OT-Need suggestions..
So my daughter is getting to be such a picky eater. She literally lives on grapes and an occasional juice box and as a result has lost 5lbs I should mention that she is only 6 years of age and goes thru the picky stages every year. Ria also started on adderall XR and am wondering if this is a side effect of the med. I asked my sister the pharmacist and she seems to think its not the meds. This morning my daughter told me to buy oreos, cheez-it and graham crakers. I don't think these are the BEST choice of foods but I am getting desperate she does not want to touch anything. She used to love fruit loops cereal again not the best option but now she does not even want to eat that anymore. I am seriously getting worried but her pediatrician does not seemed worried and seems to think this is just another picky stage. Ria literally makes gagging sounds when I try to force feed her. Sorry this post is long but please any suggestions are appreciated.
-Shilpa
People comment on my over 100 pound weight loss and attribute it to my WILLpower, but it is my WANTpower: I WANT to be thin and healthy more than anything else!
My youngest granddaughter used to go thru stages like this - the ultimate junk eater. And she was rail thin but eventually grew out of it and is a pretty good eater now. If your pediatrician isn't concerned then I wouldn't be too concerned right now - try to get as much decent food in her as you can but keep track of how long this 'phase' is? I don't know what Adderall XR is but if your sister is a pharmacist and doesn't think it's affecting her appetite then she's probably right.
I'm not sure force-feeding her is the right thing to do - growing up we HAD to clean our plates at dinner, regardless of what was on them - and me and all of my siblings have struggled with weight problems - I doubt that was the sole contributing factor but it surely didn't help - I still have a hard time leaving food on my plate at 53, altho since RNY its obviously much easier.
And hey, there are SUGAR FREE OREOS and graham crackers out there - get those and put them in other packages so she can't see they're sugar free - that might turn her off junk food for a while and even if it doesn't it beats her getting all that sugar.
God knows I'm not child-expert so these are just random thoughts...
I'm not sure force-feeding her is the right thing to do - growing up we HAD to clean our plates at dinner, regardless of what was on them - and me and all of my siblings have struggled with weight problems - I doubt that was the sole contributing factor but it surely didn't help - I still have a hard time leaving food on my plate at 53, altho since RNY its obviously much easier.
And hey, there are SUGAR FREE OREOS and graham crackers out there - get those and put them in other packages so she can't see they're sugar free - that might turn her off junk food for a while and even if it doesn't it beats her getting all that sugar.
God knows I'm not child-expert so these are just random thoughts...
'One shoe can change your life'...Cinderella
Shilpa, my husband is on Adderall for adult ADD-- it is a stimulant (amphetamine) and he has no appetite when he takes it. He has dropped 30 pounds on it in 7 months. I do not know the difference between the adult and child dosage, so that may make a difference, but I know my husband does not have any appetite when taking his medication. In fact, since he is forgetful that is my first sign he is not taking it regularly, his appetite increases.
HW 326/SW 296/CW 168
Shilpa, I have heard that Adderall can cause weight GAIN, not weight LOSS. But, I might be wrong. I wouldn't give in to the junk food cravings. That is just bad news for the future. I'm sure it is just a phase and at the point where if she's hungry enough, she'll eat. I would keep trying to introduce healthy food options to her, but not try to force feed her.
Maybe you can try giving her pediasure to supplement the nutrients she needs. She might like that since it is similar to a milkshake.
Good luck and try not to worry. Yeah right, like any mom is NOT going to worry about their kid..
Maybe you can try giving her pediasure to supplement the nutrients she needs. She might like that since it is similar to a milkshake.
Good luck and try not to worry. Yeah right, like any mom is NOT going to worry about their kid..
My tracker
hers 
I would not do the oreos nor the other stuff and would simply ask her what it is she would enjoy eating other than the junk stuff. My hubby and daughter go nuts when I go shopping and do not bring home junk but I am trying to really stop Heather from following my footsteps and George to eat healthy. When your daughter gets hungry I do believe she will eat. I used to tell Heather that I am not running a diner but did want to know her favorite reasonable foods. Hmmm wonder why she doesn't want the fruit loops? Am wondering if she saw you do your thing with weight that could have something to do with it? Can't hurt to ask?
