Nutrition and healthy eating

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• February 6, 2012 1:36 p.m.

  My husband and I are both picky eaters. My picky habits are not from taste, but from texture. I love tomato products, but I can't stand raw tomatoes for example. There are also some foods I can't even stand the smell. My parents tried to get me to try new foods, but it was not easy. I like canned green beans but can't stand fresh cooked. My parents tried to force me to eat some and I ended up throwing up all over my plate. This was not their fault and it was something I could not control. My husband dislikes much of the same foods as me, and then some. But we are really unhealthy because of our limits on food, and we are going to start exercising together and adding more fruits and veggies to our meals. Nothing too big for now, just going to start small. I'm hoping it helps us, and show our future kids healthy eating habits.

  - Katie

• January 2, 2012 2:25 p.m.

  Can a child have food phobia with selective eating? Shouldn't new foods be put on the plate with tiny bites until the child will finally take a bite. This is a confusing topic. I've talked to people who work with children who eventually try something new. It make take a dozen times to try.

  - Mary

• July 8, 2011 8:13 p.m.

  I have 7 children ages 4 through 21. Everyone of them eat a variety of foods and are not too afraid to try something new, except my sons who are 10 years old and 4 years old. They both ate "normal" until they were about 2 years old. Then they gradually dismissed foods they used to like, little by little. And I don't want to force them to eat food they don't want, but I'm worried they don't get all the nutrients their growing bodies need. My youngest son is a total vegetarian, eats only milk and cereal, pancakes, peanut butter, plain bread, selected fruits, pretzels and crackers. And V8 juice, cranberry juice or apple juice. Oh and french fries with ketchup. And I limit cookies and candy. But I wish I knew how to get him back to eating more different foods, and his brother too! And if we are in some occasion where food is offered, I always have to listen to how I pamper my kids by letting them eat for instance plain toast instead of burgers, chicken or whatever else they are serving. It makes me feel like I am a bad mom. Even my husband, their dad, says that I let them get away with too much when it comes to meals. He even takes their cheerios with milk and dramatically throws it in the sink, if he sees them eating that instead of dinner, and says if they don't eat what we offer, they can go hungry! So arguments between my husband and I occur in front of the kids because of this, and I believe this just makes matters worse. If anybody has advice, please let me know!

  - Lisa

• February 16, 2011 1:08 p.m.

  My son has this disorder. And, yes, it is a disorder. He has vomited when he has agreed to try new foods. It is truly a struggle to make sure that he is getting the proper nutrition since he eats no meat, no fruits, no vegetables and no dairy other than chocolate milk. I'm glad this is coming to light and hope that we can find more information on it that will help us. Oh, and as for vitamins, yes, he takes a daily multi vitamin but not all of the components can be absored into the body without being accompanied by certain foods. It helps, but does not replace the nutrition he's missing out on in his diet.

  - Julie

• January 22, 2011 10:25 a.m.

  There is an online support group at pickyeatingadults.com

  - Bob

• January 18, 2011 4:20 p.m.

  Hi-My daughter is 13 years old and i bleieve that she has "Selective Eating Disorder". She will only eat grilled cheese, chicken fries(Tyson only), french fries, cheese bread but not cheese pizza. No fruits and no veggies-only certain brands of choc milk. Most juices are too sour for her. At my ropes end-not only cause problems for her but for the other people in your life that do not understand-and think you are just letting them get away with something by controlling the food. Please halep with any advice. and obviosuly Travis has not gone through any of this or he would keep his ignorant opinion to himself.

  - Kellie

• January 8, 2011 10:35 a.m.

  Oh come on being a picky eater is not a disorder, why is it every aspect of someones life thats not "normal" a disorder. I am a picky eater, i only like limited foods n its fine. Im an adult i can say no thanks i dont like that. At work they bbq all the time n they feel bad cause i dont like hamburgers or hotdogs n i tell them not to worry about it, its not their fult im a picky eater. If u become less social because of being avpicky eater u do have a disorder but its not a eating disorder its a mental disorder. To afraid of people judging u. As for a nutiton difficency, just take multivitamins thats what i do.

