Daughter takes too long to chew food

[LTKoch]

My daughter is 6 1/2 years old.  She has always been healthy and within normal limits as far as height and weight.  She is a very picky eater.  I joke that she is a "carb-ovore".  If it were up to her, she would live on pop-tarts, chicken nuggets, cheese pizza, peanut butter and honey sandwiches and grilled cheese sandwiches.  We are constantly trying to introduce/force a wider variety of healthier foods to her - fruits and veggies and meat that isn't breaded.  This is where the problem arrives.  She either works herself up so much that she gags, or she takes so long to eat a bite of meat (not a large one and not tough in texture), like more than 15 minutes for a bite, that the meal ends with threats, tears, and frustration on everyone's part.  I don't understand why she can eat a chicken nugget in less than one minute, but a piece of pork the same size or smaller takes 15 minutes or more!  Is this a texture thing?  Is she just being stubborn?  Any and all advice or help would be so greatly appreciated!
Thanks!!

[specialmom]

Hi,  well, if you think about it, having trouble articulating sounds and chewing issues would have a lot in common.  My son's issues with motor planning were the culprit in our case.  Even being a little off in that area can cause an issue.  Motor planning is part of the sensory system.  It is basically how the brain communicates to that muscle group to carry out what it wants them to do.  

I have two kids and know many many picky eaters.  What makes a child with sensory a little different is that they often aren't just picky but have trouble eating the food.  And once they gag on something, the gag memory makes it difficult to get past.  

It is the chewing issues and articulation issues that make me think of motor planning issues.  We chose the occupational therapy route for my son but he had a 'few' things going on.  I would absolutely use whatever resources you can to help with any issues.  Someone doesn't need a diagnosis to ask for help.  Many kids have speech issues and actually infants begin working with a speech pathologist on feeding issues.  They so often go hand in hand.  Therapies as a child are generally laid out in a fun way and can work on any issues or skills that a child might need.  

With good/eating issues, our occupational therapist has helped us a lot.  Above are things she helped me with.  I've also learned to keep a glass of water by my son's plate and when he is chewing and looking like something is having trouble going down, I tell him to take a drink.  It help.  The book "food chaining" is interesting because it starts with taking one item a child will eat and building on it.  If a child eats a chicken nugget for example, the frozen variety, start there.  Make the normal way.  next, try removing the breading.  Then try making a home made nugget.  then remove the breading on that.  etc.  It builds on what a child is doing in a systematic way.  It also talks about getting the child involved in the process of selecting new foods to try.

If you are relocating and will be in an area in which services are more readily available. I highly recommend working on these things.  What could it hurt??  It can only help.  And the thing is, your daughter is 6.  If there is a core issue even very mild, it will show itself in different ways as time goes on.  I just can't say enough about how well my son is doing since addressing the main issue.  He doesn't have a label. In fact, hardly anyone knows anything is going on unless I tell them these days.  Don't be afraid to help your child because of that.  AND, you'll be amazed how many kids have had an issue they've worked on with a professional.  

I have some ideas for speech too if you would like some.  all the best and much luck to you and your daughter.

[MayaMom1234]

This is very inlighting comment. My son is 10 and he only weighs 60lb. He eats well when it comes to carbs but have issues with chewing meat in general. He also have issues in articulating and always wondered if he has speech issue. He always had a high pitch voice but is very soft spoken and very quite at school which I fear is because he can’t quickly articulate well with his age groups. The motor planning term is news to me. I would love to hear what you have done for speech?

[adgal]

I want to say that I didn't think anything negative at all.  To me you sound like a pretty normal mom...we all have frustrating times and it's good to have a place to go where people understand.  Any parent that say's they never get frustrated...well, I don't believe them! lol.  

I'm glad you found the different ideas helpful.  And because my son is on a high protein, high calorie diet, I have some pretty great child friendly recipes from a Pediatric Dieatician.  Most of them "hide" the meat.  Happy to send you some if you like, just send me a pm.

I also want to say that I think it's great you are exploring the possibility of a further challenge.  Lot's of kids have different needs, and utilizing resources to get the best for them to help them overcome it is always the right thing to do.  I think you sound like a great mom, and I wish you all the best!

[LTKoch]

My daughter's handwriting is fine, but I find it interesting that you asked about her speech.  I have been trying to get therapy for years for articulation but she has always just barely fallen within normal limits.  I've been told "it's developmental" more times than I care to recall!
Would you recommend exploring speech therapy or maybe occupational therapy?  We currently live in an area where resources like these are pretty scarce, but will be relocating to nothern Virginia in the summer and maybe its worth looking into?  
Again, your advice is greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

[LTKoch]

Thanks to all of you for your responses and advice.  Please know that I am not forcing my child to eat anything nor am I trying to diagnose her.  In all honesty, it's my  husband who makes meal times a bit of a disaster.  When he is not around, I make all children take a "no thank you bite."  If they want more they are welcome to it; if not, no big deal.  My husband, on the other hand, seems determined to have well adjusted children who eat anything happily.  This is a little funny because he is a pretty picky eater himself.  The last thing I want is for my kids, particularly my daughters, to grow up with food issues.  At the same time, if there is a reason for her reaction to many foods and why she has trouble eating them I want to help her.  I'm not losing a lot of sleep over this, I was furstrated last night and thought I could find some advice from a "neutral" party.  I did and I am thankful for that.
I appreciate each of you taking time out of your busy day to offer advice and encouragement.  You've suggested some great ideas and I will be testing them out.
Thanks again, have a great weekend!

[margypops]

no doubt kids love pasta and its in shapes now which makes it fun..I have found this problem is so common I bet we have several threads on here the same ., most kids go through it, my dd was so skinny she was hospitalised as they thought she had celiac turns out it was bad tonsils which they removed then she was well and put on weight .

[adgal]

I had another thought on this issue.  I know with my child, the biggest challenge we have is meat and other proteins.  Get creative.  I have become the queen of the casserole..lol.  I mix things he typically won't try on their own with foods he loves, add some egg noodles or other pasta, and away he goes.