Pickiest Tween (foodwise)

[Anonymous]

I have 4 kids, ranging in ages from 10-16. My 12 year old daughter is the pickiest child. Has always been picky and seems to be getting pickier every day. My husband and I work long hours so we really don't have time to make "special" meals for her. My other 3 eat everything, or just about. They are also all in the 85-90% height range. My 12 year old DD is in the 15% and I know it has to be in part due to her diet and lack of protein. She was 90% until she turned 3 or so and started getting pickier and pickier. She won't eat cheese, any type, it grosses her out. No deli meats, red meat is on a day to day basis, she eats it 30% of the time when I make it. Hates peanut butter and every other nut butter. Only eats 1 type of yogurt (the one with the orios, which can't have much protein). Won't touch greek yogurt which my other kids love. Edamame she will eat, but only sometimes. She does eat all or most of her vegetables, so she will eat the side dishes during a meal and leave the main dish (meat). Won't touch eggs without gagging. She doesn't like fruit, so smoothies with egg/yogurt hidden in them are a no.

Here is the protein she will eat: Chicken, beans, chickpeas and most legumes. I make legumes once a week, chicken twice a week, but the rest of us want variety so I also make pork (ribs, chops). She drinks 3 cups of milk a day, she likes milk.
I make Banza pasta for school because she loves pasta, and it has tons of protein since it is made with chickpeas. I mix it with a bit of regular pasta so that it makes a complete protein.

Can someone help me with protein ideas? She will go to bed hungry no problem, rather be hungry than eat something she doesn't like.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure the challenge is protein and not just calories? I have a picky skinny child, and he simply won’t eat enough to keep weight on. His doctors have recommended calorie dense food rather than protein in particular. We make sure he has a bowl of ice cream or a brownie with milk for dessert, and make him mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes with olive oil all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 4 kids, ranging in ages from 10-16. My 12 year old daughter is the pickiest child. Has always been picky and seems to be getting pickier every day. My husband and I work long hours so we really don't have time to make "special" meals for her. My other 3 eat everything, or just about. They are also all in the 85-90% height range. My 12 year old DD is in the 15% and I know it has to be in part due to her diet and lack of protein. She was 90% until she turned 3 or so and started getting pickier and pickier. She won't eat cheese, any type, it grosses her out. No deli meats, red meat is on a day to day basis, she eats it 30% of the time when I make it. Hates peanut butter and every other nut butter. Only eats 1 type of yogurt (the one with the orios, which can't have much protein). Won't touch greek yogurt which my other kids love. Edamame she will eat, but only sometimes. She does eat all or most of her vegetables, so she will eat the side dishes during a meal and leave the main dish (meat). Won't touch eggs without gagging. She doesn't like fruit, so smoothies with egg/yogurt hidden in them are a no.

Here is the protein she will eat: Chicken, beans, chickpeas and most legumes. I make legumes once a week, chicken twice a week, but the rest of us want variety so I also make pork (ribs, chops). She drinks 3 cups of milk a day, she likes milk.
I make Banza pasta for school because she loves pasta, and it has tons of protein since it is made with chickpeas. I mix it with a bit of regular pasta so that it makes a complete protein.

Can someone help me with protein ideas? She will go to bed hungry no problem, rather be hungry than eat something she doesn't like.

Pediatrician or dietitian. There is something more going on here.

[Anonymous]

At 12, she is old enough to make and clean up from her own food.

[Anonymous]

Eating disorders clinic for picky eating. My son did one at Duke (where we live) but there must be something near you.

If she is not eating and growing I don’t think “we are too busy to cook a special meal” is an acceptable stance. When you do cook something she likes, make extra (freeze if necessary). Teach her how to heat it up so she can have a normal meal rather than fasting when you decide you want to eat something else. As you work with the clinic she will hopefully be able to eat more of a variety.

[Anonymous]

Beans are great. Will she eat rice? She could probably live in beans, rice, tomatoes and milk. I would just have her make beans and rice whenever she won’t eat the main meal.

Also, you didn’t say whether she’d eat fish. It’s worth trying a few different types. Some picky eaters will eat shrimp or breaded calamari even if no regular fish.

