD and can tell you impulsive eating is a real problem, I think you just have a kid with ADHD who also for other reasons has been trained up as a picky eater.

Yes- if you read, #2 above is about impulsivity. No one is "trained" as a picky eater. #3 is related to hyperfixating. These are well documented traits - while you are sharing one experience.

picky eating is entirely trained.

They are not well-documented traits, you're just assigning things to ADHD because it's easier than dealing with the root causes.

Wow you are really ignorant about feeding. No "picky eating" isn't trained, that's basically blaming parents. Please go educate yourself or at least be quiet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does ADHD have to do with anything? As a person with ADHD, I was someone who always wanted different things. if they're picky eaters that's because they're picky eaters, not because of ADHD.

My kid is a picky eater and at the bottom of the growth and weight charts and isn't hungry because of the ADHD meds.

Lack of appetite is different from only wanting chicken nuggets.

When you're not that hungry, you're going to find just your favorite foods appealing. This really isn't that hard to understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does ADHD have to do with anything? As a person with ADHD, I was someone who always wanted different things. if they're picky eaters that's because they're picky eaters, not because of ADHD.

I disagree... Kids with ADHD are known to 1) be less hungry when on meds due to appetite suppression 2) want to carb load when the meds wear off and 3) be more prone to want to eat the same things over and over.

Considering the traits of ADHD are impulsivity, and I have ADHD and can tell you impulsive eating is a real problem, I think you just have a kid with ADHD who also for other reasons has been trained up as a picky eater.

Yes- if you read, #2 above is about impulsivity. No one is "trained" as a picky eater. #3 is related to hyperfixating. These are well documented traits - while you are sharing one experience.

picky eating is entirely trained.

They are not well-documented traits, you're just assigning things to ADHD because it's easier than dealing with the root causes.

Wow you are really ignorant about feeding. No "picky eating" isn't trained, that's basically blaming parents. Please go educate yourself or at least be quiet.

it is definitely trained.

in places where parents don't give their kids the option of chicken tenders, boxed mac and cheese or cheese pizza, kids don't have trouble eating other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does ADHD have to do with anything? As a person with ADHD, I was someone who always wanted different things. if they're picky eaters that's because they're picky eaters, not because of ADHD.

My kid is a picky eater and at the bottom of the growth and weight charts and isn't hungry because of the ADHD meds.

Lack of appetite is different from only wanting chicken nuggets.

When you're not that hungry, you're going to find just your favorite foods appealing. This really isn't that hard to understand.

As a person with ADHD, I don't need to have things explained by someone who doesn't have it. Thanks!

Lack of appetite and seeking out favorite foods is not the same thing as being a picky eater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My autistic kiddo with Arfid likes the same thing in his lunch lunch most days of the week. For him that's butter and jam sandwiches, or bagels with PB (he's allowed this at school), dried fruit, pretzels or popcorn. He will occasionally have leftover homemade pizza.

I used to feel the pressure of needing him to have variety, but realized his day is so full of variety and stimulation at school that a consistent lunch was actually a predictable anchor for him. Now I just pack what I know he will eat, so he's full, and we try new things with no pressure at home.

Yes my kid eats the exact same thing every single day. I think the routine is comfortable for him or these are just what he likes.

OP, if your kid will eat chicken nuggets, then send those. Protein! It's a win.

Even if it wasn't that nutritious, just pack what you know he will eat, then focus on more balanced meals in the AM or PM pre meds or when they have worn off.

If you really want to find some new ideas, take him to the store and let him choose what to try. Giving him ownership/agency may help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does ADHD have to do with anything? As a person with ADHD, I was someone who always wanted different things. if they're picky eaters that's because they're picky eaters, not because of ADHD.

My kid is a picky eater and at the bottom of the growth and weight charts and isn't hungry because of the ADHD meds.

Lack of appetite is different from only wanting chicken nuggets.

When you're not that hungry, you're going to find just your favorite foods appealing. This really isn't that hard to understand.

As a person with ADHD, I don't need to have things explained by someone who doesn't have it. Thanks!

Lack of appetite and seeking out favorite foods is not the same thing as being a picky eater.

You have the problem of thinking you know everything about everyone else's ADHD - including our kids with ADHD - based on your sample size of one experience.

Guess what - you don't. Have a seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does ADHD have to do with anything? As a person with ADHD, I was someone who always wanted different things. if they're picky eaters that's because they're picky eaters, not because of ADHD.

I disagree... Kids with ADHD are known to 1) be less hungry when on meds due to appetite suppression 2) want to carb load when the meds wear off and 3) be more prone to want to eat the same things over and over.

Considering the traits of ADHD are impulsivity, and I have ADHD and can tell you impulsive eating is a real problem, I think you just have a kid with ADHD who also for other reasons has been trained up as a picky eater.

Yes- if you read, #2 above is about impulsivity. No one is "trained" as a picky eater. #3 is related to hyperfixating. These are well documented traits - while you are sharing one experience.

picky eating is entirely trained.

They are not well-documented traits, you're just assigning things to ADHD because it's easier than dealing with the root causes.

Wow you are really ignorant about feeding. No "picky eating" isn't trained, that's basically blaming parents. Please go educate yourself or at least be quiet.

it is definitely trained.

in places where parents don't give their kids the option of chicken tenders, boxed mac and cheese or cheese pizza, kids don't have trouble eating other things.

Wow, this poster won't back down. For other parents reading this, just know this poster is ignorant about feeding and feeding disorders. Don't listen to them. You didn't "train" your child to eat a certain way.