I feel like I am introducing myself at Over-eater’s Anonymous or AA. Hello, my name is Joy and I have a Picky Eater.  Many of you already know that Landon has an eating disorder. Its called Selective Eating Disorder.  The lovely Wikipedia states that it is  an eating disorder that prevents the consumption of certain foods. However, Wikipedia hasn’t met my son- who eats barely anything! Certain foods?? I wish!!! Landon’s palate is so limited, he ends up eating the same breakfast, lunch and dinner almost 6 days a week! This makes grocery shopping a breeze, but mealtimes are more like World War III.

 

What does Landon eat you ask? Here is the amazing list of foods that my son does consume on a regular basis:

Waffles-  plain with butter only

Pancakes – plain with butter only

Bagels- plain with plain cream cheese only

Grilled Cheese- Rye, wheat or white bread with White American only

Chicken Nuggets- Round only

French fries- plain ones (no sweet potato ones-I still try)

Snacks on a regular basis:

Nutrigrain bars- Apple Cinn. only

Apple Cinn. Applesauce pouches only (not the tub)

Fruit Snacks – any and all flavors and characters- YAY for bad snacks that my kids actually loves!

Goldfish- Only the “baby” fish (cheese flavor)

Gerber Puffs- Apple Cinn. only

Bananas

Doesn’t that sound like it would make an amazing weekly menu! I mean, I know I would not get tired of waffles for breakfast, pancakes for lunch and bagels for dinner! Can we say Carb overload??  Here is a list of what we have been able to get Landon to eat/try/consume more than once in the past 6 months.

Fish sticks- Real fillets only (no minced for my baby)

Ketchup- only the best condiment in the WORLD

Pretzels- small whole grain ones from Annies Homegrown

Quaker Mini Rice Cakes- Apple Cinn.

Cheeseburger slider- plain with just cheese

Yogurt- from a tub (not gogurt-since we need to help him learn the technique of using a utensil)

This is amazing progress, and I am grateful for it. I just wish some of these would “stick” into his diet. But I know even if we get 1 new preferred food every 3 months than I am happy with that. I’ve learned to just let it go, which is hard for me since I am Italian and an eater who loves to cook!  We show “our” love in our food! I think I have come to terms that this is something we are going to have to deal with for a long time.  I am fine with it. I will work everyday to help my child feel comfortable with food. I do get stares and glances from other moms when I tell them about our mealtime antics. Even a few times I have received the comment that Landon is just being picky because he is stubborn or testing your buttons. Or my favorite is,” he will eat when he’s hungry”. Ha! – hunger will not eliminate a child’s fear of eating certain foods- and this could actually raise anxiety levels. Trust me, from personal experience….

Landon is not being stubborn, not trying to assert his independence or trying to push my buttons. He is just like every other kid- who happens to have a fear of food- period. I respect it- and respect him and will work with him on this issue everyday for the rest of my life if I have too. I owe it to him. He is my life – and  besides I am a good cook!