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Post by jennifer on Apr 18, 2012 13:03:39 GMT -5
As we continue on trying to get answers(which seem to never come) we are trying to find new food for our daughter who is so sad. When looking at many things which do not seem to cantain any fructose or sugar, I often find natural flavorings. Does anyone know how to read this. I was considering getting some sourdough pretzel bites, the label said zero grams of sugar but I am concerned about natural flavorings. I have found this in sugar free popsicles made with aspertame as well(my daughter seems to be able to tolerate aspertame). The docs want us to keep on the diet for now and then try to slowly add in a few months to see what happens. Would love to know if anyone here has an opinion on natural flavorings.
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Post by ukbill on Apr 26, 2012 11:57:21 GMT -5
"Natural flavourings" covers a lot of sins!
I always smile at products that claim 100% natural ingredients.. I know a lot of 100% natural ingredients I certainly would not want to eat!
Deadly nightshade for one!
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Post by charlie on Apr 26, 2012 12:45:11 GMT -5
Jennifer, I have had a look back and notice your daughter is 7 years old. Kids that age aren't that fussed about variety, we are as adults and as long as she doesn't have the same food every day, every meal she is not going to really worry about too much variety. If you are in the early stages of the diet you need to focus on safe first and build up a repetoire of easy safe meals before going for intricate varieties and flavours.
Meg is 9 and I drew up a menu plan which I stick to each week, a slightly different meal every day but the same each week, this helps also to then be able to occasionally experiment with new tastes and then if she reacts the response is clearer, otherwise you spend hours thinking was it this or was it that.
I don't comment, and I stamp on anyone else very quickly that her diet isn't very varied, it is safe and she enjoys what she eats. But if you have the mindset that it is sad, or voice around her wishes that she could eat certain things then you are not going to help her.
Make what food she can safely have interesting but simple, if she has HFI she has it for life and the sooner she gets into the easy and safe mindset the better for her health. And it will make your life much easier. I am typing this from experience, I did exactly what you are doing when we started out and got into a real downer about it all, but Megs didn't care that she had chicken and rice on Monday and Thursday, to her it was just a meal put in front of her and she ate it.
You need to stick to really safe simple foods for at least a few months to really see if this diet is going to work, and even if it is FM we were told to stay completely fructose free for 4 years. Every time you experiment and it doesn't work you put her into a reaction and the longer it takes for everything to settle. So I think you need to rethink your attitude to the diet and she will follow your lead...... Later, when things are good, yes there is variety to try, just not now.
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Post by colormist on Apr 26, 2012 14:36:49 GMT -5
I'm going to second what Charlie just said about variety. 5 out of 7 days I will have macaroni & cheese as either a lunch or dinner (or both). I've had Shredded Wheat for breakfast every day for the past five years. I love shredded wheat. Sometime I have it for dinner, too. On the rare occasion, I will have oatmeal or cream of wheat, but this is usually when visiting relatives.
Food ceased being an enjoyment for me a long, long time ago. More often than not, it's just a source of energy. People give me sad faces when I say I'm not hungry and don't want to eat. They think I'm missing out and try to find me something to eat, which I always refuse.
I don't think people with HFI have the same relationship with food that so many other's have. Unfamiliar food is always seen as dangerous and being hungry results in binge eating. It's not sad, it's just different. I love the foods I can eat. I would much rather have chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans every day for dinner if chicken wasn't so gosh-darn expensive.
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Post by jennifer on Apr 26, 2012 19:46:40 GMT -5
Colormist, I also have food issues and eat a very limited diet so I have come to feel the same as you, I eat for energy rather than enjoyment and I am fine with that as long as I feel good. Honestly the issue with my daughter is not about me feeling sad for her, contrary, I am so happy that for the first time in her life her tummy feels good. I don't think her issue is varietyas most kids find a few favorite things and stick with them, she is feeling so sad because she is faced with being different every day at school as well as parties where she can't eat what the others are eating. She also loved her sweets although I am not sure why since they made her so sick, and she keeps crying about ice cream and cake etc. Charlie, you are so lucky that this diet did not make your daughter sad like this. I keep telling my daughter that she has lots of yummy foods she can eat and to just be happy she is feeling good that this is what is important, however it does not seem to keep her from feeling sad on school days as well as times when she is with friends. Guess she is very very sensitive. I understand that you sense the sadness is coming from me but truely it is not, in fact I am so happy since she is well and not awake screaming. Really the sadness is coming from her, she is doing ok, and will start crying and asks me every night if she will ever get her food back and what will happen and how they will figure out what happened to make her sick and not be able to eat the way her friends do.
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Post by Tammy on Apr 26, 2012 22:51:19 GMT -5
Hi Jennifer.
This is exactly the case with my daughter. It's also why - if you read the older posts - you'll see that UKBill and I never agree on artificial sweets. Cake and Ice Cream. I would never push it on someone who has an aversion, but for the kids who love it, there are safe, artificial ways to satisfy them.
I have always made Regina cupcakes to take to school when the other kids have a party. She always takes her own ice cream and cake along to a birthday party or wedding. She has her own cookies at Christmas. It's still not quite the same as just sharing with everyone else, but it lets her fit in a little better as at least she is eating the same type of food.
There are several pages of recipes on this site. With a little trial and error you should be able to help her deal with it a little easier.
Good luck.
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Post by ukbill on May 2, 2012 15:17:59 GMT -5
You are so right Tammy we will Never agree on feeding HFI children sweet tasting foods.
HFI children need to develop the protection of disliking sweet tasting foods.
Its the only way they will ever be safe while out in the world, both as children and particularly as adults.
It is a trial and error, you will not be able to stop a child eating the wrong foods or drinking the wrong cola, so it is best if they do not like the taste of the "wrong type of food" rather than confusing them with sweet as safe and sweet as not safe.
Particularly in the case of HFI children who are slow to react, sometimes taking days before they show a reaction.. then the problems are really complex.
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