Linda,
That is not it with the fruit loops I really think it's her medication. I am going to put in a call to the doctor that prescribed her Adderall XR and see what he thinks. Ria is already on prevacid as she has some reflux issues. My son went thru that and he is only 54 pounds and he is 9 years old. I am so scared that's all...
That is not it with the fruit loops I really think it's her medication. I am going to put in a call to the doctor that prescribed her Adderall XR and see what he thinks. Ria is already on prevacid as she has some reflux issues. My son went thru that and he is only 54 pounds and he is 9 years old. I am so scared that's all...
-Shilpa
People comment on my over 100 pound weight loss and attribute it to my WILLpower, but it is my WANTpower: I WANT to be thin and healthy more than anything else!
Shilpa,
I have 2 kids who have been, at various points in their lives, the ULTIMATE in picky eaters. At one point, elder daughter went through a year where she pretty much lived on mashed potatoes. The other one went through a "cheese with that" phase (cheese fries, raviolis, and cheese sticks in a single meal). Both went through times when they wouldn't eat much of anything, as well. Both are very healthy, normal-weight young adults, ages 18 and 21. Both have outgrown much of their pickiness with eating. Younger one still can't stand mushrooms, but other than that, will try things. The older one is now a semi-vegetarian (no beef or pork), but eats a really wide range of things and isn't afraid of trying new things.
My rule with them was to never, ever force-feed them. They had to find their own relationship with food that was not fraught with my emotional baggage over my personal weight struggles.
I counseled them to not take refuge in a bag of chips or a pint of ice cream when they were upset- we would talk or walk or whatever instead of eating as consolation. Other than that, I stocked the house with pretty healthy food, bought "junk" every once in a while so that it wasn't as attractive as "forbidden fruit" and made sure there were choices on the table or in the fridge that coincided with their pickiness of the month (made LOTS of mashed potatoes that year, even in single-portions at times when the rest of the family was having something else), and made sure that they weren't criticized or picked on for their food choices (although we would occasionally laugh about the "do you want cheese with that cheese?" phase).
My other rule was that if I had some totally new food, they would try one bite, no further pressure. if they liked it, they would eat it. If not, at least they had tried it. And I reminded them to try it again at some point in the future, because tastes do change.
As to Adderall, it absolutely DOES affect appetite in many people. Katie lost her appetite almost entirely when she first started taking it, and still has a decreased appetite when she takes it during the school year. Many of Katie's friends have reported the same thing. None reported weight gain. We combatted the effect by figuring out which foods were the "least offensive" to her during that time and making sure that something was always in the house in that category. As she's gotten older, she's managed to work it out on her own.
In short (too late, i know), if her pediatrician isn't worried, don't put your own worries onto her shoulders. Give her space to find her own way - she won't starve herself and will figure things out on her own. Force feeding her simply makes mealtime an anxiety-ridden, nasty event for both of you and could distort her view of eating and health in the long run. If she's feeling out of control in other areas of her life, this could be the one area she feels she CAN control, and is acting it out there. Showing her that you trust her and respect her choices will go a long way to "fixing" the issue between the two of you and helping her learn to trust herself with food choices.
And yes, I know how hard it is to do that!
Karen
I have 2 kids who have been, at various points in their lives, the ULTIMATE in picky eaters. At one point, elder daughter went through a year where she pretty much lived on mashed potatoes. The other one went through a "cheese with that" phase (cheese fries, raviolis, and cheese sticks in a single meal). Both went through times when they wouldn't eat much of anything, as well. Both are very healthy, normal-weight young adults, ages 18 and 21. Both have outgrown much of their pickiness with eating. Younger one still can't stand mushrooms, but other than that, will try things. The older one is now a semi-vegetarian (no beef or pork), but eats a really wide range of things and isn't afraid of trying new things.
My rule with them was to never, ever force-feed them. They had to find their own relationship with food that was not fraught with my emotional baggage over my personal weight struggles.
I counseled them to not take refuge in a bag of chips or a pint of ice cream when they were upset- we would talk or walk or whatever instead of eating as consolation. Other than that, I stocked the house with pretty healthy food, bought "junk" every once in a while so that it wasn't as attractive as "forbidden fruit" and made sure there were choices on the table or in the fridge that coincided with their pickiness of the month (made LOTS of mashed potatoes that year, even in single-portions at times when the rest of the family was having something else), and made sure that they weren't criticized or picked on for their food choices (although we would occasionally laugh about the "do you want cheese with that cheese?" phase).
