4Y/o Not Eating

I agree with a previous responder about nutrition absorbtion. She may not be getting enough. Regular MDs wont' tell you that. You will get better advice from a Naturopath or an Integrative MD (is an MD but understands and uses a wholistic approach) Has she been checked for food allergies or sensitivity? If she's got some intolerances, then she's not going to get the nutrients absorbed well. Calories themselves mean little unless they are nurtient dense. A salad doesn't have many calories, but is very rich in nutrients. Is she eating greens?

Just another bit that might help you: Have you tried whole food juices (fresh and raw, not store bought pasturized) or smoothies? My kids LOVE these, and they get greens in there too, without the "yucky" taste! Here's some ideas if you'd like to try them:

Kale Kissed Apple Smoothie

1 apple
1/2 inch bit of ginger
1 kale (fresh) leaf, destemmed
squirt of honey (local, raw is best)
dash of cinnamon

Whiz in blender until as smooth as it can get - serve it up.

Berrylicious Smoothie

1/2 - 1 cup berries, any kind, single or mixed
1/2 - whole bananna
kale leaf or baby spinach (optional)
squirt of honey
Whiz and serve

Just Peachy

1 peach
handfull of berries, any kind
sqirt of honey
1/4 cup yogurt
whiz and serve

These can all be served as juices too. However, with the smoothies they get all the fiber too. One of our favorite juices is Oranges and Carrots. YUM. Here are some websites that can help you get more "good" foods into your little one. These are raw foodist sites, and as strange as some of the ideas may seem...they work wonders with kids. My kids will eat their weight in kale when we're "massaging" in the oil and juice for Kale Crisps (recipe below)

Lots of recipes, look through and see what might work for you http://www.goneraw.com/recipes

A friend of mine: www.beegreenfoods.com - her son was just diagnosed with Autism and they have severe gluten & casien (milk) intolerances. I've seen the difference diet can make first hand with him as well as my own children.

Kale Crisps:

1 pound fresh Kale, washed well in big bowl
1 lemon, squeezed over kale
sprinkle sea salt to taste
honey or stevia to sweeten (just a little is needed)
Olive or coconut oil just to coat lightly

Massage all together until it's about half the bulk. Lay on dehydrator sheets and dehydrate 6-8 hours, until crisp. OR if no dehydrator, lay out on cookie sheet and place in 200 degree oven for 2-3 hours or until crisp.

Good luck mama. There is so much out there that goes on with our kids that doctors won't tell you about. Some simply really don't know while others don't believe it. Follow your gut instincts until you find a doc who will truly help you. Nutrition is really the key with most issues kids (and adults) have.

Peace!

At this point how about the childrens brand Pedisure so she is getting something into her. When I worked at a nursing home we'd include a pedisure for patients when not feeling well...at least they got something into their system, it's not a cure but it's something with calories and at times it's better then nothing. Not sure it will help much but it might be a start. My kids have had medications they made them not want to eat and I sparked their interest with something sweet then they'd start to eat other food, it's like it got their taste buds awake...fruit etc. something a small amt.
Hope you find what will help her.

B.,
My daughter is the EXACT same way! She is so skinny and small. She hardly ever eats either and her doctor doesn't really seemed to be worried about, She does however drink a lot of milk and juice during the day which she prefers sometimes over food...I dont mind giving this to her b/c she is still getting calories and fat from the milk. I think she had weighed the same since she was 3 about 28 pounds...she just recently moved up a pound. I think that taking your daughter to the doctor for the weight loss is the best way to go at this point. Make sure they do some blood work!

Hi B.,
I have heard and seen parents with children in this situation implement the GFCF diet and be very successful. Most say "I cannot do that, they might lose weight", but just the reverse happens. Digestive sensitivities cause a whole host of issues and there is so many highly nutritious foods that do not need wheat or milk products. My son went from being way underweight and eating only 5 foods to eating everything I put in front of him and loving it in 6 months. Maybe worth some research. J.

Hi B.,
Our son (almost 8) also has always been a bitty boy, usually around the 3rd-5th percentile, and not worrying has been really important. Assuming she isn't feeling sick, you might want to ask yourself whether she is getting something out of her new pickiness. She might be enjoying the test of wills with you, the fussing over her, or getting you to make special food for her. If you can take those things out of the equation, the game might lost its appeal and she will go back to eating with everyone else. Avoiding battles is my main goal (though I'm not so good at doing it!). Another thought: if she's eating breakfast foods, perhaps she can eat them at other times of the day. My kids sometimes only want cereal at dinner time, and I figure that if it's okay to eat in the morning, it's okay in the evening too. See if you can find some thing she will eat which involves no extra work for you or even that she can fetch for herself (bread and peanut butter, cereal, boiled eggs, crackers and cheese, dried fruit, etc) and if she doesn't want what you've made, she can get something else herself. I'm a firm believer that a child will not starve him or herself in a house where food is available and not a center of struggle; they're built for survival. Hang in there; this too shall pass! A.

Hi B.,

The key to balanced weight is absorption of nutrition (from babies to the elderly). Fatty foods and junk foods will not necessarily add weight. Absorption of nutrition comes from a clean colon, where nutrition is absorbed, which means fiber is a must. If she doesn't like fruits and veggies (and won't like them if her colon is not clean) then she needs to be taking a fiber supplement.

May I be blunt? How many times does she go "poopie" a day? EVERYONE should go about an hour after EVERY meal. If she's not doing that then it is safe to say she doesn't have enough fiber in her diet. When our body is not getting nutrition we also are not craving any kinds of foods so no appetite is a good sign that something is wrong.

If you want to get more specific, feel free to get back to me.

God bless,

M.

PS This is not information you will get from most doctors. Nutritionists and Wellness coaches as well as NDs will.

It's the age, my son who just turned 5 does this too. I make sure I make at least one thing I know he will eat. You can also add instant breakfast into her diet. It's got extra proten that will help with the weight. They have a vanilla flavor if you don't want to give her chocolate milk. It's cheeper than pediasure and does just about the same thing.