Ten year old who does not or cannot eat.

My ten (almost eleven) year old daughter has an extremely limited and nutrition free diet. This has been the case since the day she was born. I am perplexed as to why she resists almost all food and I wonder if there may be something going on neurologically which prevents/averts her from eating. She will only eat pasta, white rice, cereal, milk, an occasional yogurt (only yoplait peach), an occasional green bean (canned) and maybe a few apple slices (must be red delicious). I have consulted with her pediatrician on a regular basis. He tells me she will eat when she is hungry. Not so. If I forbid her to eat the above mentioned foods and instead try to get her to eat something else she will go a day or two without really being bothered. She will eat sugary things. She is addicted to sugar and I feel it is a direct result of not wanting other foods. I offer nutritious, healthy food - alway have. I have offered, tried every kind of food that has been requested in an effort to expand her diet. I have tried coaxing, talking about her health, not making a big deal of it, making a big deal of it, absolutely everything, everything, everything. I have consulted with her pediatrician often over the course of her lifetime. Have consulted with chile psycologists, occupational therapists, behavioral optomotrists, discussed possible sesory motor issues, control issues, everything, everything I can think of. She is now going on eleven. She is 4'4" and approximately 55lbs. She is falling on the very low end of the "charts" if she is not already off them. She is often mistaken for a six or seven year old. I am very, very, concerned and I do not know what to do or who to consult. She is aware that she is small and that she does not like to eat most foods. She says it tastes bad and smells bad. In my opinion, this lack of nutrition is having an averse affect on her growth, concentration, speech and social skills. Please can you help me?

[Renee Radenberg]

Her weight is just on the 5th percentile and her height is on the 10th percentile for her age. She is on the growth chart which is good. It can be frustrating when children are 'picky eaters'. You just give them what they want. It is good she likes yogurt and milk which is protein. To ‘broaden her tastes’ is to engage her in the kitchen more. Children love to be a part of making food. Have her help you with preparation of food and setting the table. Hopefully this will increase her interest in other types of food. Since she likes yogurt, have her make yogurt smoothies with it (yogurt, frozen fruit or ice cream blended) and then she will have additional calories, protein, and vitamins and minerals. Suggest giving her a chewable children daily multi-vitamin due to her eating choices. The most important thing is to relax. Sometimes it takes 5-9 times to introduce a food that they will accept, however, if they do not want it you have to not make a fuss and let it go. Give her the food she likes then. Hoped this helped.