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Post by meranda on May 29, 2019 8:48:02 GMT -5
Hi all. Umm... we are facing a bit of a dilemma now. Ingrid (7) has been on the new diet since the middle of March and has been doing so much better. We’ve had a couple slips (once because she forgot, twice because school isn’t listening and they bullied her into eating things she shouldn’t) and now our little girl has developed a fear of food. She is scared to eat. She pokes her food around her plate and nibbles a little here and there but rarely eats much anymore. She eats some but really not much. Now we are noticing that she has lost weight. She’s small and slight to begin with and has always been classed as underweight but now she’s just plain skinny. I mean we can see every bone in her body from across the room skinny! We aren’t sure how to handle this. We’ve tried talking. Tried explaining that we now know what makes her sick and we won’t give it to her. Tried ignoring her eating (in case it was an attention thing) but she’s happiest when we ignore it and she gets away without eating. Has anyone else been through this? I’m rather concerned not only because she is so young but also because I have a niece with a severe eating disorder and it’s scary to watch. I don’t know how to deal with this.
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Post by rysmom14 on May 30, 2019 7:25:19 GMT -5
Hi Meranda,
Im so sorry you and your daughter are going through that. My son is 5 and he is very skinny. lately I have been having to sit with him while he eats because some of his meatballs will "fall" on the floor for the dog. he is the same as your daughter in that if I pretend not to watch him he is so much happier because he can just eat a little and toss the rest and go about his day.
I have tried to talk with him about him needing to eat his food (mainly meat) because it gives him the energy he needs to play, or that if he only eats cheese and crackers then his lab work will not look good. I try to make it a game sometimes too. It seems he goes through phases. Sometimes he eats a ton one day and then just picks the next.
Im not sure how to help, but I am guessing this would be common. either because of the repetition of the food, or fear. I know if anyone else gives my son food, he always asks me if he can have it. While its good that he checks, its also sad because he must wonder if everything he puts in his mouth is safe for him.
What if you asked her what types of food she would want to eat, or have he pick for a few options so she can get a little more excited about what she's eating? or maybe even have her help in the kitchen. Maybe you two can cook a new safe meal for her together? I have shaped ground meat into so many things so that Ryan thinks he is getting something different.
Good Luck!
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Post by meranda on May 30, 2019 9:25:17 GMT -5
Rysmom thank you. Unfortunately she absolutely LOVES helping in the kitchen and cooking. She has a blast. Then she refused to eat. The only two things she willingly puts in her mouth are water and the lactose free milk... she never finishes more than about ⅛ cup of milk though. I’ve talked and she just sits there and stares at the floor and looks like she will cry. I’ve asked her what she wants and she says “I’m not hungry” or “nothing thank you”. I’ve tried to involve her in choosing meals and she stays silent. It’s her older sister to whom she admitted that she’s afraid of food. Every time we put something in front of her or offer her food she has an anxiety attack. She gets upset, shakes, cries and hardly touches anything. It looks a heck of a lot like an actual eating disorder (I have a niece with anorexia nervousa with bulimia subtype) but she isn’t afraid of getting fat... I don’t think. I DO know a teacher has made a stupid comment that eating all starches (such as rice, white potatoes and pasta) and meat will make people fat because the human body NEEDS fruit and vegetables to stay healthy. We have explained that she is at no risk of getting fat at all and her body desperately need fuel. She seemed to accept that but I’m not 100% sure.
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