We're having problems with McKayla not eating. She has gotten pretty thin and at her last check up she had not gained any weight in the last 6 months. Seems like her eating is almost cyclic. She will go for several days and not eat much of anything. Then one day she almost binge eats, it that makes sense. She is so hard to get things that she likes. She doesn't eat certain things because of texture due to her sensory issues. She would eat bread by the loaf if we let her. I'm just worried that she is not getting what she needs. We do give her vitamins daily. And most of all, I'm worried about when school starts. She will not eat around alot of people. And this year, they are in 1st grade. I have expressed my concerns to the school, and honestly they don't "get it". Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Karri
Kolton (14)
Madison (9)
McKayla (9)
Dalton (9)

Hi- I dont know if I can help you or not but I am going to try. My Nephew who is also 6 has Autism/PDD and is also very picky about what he will or wont eat he touches( fondles it) and smells everyhing first and wont eat anything that is black for example chocolate. We are all very involved in his progress and helping with his needs. He eats alot of PB&J, pizza, chicken nuggets and cupcakes his favorite.I know this sounds like a lot of junk food and it is but he too is thin his Dr.'s and therapists say give him what he will eat. On the bright side when he did go to shcool he would eat the Lunch there but would not eat the exact same thing at home, they say something about seeing the other kids eat it will help. Will she drink Ensure? I am sorry that your school is so close minded that is terrible. You may want to see if you can take McKayla to the school cafeteria where she will be eating and ask them to let you and your kids have a few lunches there so that she will be familliar with the setting and it wont seem so new. Like I said probably not much help but best of luck and I will be thinking about you.

Cadee

Hi its me again I was just talking to my mom about you and McKayla she told me to remind you that kids tastebuds are constantly changing so things that they hate or like one day they could like or hate the next. so keep trying all different types of stuff even if she didnt like it before she might like it now. My mom gets very small portions of different foods on a plate and tells my nephew to put it on HER tounge then she goes "yum yum this is so good" then she tells him to put it on his tounge, he will only try about 1/2 the things on the plate but it seems to help. Good Luck

Cadee

Thanks, Cadee. We will continue to try new and old things. Honestly, I had forgotten that their taste buds are changing. THanks for the reminder.

Karri
Kolton (14)
Madison (9)
McKayla (9)
Dalton (9)

My son does the same as well. I have started making smoothies. Depending on what he is missing from his meals, I will just add that to his smooothie. ie, if he has not had alot protein rich foods I will add protein powder, if his veggies intake is low I will add poly-vi, if his fiber intake is low I add a fiber supplement.
Carnation Instant Breakfast (CIB) is very similar to the Ensure in vitamins. Sometimes I add a scoop of CIB, yogurt, poly-vi, and frozen fruit. He loves it.
I worried about school too and as long as they get a good breakfast and dinner - lunch can be a little lax.

Stephanie
God could not be everywhere, therefore he created mothers.
Anon

Smoothies are a great idea. Thanks!

Karri
Kolton (14)
Madison (9)
McKayla (9)
Dalton (9)

HI Well I have a dd (5 1/2) autism also a "picky eater". She is also pretty thin and a few inches shorter then her other sisters.. However she was the largest when she was born...
In the last 2 months we have had a huge turnaround in her eating. She has been asking to try new things!! This never happened before.. She will take 3 bites of anything that we ask her too. BUT we have worked very hard on this within the last 2 months to get to this point. We are doing two new things: Her ABA at home is working on the eating and she is also going to a summer camp (2 afternoons a week) were they are also focusing allot on eating - with her and a group of kids) The therapists in the summer camp recently attended a workshop on eating issues and they are using allot of the new things they learned. DD attended the same camp last summer and had only very small eating changes. We have a sheet that lists all the days of the week with two lines under each day. DD is to try 3-4 bites of a new food each day and she gets to put a sticker by the line. This has been a huge motivator for her. My other dd who is a little picky has started her own chart too and is earning sticks for new food too. Once she is eating a food regularly it is not considered a new food (no sticker) ABA is doing the one food thing. It has been chicken, Tomorrow we start on grapes. If you are familar with ABA its the over and over and over again thing. However because we started the camp thing and the ABA food goal at the same time I can't determine which one has been the cause for the change.... (the whole data thing)
Please feel free to contact me with any questions too
Jen Winters
swinters@hickorytech.net

Jen, I'm glad she is improving on her eating. I had not really thought about doing the ABA with food. Thanks! I hope your DD continues to eat more.

Karri
Kolton (14)
Madison (9)
McKayla (9)
Dalton (9)

Hi Kari
I'm not sure if this helps or not. I have a sone who is a picky eater and has celiac disease as well. We are still in the soft mush consistancy. He LOVES mashed potatoes. I hide everything in them. As long as he doesn't see the food he will eat it no matter what the texture. I stuff his pudding, yogurt, grits etc.

Good luck!
Chrissy
Single parent to 6yo BBB

Kathy, isn't it weird about the bread. She craves bread. And with nothing on it. YUCK! WE are going to start the pediasure. The ped said that she needs to be drinking atleast 2-3 a day. I hope she likes it. Atleast I will feel better if I know she is getting the nutrients that she needs.

Karri
Kolton (14)
Madison (9)
McKayla (9)
Dalton (9)