Fussy eaters can make life difficult and frustrating. It is normal for toddlers to like some foods more than others, we all do. It becomes a problem when nutrition is compromised.
Possible Causes Picky Eating
- Addictions to opiates (gluten/casein foods). This is primarily from eating a diet mainly containing wheat and dairy foods
- Addictions to chemicals (MSG, artificial additives). This is caused by a restriction to one brand or large preference for processed foods
- Salicylates cause cravings for fruits and other foods
- Nutrient deficiencies (zinc) makes everything taste bad or bland.
- Yeast, viral, and microbial overgrowth may cause focus on eating mainly high carb and sugar foods
- Sensory sensitivities can restrict the consumption of certain textures
Ideas for Picky Eating
- Remove addictive foods
- Improve nutrient status with supplementation
- Get creative with TEXTURE
- Chicken pancakes and meatballs for protein
- Vegetable Laktes and Carrot/Kale Chips for vegetables
- Incorporate (“hide”) pureed vegetables in muffins, pancakes, meatballs, pasta sauce
- Visual Presentation
8 Ideas for Increasing Nourishment in Children
- Add organic liver to meatballs, patties
- Add pureed sauerkraut to apple sauce
- Add kale to smoothies
- Add vegetable juice to fruit juice
- Add pureed vegetables to pasta sauce, meatballs, pancakes and muffins
- Include pasture—raised eggs
- Try salmon roe
- Eat grass—fed meat