Beyond Picky Eater. Texture Issues

Here's some information about pickyness as a part of sensory processing disorder.

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/picky-eaters.html

Hang in there!- I know it's frustrating.

How old is your son? Have you had him evaluated for a sensory disorder or issues? My nephew has very strange texture issues, and he has some sensory issues.

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Recipes/extremely-picky-e...

Please read this article.

That said, my son has been a picky eater since he started solids at 6 months old. And yes, he's had some mild sensory issues. We never made it a battle nor punished for it nor made it a reward thing. He is now 4 years old, and has NATURALLY expanded his palate. He is healthy. He grows like a weed. He eats... PER his body's cues for hunger or fullness. That is good. He does not eat out of emotion or to please someone or out of boredom. That is good.
We don't have junk in the house nor feed junk. So whatever he does eat, he is eating healthy. Even if he is picky about texture or appearance of the foods.
But he eats. Per his body's cues.

Or, give your son Smoothies. Since you said fruits is the main issue. So instead of giving him a whole fruit or chunks of fruit, just make it into a smoothie. There are many ways to eat the same thing.

It might be a sensory issue. Try combing/brushing his hair from forehead to his neck for a few minutes before he eats...that might stimulate some of the sensory nerves in his head.

Also, have him sit in the kitchen while you cook hot meals, so he can smell the food at least 20-30 mins before he eats. That might help the pickiness and help him except the textures if his brain is already used to the smell.

hth!

Hi,

Well, it looks like this is covered, and you didn't say how young your son is, but if you're concerned that he isn't getting enough nutrients, try blending his food. You can blend anything (except meat...which you can process instead).
Let him drink his food. ;)

Good luck!
"Grams"
from the Pocono Mts. of PA

Been there! Our son is still picky but the list of what he will eat is growing. But one thing I made (when there were only two thing on the list...pretzels and goldfish) that I still make & he loves is shake. I put all this in a blender: one banana, 1/2 can peaches with some juice, 1/2 can of pears, one package of carnation instant breakfast (vanilla), 1 cup of yogurt (strawberry banana), 1 sliced steamed zucchini and about a 1/2 c of thawed frozen strawberries or 1/2 dozen fresh strawberries. You can add juice or milk so its not too thick. You blend it and it tastes like a strawberry shake. You don't even taste the zucchini! He will drink an entire blender full if I let him. You can obviously change the flavors to suit taste. I have even put in 1/2 of a baked sweet potato in place of the zucchini. Still tastes great. Good Luck!!!

My son has textures issues and we had him evaluated at our local children's hospital. Usually the children's hospital has a "feeding team" that can evaluate him and let you know what to do as well as offer fun "picnic classes". I suggest you have him evaluated and also recommend this book for you "Food Chaining". It covers how to expand to other foods by using the same textures he is accustomed to and also how to introduce new foods. Our son still is food averse to certain foods but at least he is willing to try. Also, don't put pressure on him about eating and food and take it calmly because you don't also want to create other emotional issues related to food. Good luck!

My daughter is picky too. Texture is major. It has to be fairly smooth. She loves certain things so I feed her those and then do a multi-vitamin.
I've read they outgrow it so I look forward to those days.
Have you tried smoothies for the fruit? Works pretty well for us and you can sneak all sorts of other stuff in there ;)

Good luck!

I am a HUGE fan of the new "bagged" baby food. It is basically baby food in a bag, usually sold in select markets and babies r us. My son LOVES to eat his fruits and veggies out of this, try it!

YES!!!! My 4 yr old has always dealt with texture issues, but only with food. He actually could only tolerate pureed food, such as jarred baby food and yogurt, until he was about 2. We have slowly gotten him onto table foods and now he has a pretty good variety of foods that he will eat. He is, however, still VERY PICKY! Trying new foods is a challenge, so he usually likes to eat the sames foods over and over that he knows he likes.

We try not to make eating a big deal because we know how hard it is for him, but I do make sure there is are foods that he will eat that are nutritious. He loves apples, cashews (weird, I know!), bananas (he still kind of gags on them, but he loves them), all different kinds of cereal (favorite is LIFE), etc. The softer the food the harder it is for him to tolerate.

Meats and vegetables are a huge struggle. We make sure he takes a multivitamin with iron and I make protein shakes for him as well.

Good luck to you. I understand what you are going through!

YES, have a child who has texture issues and has for 9 years. We are getting through all the gagging, throw up stage of any type of squishy and saucy type stuff.......getting so much better....forcing her to try new things . It has been 2 years and she has come a long way. But that process of making her try new things all started maybe around 6 yrs old. Anyway, it is a really long road. Try to be patient and hide fruit in pancakes, smoothies ect.... it sometimes works.

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