Children's Fickle Food Habits By Cheryl Koch, M.S., R.D. - Posted Mon, Feb 26, 2007, 5:53 pm PST

1. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Feb 27, 2007, 3:49 pm PST

Does anyone else have a problem with their 2 1/2 year old son refusing to eat anything but baby food? I cannot get him to try anything solid. He gags and sometimes vomits. Family and friends advise me I will have to get outside help for him. His regular doctor says there is nothing wrong with him, but I disagree.

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2. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Feb 27, 2007, 7:32 pm PST

Try a differnt doctor. Yours may be missing something. It never hurts to get a second opion.

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3. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Feb 28, 2007, 7:42 am PST

It sounds the 2 1/2 year old son is playing the same power game my son played at that same age. If he got upset about anything, he would refuse to eat and would self gag and force vomit himself. After several months of this, I, the father got involved and told him during one of his fits, that if he vomits again, I will make him clean up all of it along with smelling it up close. He abruptly stopped this vomiting and never did it again after my wife kept telling him the same thing. It is important that both parents do the same thing and do not be surprised if your son has to clean it up and smell it at least once. I don't think a new doctor will help. To me, this looks like a power play by your son and you can stop the irrational behavior just like we did. If he still refuses to eat and even after stopping gagging and puking, calmly let him skip the meal and in front of him calmly throw the healthy food in the trash and excuse him from the table. Again, be strong and calm so the power play from your son will end. He wants you to get upset.

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4. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Feb 28, 2007, 7:43 am PST

It sounds the 2 1/2 year old son is playing the same power game my son played at that same age. If he got upset about anything, he would refuse to eat and would self gag and force vomit himself. After several months of this, I, the father got involved and told him during one of his fits, that if he vomits again, I will make him clean up all of it along with smelling it up close. He abruptly stopped this vomiting and never did it again after my wife kept telling him the same thing. It is important that both parents do the same thing and do not be surprised if your son has to clean it up and smell it at least once. I don't think a new doctor will help. To me, this looks like a power play by your son and you can stop the irrational behavior just like we did. If he still refuses to eat and even after stopping gagging and puking, calmly let him skip the meal and in front of him calmly throw the healthy food in the trash and excuse him from the table. Again, be strong and calm so the power play from your son will end. He wants you to get upset.

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5. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Feb 28, 2007, 3:19 pm PST

It is also important that you are the parent. With both of my children whenever they refused a food they were asked to take one bite. If they still didn't wan't it, the food wasn't pushed. But they were also reminded that if they didn't finish a resonable amount they didn't get a snack or treat later. Only put a 1-4 bites worth on the plate. If they continue to insist that they don't want it say ok. Sit here until Mommy and Daddy are done eating then you can get down. And remind them that there will be not snacks or treats later. The most important thing is to stick with it. It won't hurt for a child to skip a meal. The best thing about 2year olds is that they eat when they are hungry!

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6. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Thu, Mar 01, 2007, 6:08 am PST

my child is 6 years old. She will not eat healthy foods. I do offer her choices she will not eat. What do I do? Hours later she eats chips, juice it is an on going problem everyday.

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7. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Mar 04, 2007, 4:22 pm PST

Where is she getting the chips and juice? If they are in your house how are they getting there? I wrote a post in this in my blog The Family Fork (http://www.healthline.com/blogs/kids_nutrition/) detailing Ellyn Satters division of responsibility in feeding. I invite you to check it out and any other articles you may fin helpful here http://www.healthline.com/blogs/kids_nutrition/2006/12/ellyn-satters-division-of.html

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8. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Mar 04, 2007, 4:23 pm PST

Where is she getting the chips and juice? If they are in your house how are they getting there? I wrote a post in this in my blog The Family Fork (http://www.healthline.com/blogs/kids_nutrition/) detailing Ellyn Satters division of responsibility in feeding. I invite you to check it out and any other articles you may fin helpful here http://www.healthline.com/blogs/kids_nutrition/2006/12/ellyn-satters-division-of.html

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9. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Mar 10, 2007, 7:34 am PST

When I go to the grocery store, I like to pick up one or two new fruits or vegs we haven't tried before. Star fruit has been a big hit. And really, God who created us, knows what kind of food is best for our functioning, and He made all kinds of fruits and vegs, compared to the man-made stuff with preservatives, saturated fat, etc.

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10. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Mar 10, 2007, 7:38 am PST

Its funny that I found this article. I can remember my mother trying to force me to eat baked beans. I was told not to leave the table until they were all gone. I sat for several hours each time. To this day I still haven't tried them again and I'm 31 years old!

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11. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Mar 10, 2007, 7:40 am PST

My son is now 12 years old and I'm still waiting for his pickiness "to pass".

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12. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Mar 10, 2007, 7:41 am PST

Its funny that I found this article. I can remember my mother trying to force me to eat baked beans. I was told not to leave the table until they were all gone. I sat for several hours each time. To this day I still haven't tried them again and I'm 31 years old!

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13. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Mar 10, 2007, 7:45 am PST

i am a very pickky eater but i really like some weird food

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14. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Mar 10, 2007, 7:56 am PST

my son is a very picky eater he is 2 1/2 and sometimes he will eat certain foods for certain people. for me he will eat eggs and oranges and for his granparents he will eat vegatables and drink juice. why is that?

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15. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Mar 10, 2007, 7:57 am PST

my son is six years old, and he began eating table foods at about 2 years old. Shortly after, he got the flu and vomitted for the first time. Since then, he has not really regained the ability to eat table foods. I felt like he had just began transitioning to the table foods before he threw-up. Could that be a correlation to why he only eats bland foods. PButterand jelly, grilled cheese, french fries, chips, chicken nuggetts and that is about it. He will not eat cereal, will not eat cheese pizza, let alone any types of meats, has never drank any type of soda, will not eat candy,peanuts, or any off colored ice cream unless it is a wendy's smoothie. I do not think it is so much a power struggle as much as I think it is a disorder. Possible sensory intergration dysfunction??? No macoroni and cheese, but he loves grilled cheese, no mash potatoes, no chicken strips nothing it is very frustrating. he has the gag thing too, but it is not only when he is supposed to be eating, it could be when he sees somebody else eating something that we see as normal, it grosses him out. Usually fruits and vegetables anything of color especially lettuce or tomatoes. he wont even try apples??? Just looking for suggestions or possible refferal. I live in southern california. thanks

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