Selective Eating Disorder

Hi N.-
Did you also come across something called Sensory Integration Disorder in your research? Or Sensory Processing Disorder? Same thing, different names. I am a pediatric occupational therapist and have worked with many children who are very picky eaters and their diet is similar to what you have mentioned: mostly carbs, avoid veggies and fruits. Different textures, smells, or tastes make them gag and, like your son, just the sight of them can trigger this sometimes. Most of these kids also have other issues as well: sensitive to different kinds of touch, smells, sounds, movement (either crave it and move around a lot, or get car sick easily), visual, etc.
You could make an appointment with a pediatric occupational therapist to have him evaluated. Ask your doctor for a prescription for an eval, as some places require one, and he'll need a prescription to get treated. If you are interested, I can give you the names of places in your area of town that have OT's. You can also take a look at "Just Take a Bite"--I forgot the authors names, but Amazon carries it.
Good luck! I know this can be terribly frustrating but having a name and reason to his behavior can be comforting--and, of course, knowing that there is a treatment!

K.

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Former anorexic myself, I started in high school, selectively choosing what I would eat, then became obsessive, eating disorders are not about weight they are about control, nothing in your life is controllable except what goes into your mouth. It may not be about fun ways to introduce foods, as much as it is a counselor to get to the root of his eating habits.

Good Luck,
Robin

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N., I have a son who is 13 and it sounds like he has this disorder. He eats hardly anything. But there is hope. When he was very young he would eat very well. Then texture and smell really did him in and most of what he likes to eat now is carbs that are very bland. Other than strange eating he is normal in height, and weight, etc. Over the course of the last year or so he has really made strides on his own to try new things ( or thing that he used to eat). He recently tried spare ribs with BBQ sauce. He didn't particularly like it but said he would probably try it again after a while. I find when my husband and other son try to encourage him to try new things he gets frustrated and then won't try anything, even if it was previously in his mind to do so. When I make something to eat that I know is not on his eat list, I just ask him if he would like some. If he says no, then he knows that that is okay and I am not pressuirng him. Pressure seems to make it worse. Good luck. It is not easy, but it is worth it.

M.

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Hi N.,

I would have to agree with some of the other responses to find a doctor who specializes in eating disorders. He may grow out of it as some people have, but it never hurts to follow through medically. I know you have to be worried about your son, and it would help you to feel better to find a doctor who will take you seriously and take measures to find a solution to the problem.

My youngest did not want to eat solids, and after I weaned him at a year old, he stopped growing and I had great difficulty getting him to eat food. Sometimes he would throw up, and I thought he might have a sensitive gag reflex, but I finally figured out that he might have reflux. After consulting with his doctor, she agreed that it could be reflux and put him on medicine. Meanwhile, we did blood tests and saw a specialist to make sure it wasn't another type of issue. After being on the reflux medicine for a month, his eating improved, and after 4 months, he finally started to grow. In short, follow your instincts and find a doctor who will do everything possible to help.

Good luck!

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N.,

I can't imagine how difficult your situation problem is. Have you or your doctor thought about getting your son and the family into therapy? I know most people don't want to see therapists because they feel they will be labeled as "crazy", but perhaps a therapist coul help your son first of deal with his feelings about "being different" and then with his feelings toward food. Also, you may want to check some of the bigger hospital websites, because there may be some programs for children with eating disorders tha your son could participate in.
I wish you and your family the best! You are a great mother that obviously cares for her children dearly. C.

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N.,

Your motherly intuition is correct. If you feel there is something wrong with your child, there probably is. The doctor who told you that you were over reacting is not a good doctor at all. A good doctor will listen to your concerns and help you work them out. Just because they went to medical school doesn't mean they know everything about your child. Every child is different and not all situations are the same. Find a doctor that is willing to help and not ignore what you know in your heart is a problem your son is facing. Your son is crying for your help if he has already said he feels different from others. It is up to you and your family to help him through this, what I am sure for him, tough time.

Best wishes and God Bless
Z. Floresville TX

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i don't have any answer about this, but I'll pray for you.

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My son is 6 and he is the same way. He has always been this way he won't eat any veggies, no soft food (mashed potatoes, rice, etc...) Everyone tells me he is a picky eater. I have tried making him eat these foods, I have tried rewarding . Nothing works!! I can't force him because he will just go without eating. I found what works for me is to hide the veggies in everyday food ... My son likes spagetti so I get the sauce that has veggies in it . For the most part I wouldn't worry if he's healthy and a good weight . Good Luck!!

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I recommend having him tested for celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease or allergy to gluten which is a protein found in wheat, barley, spelt, and rye. He may not want to eat because certain foods actually make him physicially sick. You can find some info at www.celiac.org.

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My son was that way from the time he was on solid food. He would gag if you gave him anything new to try. If it wasn
't a chicken nugget or a french fry he was having no part in it. I gave him liquid vitimins and hoped for the best. He says now he did not like the way it felt in his mouth. He has gotten better over time. If it's something he likes he takes big bites now. if it's something new he takes small bites. We got him to try new things by going "if you dont like it, spit it in my hand" some things he liked some not so much. By doing that we opened his eyes and mouth to new textures and items he liked. We made it a game. 5 new things and very small portions. That way he didnt feel pressured or overwellemed. If he is willing to change, that is the first step. Make a reward chart of all the cool new things he tried. put smiles and frowns for what he likes and does not. My son is now 8 and will atleast try whats on his plate. He is doing much better and is not so picky. Oh almost forgot, he has a very bad gag reflux at the dentist. He gags anytime you touch the roof of his mouth. That might have been part of his problem. The reflux made his tummy hurt and made him feel sick if his bites were too big. good luck:) wendy

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My child is 12 and has an eating disorder which she developed over the summer. It is very important to get help from someone trained in eating disorders. It is also important to get help as soon as possible so the pattern can be broken. This can affect many aspects of his growth and physical health. I would try to find a dietician and psychologist that specializes in eating disorders. Dr Susan Mendgen is a specialist in San Antonio and can refer you to someone in your area possibly. All counselors say they treat eating disorders, but my daughter was being seen by a counselor and was not getting any better until she saw someone who really knew what they were doing. It is kind of like you can go to a general practitioner to deliver your baby and that may be okay if it is a very uncomplicated case, but most people opt for an obstetrician. I wish you the best and hope you will follow up. You are not over-reacting.