My other rule was that if I had some totally new food, they would try one bite, no further pressure. if they liked it, they would eat it. If not, at least they had tried it. And I reminded them to try it again at some point in the future, because tastes do change.
As to Adderall, it absolutely DOES affect appetite in many people. Katie lost her appetite almost entirely when she first started taking it, and still has a decreased appetite when she takes it during the school year. Many of Katie's friends have reported the same thing. None reported weight gain. We combatted the effect by figuring out which foods were the "least offensive" to her during that time and making sure that something was always in the house in that category. As she's gotten older, she's managed to work it out on her own.
In short (too late, i know), if her pediatrician isn't worried, don't put your own worries onto her shoulders. Give her space to find her own way - she won't starve herself and will figure things out on her own. Force feeding her simply makes mealtime an anxiety-ridden, nasty event for both of you and could distort her view of eating and health in the long run. If she's feeling out of control in other areas of her life, this could be the one area she feels she CAN control, and is acting it out there. Showing her that you trust her and respect her choices will go a long way to "fixing" the issue between the two of you and helping her learn to trust herself with food choices.
And yes, I know how hard it is to do that!
Karen
hi there,
my son was on adderal for a while and had the same effects. yes it is the meds. just google the name adderall and just about every site will list loss of appetite. there are many good sites. i would reccomend you check the one by the drugs manufacturer. another thing is the weather. when it is hot children just don't want to eat.. the doctor told me that no child( who has food available to them) would choose to starve. probably didn't help but i try.
my son was on adderal for a while and had the same effects. yes it is the meds. just google the name adderall and just about every site will list loss of appetite. there are many good sites. i would reccomend you check the one by the drugs manufacturer. another thing is the weather. when it is hot children just don't want to eat.. the doctor told me that no child( who has food available to them) would choose to starve. probably didn't help but i try.
Shilpa,
When it comes to my kids and food, I am a crazy food police maniac.
NO JUNK FOOD ALLOWED. I don't care how much they ask. It's not allowed in the house, it's not allowed to be eaten, No, No, No!
But that's me. I cook dinner. They have what I make. If they don't eat it, then they don't get a snack.
Snacks are limited to.......
Low fat string cheese
grapes
pineapple
banana
apple
pretzels
popcorn (only 2 times per week)
Peanut butter on crackers (limited to 5 only)
I ate nothing but junk food and drank soda growing up. I refuse to go down that path with my kiddos. Do they know what cookies, candy and snack cakes are? Hell yeah. But they KNOW it's not allowed at home. Bottom line. My kids are 12, 10, 3 and 1 year.
Cheeze-Its and Graham crakers are occasionally allowed but *I* get them out and monitor the amount and how often.
If you are strict, firm and determined.......kids follow. They don't want to starve. They will find something you allow if they are hungry enough.
Good luck. I know my way of doing things isn't always easy or what others do, but it DOES WORK.
When it comes to my kids and food, I am a crazy food police maniac.
NO JUNK FOOD ALLOWED. I don't care how much they ask. It's not allowed in the house, it's not allowed to be eaten, No, No, No!
But that's me. I cook dinner. They have what I make. If they don't eat it, then they don't get a snack.
Snacks are limited to.......
Low fat string cheese
grapes
pineapple
banana
apple
pretzels
popcorn (only 2 times per week)
Peanut butter on crackers (limited to 5 only)
I ate nothing but junk food and drank soda growing up. I refuse to go down that path with my kiddos. Do they know what cookies, candy and snack cakes are? Hell yeah. But they KNOW it's not allowed at home. Bottom line. My kids are 12, 10, 3 and 1 year.
Cheeze-Its and Graham crakers are occasionally allowed but *I* get them out and monitor the amount and how often.
If you are strict, firm and determined.......kids follow. They don't want to starve. They will find something you allow if they are hungry enough.
Good luck. I know my way of doing things isn't always easy or what others do, but it DOES WORK.
When life hands you lemons, ask for tequila & salt and give me a call!
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