What Did You Eat As A Child?

[Tanishq]

Am I to understand that you ate sand because you were hungry and yet your parents got to eat good food?

It was good food for them. They liked spicy food and their system was showing good co-operation with spicy food. When they were kids, their mothers gave them good and balanced food. Filled with all nutrition and pure food.

They didn't try to understand I am small kid, very new in this world and I need balanced food to grow up.

 

[safenow]

When children lived at my house, I made sure they had food everyday. protein, starch, fruit, vegetables and liquid. When I was at the hospital at around 6-7 years old, the doctors always said how important that was for me to get well. Protein. Lots of protein he said. I learned that meant I had to eat meat. I wanted to cry so bad, but I'd been taught not to cry. Ever. I felt like I was eating my friends. Even today, I'd rather have protein powder than meat.
At least I learned that nuts, beans, cheeses, eggs are all protein as well. And I must say, I do love peanut butter. LOL

 

[catjudo]

That is one of my struggles with my daughter...she does not eat enough protein. She eats a little bit of meat a few times a week, but very little. It's no big surprise since I'm not a big meat eater myself, but I've never said anything negative about meat...She sees me eat it, it's just not a regular, consistent part of my diet.

I'm trying to teach my daughter that it is okay if she doesn't eat meat but that she has to get her protein from other places...she eats almonds, cheese, yogurt and peanut butter but I have to be very diligent to make sure that she is consistently including protein in her diet. If she had her way she would completely live off of a variety of fresh fruits with a little broccoli included each evening because she thinks that balances things out and makes it okay. :rolleyes:

 

[safenow]

I can so relate, catjudo. Not sure of the age of your daughter, but have you ever tried protein powder? I have a brand that tastes good. Not like most of them. Mine is called, "Bio Trust, low carb." I get it in chocolate and vanilla. I'm not a vanilla type of person, but I must admit, with this one, I can drink it and enjoy it. You just mix 8 oz in a glass of cold water. shake or stir. You can add fruit to it in a blender, and it's a great smoothie.

 

[catjudo]

Would you believe me if I said I can't get her to drink smoothies? She doesn't like milkshakes. I seriously doubt I could even get her to try a protein drink even if I paid her (and I have been known to pay her to try new foods...unfortunately even that doesn't work often). Her rigidity regarding what foods she will eat, the freshness and quality of that food, how it has to be prepared and presented and the new things she refuses to try would astound you.

 

[Abstract]

er rigidity regarding what foods she will eat, the freshness and quality of that food, how it has to be prepared and presented and the new things she refuses to try would astound you.

I would take this as a little bit of a warning sign actually. These things often link to not feeling safe in some way and needing to control something. Especially if it has become a bone of contention between you. Some people have sensory sensitivities which makes it more difficult to try new things but that doesn't explain all of this.

I would particularly take note if she shows other signs of obsessional tendencies or perfectionism. It might be worthwhile discussing it with your therapist to get her/his input. I don't know how old she is but dealing with thinking tendencies early can help a lot. It might not be the food that is the important aspect of this but rather what is behind it.

Have looked at protein bars? If she eats chocolate or biscuits there are really nice options out there now!

 

[safenow]

Good advice, Abstract. And yes, protein bars are an excellent choice, however, sugar content might be way high in most of them.

 

[catjudo]

It is definitely something that stays in the back of my mind as something to watch out for.

I am not exaggerating when I say she was difficult to feed from the moment she was born. It got easier, but as she got older and started eating regular foods our real challenges began. She has always been very picky...in some ways it has gotten worse, in some ways it has improved (though those improvements are usually in such small steps that only myself or those who know her very well can appreciate that it really is an improvement).

I have consulted with therapists for her regarding this. I've also had conversations with my psychiatrist (who I trust more than anyone else in the field and has also known my daughter her entire life). It seems like the "perfect storm" of circumstances that have led us to where we are. They think she may have some very mild sensory issues. She does have ADHD. She also has shown definite signs of a mood disorder which we monitor and treat as needed...she does pretty well overall but it does give her problems from time to time. My psychiatrist is convinced that with the ADHD and mood disorder issues, even though she compensates for her symptoms very well, there are probably times that internally she may feel somewhat out of control. Her rigidity with food gives her a way to feel in control of something within her body.

I know, that sounds kind of scary to me, too. I worry that it will develop into something unhealthy. For now, though, her food choices are healthy. She is not over or under-eating. She has a mother who is willing to accommodate her food choices/needs but still make sure she is maintaining a healthy diet. We hope as she gets older (she's only 8 years old) she will either grow out of it or at least become a little less rigid. (Perhaps as she gets older and starts to do more things with friends when I'm not always with her to run interference and make sure there is something she will eat...then hopefully she'll have to be more open to eating what some of her friends are eating, though truthfully I've seen how many of them eat and I'm not altogether convinced that is a good thing, either. ;) )

 

[Britt.f7]

I've tried explaining to her how lucky she is to not only have an abundance of food but to have the ability to be so picky about what she will eat and it is always there.

My oldest son is a picky eater. He started out a good eater, started school and that all went kaput. Suddenly things he once liked he no longer does. However, he was more of a "junk" eater then healthy for quite a number of years, no matter what we tried. He started a cooking class and seems to be trying more stuff, which really surprises me but causes me joy too. (btw, I tried to keep the junk out of the house) My youngest son is a healthy eater and will try just about everything. He has always been this way. I have a nephew that seems like your daughter. My sister has tried just about everything you have. Now she has just gone with it. Personally, based on his eating and some other factors, I think he has an eating disorder.

