| Developmental delays and picky eating frequently occur together.
Generally, neither clever recipes nor attempts to hide healthy foods
in "accepted" ones will correct poor intake. Better to determine
the cause and correct the problem from the inside out.
Problem 1: Sensory Misreading in the Mouth or Poor Oral-Motor Skills.
A child with tactile defensiveness often exhibits hypersensitivity
in the mouth and/or craves oral stimulation, such as chewing on
his clothes. Low muscle tone in both mouth and face often coexists
with deeper oral-motor issues. Poor sucking, chewing and swallowing
skills can cause gagging or terror by merely being near food. Passing
a medical swallow study does not guarantee that a child can chew
and swallow consistently and has the stamina to consume an entire
meal.
Possible Solutions for Problems in the Mouth. A speech or occupational
therapist with oral-motor training can help. Teaching the child
to use an electric toothbrush to massage (desensitize) the mouth
or to drink from a straw can strengthen oral-motor skills and greatly
reduce eating anxiety. Helpful books are Progress with Puppets and
Out of the Mouths of Babes.
Problem 2: Nutritional Deficiency. Poor eating creates nutritional
imbalances, which further reduce appetite or increase carbohydrates
cravings. Deficiencies in zinc and vitamin B-1 contribute to anorexia,
but a specific nutrient deficiency need not be present. General
malnutrition can contribute to disinterest in food, leading to further
mal-nutrition, reducing appetite increasingly over time.
Possible Solutions for Nutritional Deficiencies. Children cannot
be forced to eat the necessary diet to correct mal-nutrition. Once
they become malnourished, diet alone may not correct the deficiencies,
particularly if children have poor absorption or delivery of nutrients.
Best to use nutrient supplements with moderate levels of a broad
range of vitamins (C, E, and B-6) and minerals (magnesium, molybdenum,
chromium and selenium) that are most deficient in an overly processed
diet. Liquid nutrients are available for children who refuse chewables.
Pills ground up in a mortar and pastel can be mixed with frozen
grape juice concentrate, applesauce, strained pears, or, in desperate
cases, chocolate syrup.
Problem 3: Weak Digestive Function. Children with a history of
reflux, colic, frequent antibiotic use, allergies, diarrhea, constipation,
and low tone, often have a digestive system that is immature, inflamed
or inefficient. Most cases are subtle, with a heavy or sinking feeling
accompanying eating. These youngsters are uncomfortable and tend
to avoid eating, becoming high risk for malnutrition. They do not
know how a happy tummy feels, from lack of comparison.
Possible Solutions for Weak Digestive Functions. The Comprehensive
Digestive Stool Analysis by Great Smoky Labs is one of the several
tests that evaluate subtle digestive issues. A physician must order
these tests.
Another solution may be digestive tonics. A traditional remedy
for weak digestion and internal inflammation is ginger tea, made
by boiling peeled root slices, then cooled and served a few teaspoons
at a time (possibly with honey for children older than one), several
times per day.
Digestive enzymes in small amounts may increase appetite, but,
if used in excess, can loosen stools or cause intestinal cramping.
Digestive capacity diminishes as the day progresses, so, if trying
enzymes, always start at the most problematic meal for poor digesters.
Problem 4: Drug Side Effects. Stimulants such as Ritalin and Dexedrine
decrease appetite. Antibiotics can also reduce appetite by increasing
yeast overgrowth and damaging the intestine's lining. Yeast overgrowth
can turn the intestines into a fermentation machine. When yeast
digest sugars, the intestines bloat, sending either a "full"
signal or a call for more carbohydrates.
Possible Solutions for Drug Side Effects. If stimulants severely
affect the appetite, re-evaluate the side-effect/benefit ratio.
Stimulants are controlled substances, and their use in a young child
should yield huge benefits to justify the long-term costs (both
known and unknown). If stimulants are deemed absolutely necessary,
feed the child dinner foods for breakfast, because he will eat little
while the drug is in the system. After school, when the medicine
is breaking down, feed a second dinner, rather than snacks. Then
at 7:00 p.m., bring out the low-sugar cereal, toast and snacks.
Although picky eating can be interpreted as a behavioral issue
and treated with behavioral modification, it frequently has nutritional
causes. By playing detective, parents can determine which solution
is right for an individual.
Author
Kelly Dorfman, M.S.
Reprinted with permission from New Developments: New angles on developmental
delays, a quarterly newsletter published by Developmental Delay
Resources, 4401 E. West Highway, Suite 207, Bethesda, MD 20814;
phone: 301-652-2263; web site: www.devdelay.org |
