When do picky eaters grow out of it

bigsis144

Sun, Nov 10 2024, 7:57 pm

amother Bluebell wrote:

They won’t starve. It’s human instinct to eat when hungry, so if you didn’t offer processed foods they’d grudgingly eat other foods. (Except in extenuating circumstances. But you won’t know until you’ve tried it for a few weeks)

Nope. My 15 year old pretty much eats nothing but matzah on pesach because he doesn’t eat fruit, vegetables (not even potatoes), dairy (no cheese or yogurt, only chocolate milk), meat or fish.

I’m not gonna starve my child “for a few weeks”.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, Nov 10 2024, 7:58 pm

They’re in school/playgroup. They used to eat more variety when younger but lately they’re so limited in what they’ll eat. They want noodles, pancake, sandwich’s, pizza pretty much all the time.

amother

Navy

Sun, Nov 10 2024, 7:58 pm

amother Charcoal wrote:

If they’re super picky make sure it isn’t ARPHID, which needs treatment.

ARFID isn't merely picky eating. I comes with a host of symptoms.

amother

↑ Mocha

Sun, Nov 10 2024, 8:02 pm

amother OP wrote:

This is why it makes me so upset that schools serve so much processed foods. It's not only that they're eating that while at school, it ends up restricting what they'll eat at home too.

(To the poster who said it genetic, this is also proof it isn't. Just the opposite. Their taste buds did just fine with more foods when they were younger. It's once they were exposed to processed foods that they stopped wanting the other stuff.)

This is a very common occurrence OP. I wish I had solutions for you.

↑ giftedmom ↓

Sun, Nov 10 2024, 8:17 pm

amother OP wrote:

They’re not super picky but mostly like processed foods or carbs. And if I cut that out they’ll pretty much starve. They’re also little so I wouldn’t be comfortable letting them starve.

As long as they’re at a healthy weight and growing don’t worry about it

↑ giftedmom ↓

Sun, Nov 10 2024, 8:21 pm

amother OP wrote:

You can make healthy versions of all of these

amother

Razzmatazz

Sun, Nov 10 2024, 9:46 pm

Some slowly one food at a time as they grow up
Some as teens
Some never
Depending on age, feeding therapist that specializes in Afrid could help.

amother

Latte

Sun, Nov 10 2024, 9:52 pm

Depends on why. My daughter had anxiety and was nervous to eat unfamiliar foods. Once we started the medication she started trying more and now eats almost everything. But sometimes they don't eat a food because it hurts their stomach or makes them nauseous. Or gives them a headache. I dont drink coffee because it makes me feel strange. Same goes for tomato based foods, I get indigestion. But not from tomatoes. As a kid I couldn't eat tomatoes at all. Keep offering.

↑ giftedmom

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 12:04 am

amother OP wrote:

can you give me some ideas how?

WW bread and pasta, WW flour, organic sugar, organic peanut butter, pancakes using Greek yogurt, real cheese on pizza instead of American cheese… etc.
Try getting as much protein and fat into whatever you’re making. At one point I’d do homemade pizza with butter mixed into the cheese. I also made up my own Mac n cheese recipe using Greek cream cheese. The kids love it and it packs a real protein punch.

amother

Moccasin

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 1:20 am

Echoing all those who mentioned ARFID and/or sensory issues. There is treatment out there, although treating picky eating is challenging. Worthwhile to get help from a professional.

imaima

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 1:26 am

amother OP wrote:

Need to see a light at the end of the tunnel…

Puberty

They either start eating more variety or cook their own food

disneyland

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 1:48 am

My dd ate only matza balls from soup then when she got used to that I added chicken from the soup. Then I made broccoli with cheese sauce. I tried to give her what she would like.

amother

Junglegreen

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 3:41 am

Mine got worse with age. Under 4 my kids ate everything. Now as 16-24 year olds they don’t eat lots of things -different for different kids but the list includes -dark chicken on the bone, not well done enough meat, chopped meat in any form, tuna, tomato sauce (but yes pizza-even homemade with the same sauce), carrots in chulent-it makes the entire chulent too sweet…. DH has a much more extensive list. He doesn’t eat most vegetables or spices/seasonings, and doesn’t like chicken cutlets unless they are breaded and fried.

The list changes and I can’t keep up and when I serve something it is a personal offense as it means I don’t care about you or your preferences.

GLUE

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 4:50 am

amother Mocha wrote:

Which gene is that?

It's not a gene it's taste buds.
If I remember correctly there are tasters, non-tasters, and in between.
tasters have more then average taste buds and can taste flavors very strongly
non-tasters have less and don't taste flavors as strong

These things tend to run in families

Bnei Berak 10 ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 6:28 pm

amother Junglegreen wrote:

And your keep catering to their preferences? Speechless

Insane
A home isn't a restaurant!