  - travis

• December 21, 2010 5:50 p.m.

  I'll come right out and admit I'm a picky eater. Its hard being confronted by others on why you're not eating or if even asked to try this or that. You just can't help but refuse because none of the food looks appealing. But I do eat bland food. I can't stomach eating a veggie no matter how "disguised" it is and if I see it hiding in my food...oh beware...I'll look at my food in a whole new light and will search for other intruders (neurotic much?). I love fruit, don't get me wrong, but my diet consists pretty much of meat, cheese, bread, pasta, and lettuce (along with any fruits that are in season.) It's probably all in my head that I can't stomach the texture nor the taste of veggies so I rely on a multivitamin to supplement me. I don't really see myself recovering from this disorder so I've just learned to cope with it and pray I don't get sick because of it.

  - Kalli

• October 13, 2010 10:17 a.m.

  marry me tracy-lol i am the same as you,i know exactly how you feel,for me thanksgiving and social settings like weddings are dreadful -denia does not understand at all,i dont have control over anyone dont ask for my food to be to my way if i dont eat it ill wait till later and ill make it myself,lots of people couldnt eat those foods on fear factor show,to me 90% of food is just as appalling - i dont want or wish to be this way

  - donald

• August 21, 2010 8:00 a.m.

  love this topic. Being a picky eater may somewhat seems like it's good in some way. For example, some may not like sweet stuffs. This may be good. As a high daily sugar intake can cause many health problems. However, too low of a daily sugar intake may not be good. So... I'm not really sure if being a picky eater is actually good or bad. Hmmmmmm...

  - delish

• August 3, 2010 4:08 p.m.

  This is an interesting topic! I've always been a picky eater but I've come a long way over the years by trying to keep an open mind and trying new things. It still surprises me, though, when people think that your palate should match theirs. "You don't like tomatoes? But they're sooo good!" It's funny, really. But you're uncovering a greater issue here with selective eating disorder and that's fascinating to me. I could understand and relate to several of the issues you mentioned here. Thanks for the intriguing post. Jen Melo, author of the I will eat better diary http://www.homemakers.com/blog/eatbetter/

  - Jen

• July 29, 2010 3:01 a.m.

  My son was always a picky eater and underweight. I tried to get him to eat a "healthy diet", then at 13 he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Some of the things he refused to eat, such as raw tomatoes, his doctor vorbid - because the peel might get caught in the places where his intestines are very narrow. I will never ever again force or suggest that someone eat something that they don't want. Maybe their body knows something that their mind or mother doesn't.

  - Linda

• July 28, 2010 7:41 p.m.

  Grow up kiddo..you are a hostile person. You control people by your avoidance of normal eating. You can eat vegetables and be very socially acceptable, however, you have chose through some distorted manner, to eat them only as you prepare them, How handy..making people bend to you will. Get counseling, cookie !

  - denia

• July 28, 2010 4:47 p.m.

  My husband had the same attitude about food as you do when I met him 30 years ago. I, on the other hand, will eat just about anything. We had quite a tumultous few years until he realized that there really is some good tasting foods out there. My advise to you: go slowly, pick one item and try it. Perhaps find a recipe that might appeal to you that uses this item and make it. Don't force yourself to try many new foods at once - that is disaster. One step at a time will do it. Good luck.

  - Barbara

• July 24, 2010 6:15 p.m.

  I have been a selective eater for as far as I can remember. At 26 years old my diet is limited to what a 4 year old would eat. I eat very plain food, with no frills, no fruits or vegetables. I could pretty much count the different items I will eat on my fingers. This makes it extremely difficult to go out since I know that most menus will not accommodate my tastes and as a result I tend to schedule my day around meal times in order for me to be home. This is having a severe impact on my social life since most are scheduled around a meal. I wish I had advice on how to move beyond my limited menu and to take back control of my life, but I don’t. I am looking for advice as far as how to move past this.

  - Tracy