It is all too often I walk into a home and some of the parents first concerns are “my child is a picky eater.” When asked, “What foods does your child eat,” the answer is often fruit snacks, bread, fruit, oreos, chips, pizza, etc.
I’d like him to eat more vegetables…” This likely is because the child has an addiction to sugar and the more sugar they eat…the more they crave it and the more difficult it is to get that child to eat other foods. Feeding programs are some of the most difficult programs for parents to endure, often because a great deal of behavior at dinner time isn’t fun, let alone trying to put a meal together that everyone will eat!
Lets start with nutrients, making your baby’s body healthy again (we’ll cover behavior around food in a follow-up article). First and foremost, prior to any behavioral intervention, we must understand food (not a particular special diet, not a fad, REAL LIVE FOOD and how we as a culture have moved so far away from where our food comes from), what it does and how it can heal or harm our bodies. Read here for some information about the current epidemic and the industries largest role in it. However, take note, this talks about obesity alone, and I would argue the lethal cocktail of salt, sugar, fat and synthesized dead foods, goes far beyond an obesity epidemic and well into the realm of attention difficulties, autoimmune, cognitive development, allergies, etc. I am not proposing this is a cure for any medical condition, and you must always consult licensed certified personnel, but what I am proposing is you can greatly increase the quality of your and your child’s life with a quick inventory of your pantry.
Let’s start with sugar, what it does to your body, where it is found, and if it’s good for your kids. A great article can be found here: “Oreos: More Addictive Than Cocaine.” Latest research supports that when lab rats are given sugar, the rats will inevitably choose more sugar over more cocaine, YIKES POWERFUL ADDICTION, especially considering that cocaine is claimed to be one of the world’s most addicting drugs. Western medicine has long avoided the gut-brain connection, treating issues in isolation. I’m here to tell you, it doesn’t work that way. Our bodies’ are a magnificent interconnected network of systems that if fueled properly keep us healthy. Sugar robs us of nutrients starting with the taste buds in our mouth, lining our esophagus, gut, and pancreas. These receptors send messages to our brains, and ultimately, rewiring our systems and sending significant cravings for continued sugar input. Sugar weakens our immune system and steals essential minerals needed by the body, read more here. So, from what I’ve seen in my 8 years of practice is this- many families are busy, very busy, stressed, and need something quick. Many food manufactures jump on this opportunity (check out the book “The End to Overeating”) and satiate the market with food that is laden with sugar (and food that has all the enzymes cooked out of it—dead per say). They do this to get you, but more specifically, your child ADDICTED.
Many children with autism or other developmental disabilities appear to have a weakened immune system, sometimes from the get go and other times, developed later. ”A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating 100 g of sugar (think three cans of soda) significantly hampered the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria for up to 5 hours afterward,” further weakening a potential already compromised immune system. But sugar isn’t only found in soda, its in your child’s juices, read here, and further to exploit the issue, most processed and packaged foods include added sugar under a variety of names (some specifically hidden from the consumer). Some of these names include: high fructose corn syrup, saccharides, glucose, fructose, barley malt, agave are a few. To find a complete listing of 257 names for sugar go here.
Much ado about nothing? I don’t think so, scary isn’t it. So what can you do? EAT REAL RAW FOOD, but I do know this may be harder than it seems. Sign up for our newsletter for a couple healthy kid friendly snacks, to get you started, versus overwhelmed. The next step is to start a behavioral program if your child is a “picky” eater and will only eat a few foods (make sure all medical/structural components of eating are ruled out first). And then…change your lifestyle. This takes time, patience, practice and forgiveness. This won’t happen over night because it’s hard, and that is exactly how big food companies make their money off of us, the consumers.
Here are 5 tips to get you started:
1. Schedule a Meal Routine: Research shows families that eating meals as a family together at a table strengthens family bonds and provides children a sense of security and feeling of belonging in the family. When we get to behavior we’ll talk about– First..Then… (Premack Principle), Positive and Negative Reinforcement and Punishment, so stay tuned!
2. Make a List of What Your Child Eats: before making any significant changes, first jot down everything your child eats over the course of 3-5 days. This will give you a nice baseline and you can compare textures, colors, looks or tastes that your child prefers and what they do not prefer.
3. Make a List of What You Would Like To See Your Child Eat More Of: when we set goals, research shows we are more apt to follow through. A little graph to see increased variety helps as well.
4. Be Patient and Forgive Yourself: This change isn’t easy but one of the most important, most difficult changes your lifestyle (and your child’s need)! You can do this, it won’t be without trials, attempts, set-backs but I can promise one of the most worthwhile journeys.
5. Clean Out Your Cupboards & Take Stock: get the junk out of your house, stock your refrigerator and cupboards with fresh stuff (it will look more empty because you can’t buy as much). It will be easier on you and your child if the temptations are not there.
Finally, seek help and support from professionals and supporters. This is a lifestyle change and with everything we need to surround ourselves with those that lift us, provide positive energy and support!
