my child is picky...

I have an eleven year old daughter. She has always been a picky eater. She will only eat mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, hotdogs, corn, cold carrots, grapes, apples, pineapple from a can. Even these foods have to be a certain way. I've told her pediatric about it and she said that she is at a healthy weight. They ran blood tests and everything is good. I don't understand her pickyness because I like and cook all foods. She will not eat school lunches and starve herself until she gets home. If i try to make her eat other foods, she gets very angry and evens gags on it. It's very fusturating for me. Will she grow out of it someday? or Does she might have problems with her taste buds? Please help me....

[Patricia Pitts, PhD]

Seeing that your daughter is at a healthy weight and her blood work is normal, I would not be too concerned.  Although she does not have a large variety of food choices, her foods are quite common to kids her age.  I would avoid getting into any power struggles with her.  Since you like to cook, perhaps you can offer her an opportunity to eat one of her own foods presented differently, such as, making a baked apple with sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar.  Maybe she'll be curious enough to try it, maybe not.  If you start seeing signs behavioral changes due to anxiety, such as, ritualistic eating, concerns of germs, counting, checking doors, difficulty breathing, panicking, and/or depression reflected in sleep problems, appetite change, decrease interest in past enjoyed activities, depressed mood, isolation, tearfulness, etc.  Then I would seek some psychological support for her.  Eating problems are associated with underlying psychological issues.  For more understanding of eating disorders visit the bella vita website.  Best, Dr Patricia Pitts  The Bella Vita  Los Angeles, CA