Also try making muffins or cake with almond flour, and the kodiak brand protein pancake mix is great.

[Anonymous]

Beans are great. Will she eat rice? She could probably live in beans, rice, tomatoes and milk. I would just have her make beans and rice whenever she won’t eat the main meal.

Also, you didn’t say whether she’d eat fish. It’s worth trying a few different types. Some picky eaters will eat shrimp or breaded calamari even if no regular fish.

Also try making muffins or cake with almond flour, and the kodiak brand protein pancake mix is great.

[Anonymous]

If she will eat chicken, beans, and a variety of vegetables, it doesn't sound like you need to worry about protein. She is old enough to eat what you serve or to make her own meals. I would not make special meals for her.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry about it. She eats plenty of foods as it is. Beans, chicken, legume, pasta... Cook what you eat and she will find something to eat. Do not cater to her. Take her to endo if you suspect growth issues and to nutritionists so they can tell her face to face what she should eat and that she is old enough to make her own food that she likes. My DD ate less than yours at that age. Now, at 17 she eats everything. I mean apart from fish eyes, avocados, green beans, spinach, sauces, fish, meat, eggs, fruit, I am not even kidding, she eats everything. The only thing I never did, was make an issue and force her to eat something. She doesn't eat tomatoes, bcs of GERD, but that is about it. You will realize in a few years that you spent time worrying about nothing. She might even surprise you if you take her shopping for food and as she gets older and sees her friends eating different things. This is not a big deal as she eats pretty good variety as it is. Only one shopping suggestion, stop buying oreo yogurt, what the heck is oreo yogurt, I had no idea somebody made that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she will eat chicken, beans, and a variety of vegetables, it doesn't sound like you need to worry about protein. She is old enough to eat what you serve or to make her own meals. I would not make special meals for her.

Yes but the family only has chicken twice a week, beans less often. Is it too difficult for OP to keep a rotisserie or baked chicken breast in the fridge for her DD to have on chops/ribs nights?

[Anonymous]

What about cereal and milk? Hummus and pita? Tortillas and guacamole, rice, and beans? Potatoes?

I like the idea of gong shopping with her and letting her pick out the food that she wants.

I have always been a picky eater, so I try to be sympathetic, but it's hard being a mom of a picky eater!

[Anonymous]

I think your daughter eats a wide range of foods. Cook a little extra when you make the foods she likes or suggest an alternative that she can make herself. 15% is not a problem as long as she is growing. One of my kids was in the 75% and the we celebrated the other when she made the 5th%. They are a foot a part in height as teens. Sometimes I think the smaller one was just less hungry and fine waiting for her favorite foods to come around. I am jealous of the vegetables.

[Anonymous]

I am your daughter OP. I ate pasta with homemade sauce, American cheese/parmesan and drank a ton of milk, lived on chocolate cream filled cookies, cereal and occasional fruit. I was the kid that hated pizza, ice cream and meat grossed me out. I did eat eggs if my father made them. Late bloomer and looked like I was 12 freshman year of high school. Bloomed by early junior year. I've never had a weight issue, eat what I want including some meat but not often, eat more vegetables and fruit than my younger days. Not a sedentary kid or adult. I have a great body with little effort, even after pregnancy. I was always hassled for being thin. If your dd is healthy, doesnt have growth hormone, GI issues or food allergies and her height is in normal range, don't worry!

Roast a whole organic chicken on Sundays. She can eat different types of meals with it most of the week. Get a small "girl friendly" rice cooker. There's a great one on urban outfitters, believe it or not. Makes perfect single serving rice. She's old enough to prepare what she likes!

[Anonymous]

Does she like ice cream ? Let her eat a gallon per night.

[Anonymous]

I am wondering from some of these threads about the pickiest eaters if perception of what is picky is distorted. Many posts about kids that will eat fruit, but not veggies, or vice versa. Or will eat chicken, but not fish, etc...It seems like a made up concern to me and moms are worried sick since these kids will only eat so many foods, but then you hear the foods and it is a lot of variety.
Child that eats beans, pasta, chick peas, chicken, and all of her veggies is not a picky eater by any means.