Food Wars
This title is really a misnomer, because it implies that I fight a war, and that I hope to win. When in reality I've conceded defeat and did so back in November. I don't add much to his diet. I offer bits of whatever I'm making us, but he usually says no and I don't push it. I am no longer allowing or encouraging or fighting or dealing with tears at dinner time.
So a balanced meal for G dos not look like most kids dinners. And I do follow the docs advise that you feed in shifts, not all at once (i.e. adults load their plates with everything and then eat. To feed G, and picky eaters, you put things on the plate one at a time, in small portions). So he gets his protein first, a fruit or veggie, and then a grain. The protein is always the same; peanut butter or chicken. He still refuses cheese and pasta.
But instead of fighting it, I've embraced it because he will eat the things that he does eat well, and hopefully he gains weight and that's the entire point. The doctor says not too much juice ... but I look at it as extra calories. And honestly he gets like a tablespoon of juice and the rest of water (except in the morning, when he gets about a tablespoon of water and the rest juice).
I still do milk before nap and before bed. Again I view it as extra calories and important dairy nutrition. He also gets vitamins every day.
But I haven't added anything new because I'm hoping (hope hope hope) that the EE is gone for good, and I'm scared to add anything new really, until we're further along. It's been 23 days since he's been on medication and no vomiting, no coughing that I can't explain and he's still eating well. He's goes through days where he eats real well and then others he has no interest. I do believe he gets bored eating the same stuff, but even still when you offer new things he refuses. Won't even put them in his mouth or touch them, refuses.
And I have to think it's his body's defense trying to make sure he only eats things he knows he can swallow.
Funny anecdote that's unrelated. Today we went to get cake pops for a friends birthday and he found two pieces of candy he wanted (another benefit of a skinny kid, treats like this are of no concern) so I got them and we went and sat outside to eat them.
Well they were hard candy, and as soon as I opened them I was nervous. He eats lollipops but they are on a stick and these seemed really hard (think lemon drops) and throat shaped. He sucked on it for a while but I was afraid he'd get lazy and just try and swallow it and it made me nervous so I swiped it out of his mouth and flung it out into the field.
Oh the two year old tears! He was furious. It makes me laugh just thinking about how indignant he was. I got the other piece out and bit it in half before giving it to him (something that Alicia Silverstone has been BLASTED for of late). That worked much better.
Anyway. G really does only eat like 10-15 things. And it's not a great situation but it's manageable. And it could be worse, at least he can eat and does not need a feeding tube. At least he does like some things (like nuts and apples and peanut butter and raisins). At least I found the a preschool that is not peanut free (because so many are these days).
So a balanced meal for G dos not look like most kids dinners. And I do follow the docs advise that you feed in shifts, not all at once (i.e. adults load their plates with everything and then eat. To feed G, and picky eaters, you put things on the plate one at a time, in small portions). So he gets his protein first, a fruit or veggie, and then a grain. The protein is always the same; peanut butter or chicken. He still refuses cheese and pasta.
But instead of fighting it, I've embraced it because he will eat the things that he does eat well, and hopefully he gains weight and that's the entire point. The doctor says not too much juice ... but I look at it as extra calories. And honestly he gets like a tablespoon of juice and the rest of water (except in the morning, when he gets about a tablespoon of water and the rest juice).
I still do milk before nap and before bed. Again I view it as extra calories and important dairy nutrition. He also gets vitamins every day.
But I haven't added anything new because I'm hoping (hope hope hope) that the EE is gone for good, and I'm scared to add anything new really, until we're further along. It's been 23 days since he's been on medication and no vomiting, no coughing that I can't explain and he's still eating well. He's goes through days where he eats real well and then others he has no interest. I do believe he gets bored eating the same stuff, but even still when you offer new things he refuses. Won't even put them in his mouth or touch them, refuses.
And I have to think it's his body's defense trying to make sure he only eats things he knows he can swallow.
Funny anecdote that's unrelated. Today we went to get cake pops for a friends birthday and he found two pieces of candy he wanted (another benefit of a skinny kid, treats like this are of no concern) so I got them and we went and sat outside to eat them.
Well they were hard candy, and as soon as I opened them I was nervous. He eats lollipops but they are on a stick and these seemed really hard (think lemon drops) and throat shaped. He sucked on it for a while but I was afraid he'd get lazy and just try and swallow it and it made me nervous so I swiped it out of his mouth and flung it out into the field.
Oh the two year old tears! He was furious. It makes me laugh just thinking about how indignant he was. I got the other piece out and bit it in half before giving it to him (something that Alicia Silverstone has been BLASTED for of late). That worked much better.
Anyway. G really does only eat like 10-15 things. And it's not a great situation but it's manageable. And it could be worse, at least he can eat and does not need a feeding tube. At least he does like some things (like nuts and apples and peanut butter and raisins). At least I found the a preschool that is not peanut free (because so many are these days).
Comments