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I'm not an expert on this disorder, but I have six children and they've all had different "quirks" about eating at different times. My 8 year old boy who had seldom seen a vegetable pass his lips since he began feeding himself, and has a thing against cheese, surprised me the other day by asking for the "cheese with holes" on a sandwich and lettuce too. Once we bribed him with the thought "If you want to be an olympic pole vaulter you need to eat your vegetables. It worked for one piece of lettuce and no more. Alas!
We've always just tried to make the eating thing a "no big deal" area of our lives. I provide healthy meals that vary (half of the kids put their nose up at the enchiladas last night) but I request a taste since I went through the trouble making it. Then it can sit on the plate while we have polite conversation around the dinner table...we sit down together.

I put it on the plate...they may or may not eat it but,they haven't starved...junk food from outside sources just isn't around much...they can eat PJ sandwiches or cereal later, but not right after an uneaten meal. As they get older they're trying more things...especially if they see us enjoying the food.
Idea#1 Plant a garden together
#2 Cook & serve the meal together
#3 Assure your child that just because they feel a certain way about a food now doesn't mean they'll always feel that way
#4 Coach your child on how to act when encountering that food when with another person. (I've smiled while swallowing something with mayo on it many a time. GAG!)Sometimes they'll try something for someone else that they won't for us.
#5 Keep putting just a tiny amount of whatever you are eating on the plate...one day they'll try...maybe.
LW

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Hi N. -

If he is healthy and at a normal weight, why not view this differently. He says he feels different and he clearly acts differently re foods - actually getting sick.

There are two ideas that I can think of - have you ever heard of eating for your blood type? There is a book out on this. I read it and found that all the foods I am highly allergic to, are those that are not good at all for my body, re blood type - interesting!!! This is based on over 25 years of research, which the book talks about in full detail. I think it would be worth looking into for your son.

Another idea - have you read up on Indigo and Crystal children? I would google this and be ready to have an open mind when you are reading about these kids. Your son seems to fit what I have read about some of these children. Although some eat only low-sugar stuff, there are some that don't eat much at all and want what your son wants - those carbs.

If he is throwing up at sight, I would consider that his body just beats to a different drum and he seems to understand this so maybe everyone else needs to support him in that - as long as he is of normal weight. We are seeing more and more of this happening in society - many are beating to a different drum and rather than fitting into categorizing in a negative way, as our Western World can do, people are beginning to accept and appreciate the differences - realizing there is nothing "wrong".

Good luck and blessings to your son!
Alli

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I am BIG on nutrition, so I did a quick web search. I googled strong gag reflex just to see what I would find. I wanted to see something like a certain candy or losenge that would calm the reflex OR make your son LESS sensitive to different textures in his mouth. (I too have a beyond picky eater). My son has a texture issue. So, what I found w/ the gag reflex search was hypnotherapy!!! Listing after listing was the same. It is definitly something to try. One, it's not exactly 'therapy' so your son's esteem won't be harmed. And it's not a drug where side effects could harm him. Even if you find a true diagnosis of the eating disorder, I think the hypnotherapy would help. The only experience I have w/ that is my mom. She had it done to quit smoking 20 yrs ago. It's the only thing that made her quit. I applaud you for researching your son's symptoms and supporting him. You sound like a wonderful mother. I would do anything it takes to get him to eat healthy. Even if it takes making popsicles out of whatever juice he likes w/ a (broken) capsule of spirulina. That is a blue algae that humans could live on even if no food existed. Your local health store could help you. Like there is strawberry protein powder you could mix as a shake...or freeze into a popsicle. I think that cold stuff is easier for that 'gag' reflex. Good luck!

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While I am not familiar with what you describe, it sounds like you should strongly consider talking with a psychiatrist who deals with childhood eating disorders. That would honestly be my next step if we were dealing with this. Particularly since he is saying he feels different from the other kids and doesn't like it. Either talk as a family or individually; both are usually beneficial. Hopefully you can find someone and you can help your son. Best wishes!

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I don't have any issues like this but you may want to look into the Juice Plus vitamins for kids. If he will take them at least he will be getting the nurtrients he needs (fruits & veggies) until you can find him help.

Best wishes!!

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I may be off base about this but I have heard of a case where a child reacted that way about certain foods and it turned out the foods the child was avoiding were ones the child could not break down because of an enzyme their body did not make. It turned out the child just shunned the foods that caused the reaction and the parents and doctor were unaware of the condition for many years. Perhaps there is more going on that just a picky eater or even an eating disorder. I would look into it more, even if you have to seek the opinion of a different doctor.

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My grandson is just like this...my daughter says 100%. She would be willing to communicate with you by email if you like. She lives in upstate New York and my grandson is 7 years old. Let me know if you would like to hear from her. I am L. at ____@____.com

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