This topic seems to come up a lot on this blog, but if you’ve somehow missed the memo–Nate and I like good food. Wholesome, nutritious, often organic, gourmet-esque, lovingly prepared food. And then we had a kid, who is the pickiest eater we’ve ever met…. It’s amazing how 99.9% of your life really does change after having a child. I know there are about a million people saying “I told you so” right now, but I think parenthood is something only ‘understood’ once experienced. Anyway, I’m digressing…
So Damian is super picky. I’m not sure if it’s a texture thing or a flavor thing (probably a bit of both) but we’ve been pulling our hair out for awhile trying to get him to eat something other than bananas, sweet potatoes, bread, and cereal. I can only eat something maybe twice before I’m bored and need about a 6 month break. Apparently Damian did not inherit that trait from his mama.
When I was pregnant I thought “my baby will eat only homemade, fresh, mostly organic baby food.” And while we’ve stuck pretty well to the organic thing, everything else has gone out of the window. At this point, I just want him to eat something so the health factor has gone out the window. No superfoods for him… But he’ll eat his weight in cheese quesadilla and chips!
The other issue is some what ironic. Nate and I try to significantly limit our meat, dairy, egg, etc consumption to less than 5% of our food intake. However, Damian needs to eat these things as part of his cholesterol treatment. I guess it’s good that he actually likes eggs. With Damian’s needs being different than a normal person’s, I know the priority is to help prevent issues that can arise from SLOS. Children with SLOS who are started on a cholesterol therapy before the age of 5 have been shown to only have a 22% chance of developing Autism, whereas children started after the age of 5 have an 88% chance. That’s a HUGE difference! And obviously I want to try to minimize his chances so it’s doubtful Damian will ever share our diet completely.
My how things can change!
February 28, 2012 at 10:41 pm
I think Aunt Rie might sympathise. I think cheese quesadillas is one of John’s major food groups.
February 28, 2012 at 10:51 pm
Great title. This is something I really wonder about. Luckily, I wasn’t a picky eater so my mother was spared. I used to think some parents just knew how to introduce the right food. Now, not so much.
There was a great article in the Times recently about babies being fed salty foods liking them as toddlers (which then follows them through adulthood). http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/taste-for-salt-begins-early-in-life/
February 29, 2012 at 9:03 pm
That’s a very interesting article, thanks for sharing! I knew babies had a preference to sweeter things since breast milk is sweet. That’s why some people suggest using fruits as their first foods to ease the transition. For whatever it’s worth, my pediatrician said most babies will eat anything if you offer it to them enough times. It just all depends on who is more stubborn