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MarilynW
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| Posted: Aug 17 2009 at 7:43am | IP Logged
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I am at my wits end in getting my just 2 year old to eat. He turned fussy at a year old - just to give you the long list - he will not have milk, eggs, meat, yogurt,soup, beans etc etc - principally wants all fruit, bread or plain pasta or plai rice or sweet potato fries. He only drinks water or diluted calcium orange juice. He had a virus over the last couple of weeks and looks so thin and weak and is even pickier. I now try and make him something different from the rest of the family, but finding something nourishing and especially protein is such a challenge.
Any suggestions would be so appreciated. (I just don't want to resort to donuts and cookies to get his weight up!!)
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Aug 17 2009 at 8:21am | IP Logged
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Marilyn,
This sounds a little like my ds who actually was diagnosed with "Failure to Thrive". The timing is similar too. I think it's because I weaned my ds at 1 year and started giving him table food. In desperation we took him to a naturopath who said take him off of dairy and gluten. I thought "Right  !, he already wont eat anything and now you're telling me to cut out more!".
But, it worked. The problem was that he craved these foods, but his body didn't like it so it upset his stomach. He would eat some dairy or gluten, stop eating about 15 minutes later and be fussy. Then he wouldn't want to eat anything (unless it was something like candy or potato chips) for a day or two. Getting rid of the gluten and dairy helped his stomach heal and he is more open to eating a more healthy diet. You could try this out by just observing how he acts after eating gluten. If you really want to test it, take it out of his diet for two weeks, then give him gluten and see what happens. We tried this with my ds and the telltale signs were the diaper - diarhea - and his fussiness.
My pediatrician was not to keen on this and wanted us to do a biopsey to test for celiac before he would accept it. We aren't willing to put a 2 year old through all the testing though, when we can see the results. Maybe when he's older, but right now, keeping gluten and dairy out of his diet is doing the trick.
Then, on the other hand, there is my oldest son who does not have a sensitivity to gluten or dairy but as a child was always sentitive to texture in food. To this day he can't eat potatoes because of the "way they feel". He is 15! At meals, he has to take a small portion because that's our rule, but he swallows them quickly without chewing!
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Red Cardigan
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Marilyn, one of my brothers was a bit like this--I remember my mom trying everything to get him to eat. He's still more of a plain food, meat and potatoes guy, but he did learn to eat enough to be healthy.
Unless as Becky suggested there's an underlying, undiagnosed dietary issue, you might try some of the following:
--fish in various forms. Even fish sticks are better than no protein, but if he likes other fish, you can add it to the rice or pasta in small bits.
--cheeses. If he's not dairy sensitive but just dislikes milk, there may be a cheese out there that he likes. How about those cream cheese spreads? If he's too young for a flavored one, plain ones can be used to "hold" sliced fruit on a graham cracker, making a fruit snack more protein oriented.
--"unusual" meats. A relative of mine used to give her son a little bit of lamb (he needed iron, IIRC) b/c he was too young to like the taste of beef. Lamb has a mild flavor, and some children can be enticed with the promise of a little mint jelly. Other children who turn away from chicken will try a little bit of a pork chop and like the flavor or texture better; ground turkey is another option.
--baked sweet potato. If he likes sweet potato fries, would he eat a baked sweet potato (half, usually, as they're big) with some butter and cinnamon sugar? My "picky" brother whom I mentioned above also liked this, if I'm remembering it right. Better than donuts and cookies, if a little sweet for a vegetable. 
--brown rice. If he likes rice generally, could you get him to try brown rice, or maybe mix some brown and white together, gradually increasing the proportion of the brown? Brown rice contains a whole lot of nutrients that the white rice loses in processing, and even though white rice is enriched, some believe that the protein in brown rice is more easily absorbed.
--oatmeal, cream of rice or wheat, grits, or other grains in cereal form. It might take some experimenting to figure out not only if he'll eat any of these, but *how* he'll eat them (for example, don't tell any Southerners, but my girls like to put sugar on grits!)  He might like instant oatmeal but not regular, or vice versa; he might like cream of rice with sugar, fruit, or maple syrup on it, and so on--but many children will find at least one of these cooked cereals appealing enough to eat.