I've told my kids about kids being worse off then them(I know bad mom). However, I volunteered once to make lunches for kids who didn't get food during the summer months. They were plain sandwiches with a slice of meat. The fruit we had to pick through to find the ones that weren't spoiled. Everything was donated. It made me rethink how my kids had it. How choosy they could be when these other children had no choice. It made me extremely sad.

Personally I hate those words "pity party"

I use "pity party" for myself when I am feeling down for a legitimate reason and someone tries to cheer me up or tells me to look on the bright side of things. I tell them I get a little time to mourn whatever it is I'm mourning and then I move on. This was usually with my mom. Many times about my physical illnesses. Like you, I think people should be allowed that time for grief or feeling bad. I certainly don't get people who seem cheery all the time.

 

[NarcSis]

Sammy, I actually envy you - our nearest neighbor growing up used to eat wild a lot - squirrel, rabbit, beaver, raccoon, geese, ducks and turtles.

I used to go snaring with my brothers each winter to get rabbits for her and we'd occasionally eat one. I watched my Dad hunt geese and ducks but don't remember eating them, I think it was because she was too old to hunt for herself so he'd do it for her.

My Dad was a fisherman, so we always had a lot of fish year round. As I get older, I've been longing more to try wild meat. I've heard told that snapping turtle is very tasty. There's never any starving if you know how to live in the bush. :)

 

[catjudo]

He started out a good eater, started school and that all went kaput.

Ugg, don't get me started on what schools do to our kids eating habits. And it goes back to what I said about not necessarily thinking it is a good thing to strive toward her eating more like her friends. She has tried quite a few new things since being in school that she wouldn't have tried before...unfortunately they're all of the junky variety. Sometimes she tries to get carried away with the junk (I think all kids do sometimes) but ultimately she knows she doesn't feel as good if she goes overboard with treats.

He started a cooking class and seems to be trying more stuff, which really surprises me but causes me joy too.

My daughter has a strong interest in cooking...I don't enjoy cooking so cooking with me isn't really enjoyable but she LOVES to cook with my parents when we visit. She just doesn't necessarily want to eat what she's made. My mom tries to tell her that a good cook has to taste and eat what they've made...but ultimately she never forces her.

Over the summer she took a short one week cooking camp that was themed around cupcakes...sort of a cupcake wars kind of thing. They were doing both sweet and savory varieties and I was hoping it would be helpful for her. We talked about doing her very best to try new things that she created while she was in the camp. And she did try some new things...but this goes back to it being the kind of improvement that only I would recognize, not chefs or kids at a camp that had never met her before. There were some things (both sweet and savory options) that she just could not bring herself to try.

On the first day, toward the end of the session she hid in the bathroom crying because she thought she was going to get in trouble. She had tasted some things that were outside of her comfort zone...some she liked and some she did not. But there was one thing she just could not bring herself to try. Some other kid told her she had to or she would get in trouble and that she was going to tell on her. It was high drama coaxing her back out of the bathroom. I had to talk with the adults in charge about the difference between encouraging kids to try new things and forcing kids to try new things...afterall, I spent A LOT of money for her to be there and ultimately it was supposed to be fun. The adults agreed that the other child had been out of line and they kept a closer eye on that sort of thing for the remainder of the camp days. My daughter had a good time.

I hope that in time her interest in cooking combined with encouragement rather than forcing her, will lead her to try new things. But I can only do what I do and hope for the best outcome.

It made me rethink how my kids had it. How choosy they could be

This makes me laugh, sorry. We shop at a large chain grocery store. But the guys in the produce department know us. Whether it's me shopping my by myself or if I have her with me, they know they're probably going to be running to the back room to see if they have something fresher or better than what is already on display. The produce manager actually tries to keep up with her weird preferences...if he sees me coming he'll say Oh, she likes such and such, right? We have some out but I think we got some in this morning that she'll like better and we haven't had a chance to put out yet...let me go see what I can find you. Or before I can ask for something that seems to be missing they will seek me out and say they know I probably need x but it didn't come in on today's truck and they're really sorry. Just this morning at the store with my daughter, the manager saw us and immediately asked if someone had already gone into the back room to find whatever we needed.

My daughter has no idea how good she has it. I love that the staff in our produce department knows us so well and goes out of their way to accommodate our freakish pickiness. At the same time, if I'm honest, it's probably more a result of having seen meltdowns in the store on more than one occasion (both from her or even from me when I'm alone on a bad day and can't find what I need for her) and they're just trying to avoid that kind of scene and drama. Whatever the reason, it works for us.

 

[Britt.f7]

This makes me laugh, sorry

That's okay, I don't mind you laughing. I'm a very picky eater, husband says I should just be a vegetarian and get it over with. ;) I love veggies and fruit though, which my son does not.

If even the manager knows you in the grocery store, then you know you probably have caused a ruckus.(I'm going by what you shared) I use to work in one. That's okay, now they know what to do for you so that can't be all bad. Keeps them on their toes.

Yeah, not fond of the school scene. He has tried some things I thought he would never try, but, for the most part, he just got pickier about what he did eat. I do think the cooking class has been good for him. He would rather try something then have attention drawn to himself. He's even brought some of the recipes home with him. Keep in mind, he is in his late teens now. That took many years of picky eating to get him to where he now is.

I saw those sandwiches we made and knew I could never eat what they were serving. However, I think if you were hungry enough, as most of those kids are, you would eat whatever was placed before you.

My nephew, who sounds like your daughter, is getting a bit better. Not much, but more then when he was her age. As long as you don't make it a big issue, like you are not, I think she'll be okay.

Oh, and keep laughing. I like to hear that!