Picky Eaters? (A Post by a *Mom and OT)

Picky eaters are becoming more and more common- we probably all have worked with a child with a limited diet, or, if you are like me, you live with one.  You might think, "Well, Joleen, you are an OT, so you should know exactly what to do with your picky eater."  Yes...and...no.  I have a 12 year old daughter with some pretty significant sensory defensiveness issues.  She is not on the spectrum, but sensory processing is a big deal for her.  I have tried lots of things with her over the years from a sensory stand point, and yes, from desperation when that intervention hardly made a dent.  My kid is a carb junkie, as most picky eaters and kids with ASD seem to be.  I am always concerned that she get more protein in her diet, and I am always looking for ways to do that (that, and because she has low blood sugar).  At any rate, the following is what I have learned in my attempts AS A MOM to get some calories and some food into my kid (she is 12 years old and weighs a whole 70 pounds on a good day). This is not evidence based, and again, it is not that I am recommending a "diet" of these foods as a professional.

**The following are ideas used by me for my own child and shared by other parents/caregivers that have worked for their picky eaters-  they are not formally recommended for a nutritionally balanced diet, but are merely suggestions of foods you can try if you have a picky eater.

Add protein by:

• some yogurts have added protein (such as greek yogurt).  Picky kids do not like yogurt with fruit in the bottom, so be sure to check for that as well.  Try YoCrunch yogurts-  they have a little cup of granola or oreo cookie pieces in the cover that kids can sprinkle in the yogurt, and there is no fruit in the bottom.
• Land o Lakes 1% milk with added protein
• protein additive from GNC can be added to liquids and foods (although some kids can taste or smell it- mine could!)
• scrambled eggs/hard boiled eggs (add some cheese to the scrambled eggs if they like them)
• cheese sticks
• peanut butter (on crackers, on apples, pb&j sandwich, etc)

To add fruits/vegetables:

• 100% fruit juices, such as orange juice
• V8 Fusion juice
• fruit smoothies (Yoplait makes smoothie packs, found in freezer section)
• some frozen popsicles are made from 100% fruit juice, or make your own from 100% juice
• apples dipped in peanut butter (peeled, of course)  Or, let them have low fat caramel dip, why not?
• fruits and vegetables that are crunchy and/or have an even texture are sometimes tolerable by picky eaters (peeled apples, carrots, pears)
• applesauce/flavored applesauces/some fruit flavors of baby food (smooth texture)
• if the child will eat salad, throw in some spinach leaves, or give them spinach leaves instead of lettuce

For kids who don’t eat meats:

• some brands of chicken nuggets and popcorn chicken are more coarse (such as “Ready brand” that you can find in the meat section of some grocery stores) and are more tolerable.
• sometimes kids will eat baked chicken because the meat has an even texture
• some kids who do not like meat will eat summer sausage or other meats with strong or spicy flavor (such as bacon or baked ham).  You can buy fully cooked bacon that you can microwave.  Summer sausage/cheese/crackers makes a good snack.
• hot dogs.  Our pediatrician said just go with beef franks if this is the only thing that will work!

Other favorites of picky kids (carbs included, of course):

• pastas with parmesan cheese or shredded cheese sprinkled on top
• cheese pizza/pizza rolls
• melted cheese on a flour tortilla (sneak some lettuce or spinach leaves in a rolled cheese tortilla)
• Nutella hazelnut spread- has no artificial colors or preservatives 
• peanut butter or cheese flavored snacks (crackers, etc)
• cereal and milk (cereal is fortified, so I don't feel too bad about this option)
• some toaster waffles (such as some Ego waffles, like Ego Cinnamon Toast) have extra calcium and vitamins/minerals, and are tolerated by kids who like carbs.  Do not need syrup on these, so you won’t have the added sugar
• popcorn- a favorite of kids who like crunchy foods with a predictable texture.  Popcorn can be a good source of fiber, and you can get 94% fat free varieties if worried about calorie intake

Adding calories:

• Add calories to a diet by giving shakes/malts.  Yes, I do this.  My child gets a shake with her meal if we have fast food, because all she eats are fries.
• Carnation Breakfast Essentials instant breakfast drink- 13 grams protein, vitamins E, D, B vitamins, Calcium and Iron
• Ensure drinks-  many kids won’t drink these, but you could add some to a malt, shake or smoothie
• Ice cream.  Picky eaters often like plain flavors, or stronger flavors such as mint chocolate chip

And, even though this does not sound yummy to me, some picky eaters like strong flavors, and will tolerate Chef Boyardee products, such as spaghettios or ravioli.  My non meat eater will eat beef ravioli. I have no idea why.

Does your child not like to eat lunch at school?  There could be a variety of reasons why-

• he/she does not like the food choices/is a picky eater
• he/she is overwhelmed by the smells of the cafeteria
• he/she is overwhelmed by the amount of noise/chaos/crowd
• he/she is overwhelmed by the sights (the lighting, watching others eat, etc)
• he/she has difficulty with the steps and sequencing task of getting his/her tray, finding a place to sit, dumping their tray when done, where to place the empty tray, etc.
• the social interaction is too overwhelming

You can help your child's team at school make accommodations for some of these issues.  Send your child's lunch with them, arrange for another place in the school to eat their lunch, prearrange a time for your child to exit class before peers to be able to get his/her tray/food before the crowd and chaos, have your child wear earplugs to lunch if it is too loud, have a visual support made for your child for the steps of navigating the lunch line/lunch room.

Good luck, friends, I feel your pain!