--soft canned vegetables. I don't buy canned vegetables generally, but when my girls were little my dh used to buy cans of no-salt Veg-all and drain the liquid for the girls. The vegetables were even softer than some of those "toddler bites" kind, the flavors weren't overpowering, and the girls found it fun to be able to pick out the ones they were interested in eating (soft carrots one day, potatoes or peas the next).
Best of luck!
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mathmama
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| Posted: Aug 17 2009 at 1:51pm | IP Logged
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I was thinking that perhaps he has some food allergies or intolerances.
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Stephanie_Q
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I'm not necessarily endorsing this brand, bu you might consider quinoa. It can be a bit pricey, but sounds like something he might eat that is very nutritious.
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MarilynW
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| Posted: Aug 17 2009 at 8:30pm | IP Logged
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Thank you all for the suggestions. I do not think it is food intolerances (though we have a family history). Also - he is not at all fussy or unhappy. He is potty trained and has no problem with bathroom habits. He has great focus and concentration and lots of energy, and is generally a happy little boy. He also sleeps well - takes a regular afternoon nap and sleep well at night. But he eats so little!!
(Stephanie - we are having quinoa for dinner tomorrow - I am not sure he will eat it!)
I will be trying many of your suggestions Red Cardigan.
Thanks again everyone.
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Cay Gibson
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Marilyn,
I remember Lissa writing a while back that she was told by her pediatrian to fix fruit smoothies for her under-weight son. I forget if it was just mornings or twice or three times a day but, if dairy is not an issue, mix in all the fruit he wants and add some peanut butter for protein.
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doris
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| Posted: Aug 18 2009 at 8:49am | IP Logged
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Quinoa is a bit more palatable if mixed with white rice, IMO. We often have it with a strongish sauce (chilli for example) and then no-one notices all that lovely nutritious stuff mixed in...
(Btw you pronounce it kee-nwa -- I just mention it because I pronounced it as it is written for ages!)
I guess nuts might be a problem if you have allergies, but if not they'd be a great calorific snack.
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Mackfam
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doris wrote:
| (Btw you pronounce it kee-nwa -- I just mention it because I pronounced it as it is written for ages!) |
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Ok...  I had no idea!!!! I consider this a work of mercy for adding that pronunciation up there Elizabeth!!! I've been saying kwin-o-u for-ever!!!!
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I would definitely try smoothies. you can sneak all sorts of healthy stuff into them. When, my now strapping 15 year son, was that age, he was was very underweight. We made in fruit and yogurt smoothies, and gradually increased the additives. It got him over the hump, and on the road to gaining weight.
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RA's Mom
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You can also try freezing fruit and yogurt smoothie in a popsicle mold.
Try dipping sauces like hummus or ranch-dressing herbs in yogurt.
And do be wary of food intolerances. Little ones can be wise that way.
Good luck.
Karen
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Cay Gibson
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I was looking for broth inspiration and came across these smoothie recipes our members shared a while back. 
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JennGM
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RA's Mom wrote:
You can also try freezing fruit and yogurt smoothie in a popsicle mold.
Try dipping sauces like hummus or ranch-dressing herbs in yogurt. |
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I was going to suggest something similar. Have lots of "dip-it" ways for the food and sneak in some protein that way. Marinara sauce with cheese to dip in bread or sweet potato sticks. Yogurt or ranch dips for fruit and veggies.
And add oils, butter, margarine to his foods, if he's going to be eating lots of carbs. I read these ideas when my son was not gaining. Have you tried buttering his bread? If he doesn't like that, try broiling the bread with butter/garlic and see if he'll eat it that way. Olive oil on the sweet potatoes, or butter and cinnamon sugar...just get some good fats in him.
And I do think he'll outgrow it. I'd leave the "cafeteria" open for him as much as possible, encouraging multiple snacks, since the lack of protein will tire him more easily.
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doris
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Mackfam wrote:
Ok... I had no idea!!!! I consider this a work of mercy for adding that pronunciation up there Elizabeth!!! I've been saying kwin-o-u for-ever!!!! |
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I hesitated before putting that in, thinking that it was seriously OT -- but glad to know I've spared your blushes, Jen!
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Topic: Help - picky eater who is underweight
