Are ‘Picky Eaters’ born or created?

‘Picky eater’ was coined to describe discerning taste preferences. Children are more often called ‘picky eaters’ than adults, who long ago have adapted to religious doctrines and family tradition.   It is a little known fact, food preferences are dictated by blood and body type.

Deepak Chopra, MD, Perfect Health: Complete Mind/Body Guide identifies three body types. Each body type is better fueled by certain foods. Each body type has a unique like or dislike to certain textures and tastes.—thus the result is a total plan, tailor-made for each individual, to reestablish the body’s essential balance with nature; to strengthen the mind body connection; and to use the power of quantum healing to transcend the ordinary limitations of disease and aging—in short, for achieving perfect health.  Peter D’Adamo, “Eat Right for Your Type” provides a clear, simple food plan for each blood type.

The key to understanding food preferences is to accept and respect the purpose of food within the blood and body types.  Quite simply food serves two purposes—growth/repair of worn tissue and fuel for your body to run on.

Common questions associated with the label, ‘picky eater.’

If created, how can it be avoided? If a child is given nutrition on demand from birth—including solid foods consistent for their blood and body type and in a ‘take-it or leave-it’ style, the child will eat foods that are nutritionally healthy.

Children are generally labeled ‘picky eaters’ when they begin to assert their independence which begins simultaneously with the onset of eating solid food and self-feeding.  If parents use bribery, enticement, cajoling, and begging, the child quickly learns, NOT eating is a way to maintain control of their life—albeit—a tiny slice.  Babies are seldom bribed, enticed, cajoled or begged to drink milk—it is ‘offered’ to them—the child drinks as much as they desire and all is well.  When solid food is introduced, parents seem compelled to cajole or beg the child to eat ‘at least one bite.’  Given the time to learn the new tastes and textures, children will eat the food their blood and body type requires or prefers, if it is offered in a ‘take-it or leave-it’ style.

If my child refuses to eat, will they get sick?  Humans have a hypothalamus, which functions as a homeostasis to maintain the body’s status quo, which helps to regulate the amount of food required for maintaining optimum health and weight.  The hypothalamus also maintains blood pressure, body temperature, fluid and electrolyte balance, and body weight to a precise value called the set-point. Although this set-point can migrate over time, from day to day it is remarkably fixed. Children will eat when their body (hypothalamus) tells them to eat.  If your child’s body weight is within range for their height—all is well. If your child’s weight is below normal for their height, seek a professional to help you discern what has created your child to stop taking in adequate nutrition.

Children in perpetual motion sometimes eat only small amounts of food, but they eat frequently enough to meet their needs, because at this juncture their hypothalamus has not been conditioned or indoctrinated with poor nutrition habits and poor eating practices.  During periods of rapid growth, children may be hungry all the time.  If allowed to follow their natural homeostasis, when their caloric requirements decrease, they lose interest in food—thus they avoid eating more than their body needs.

Should children be encouraged to eat a variety of food? Encouraging a child to eat a variety of food for the sake of eating a variety of food is physically and emotionally counterproductive.  Providing the food consistent with their blood and body type, their nutritional requirements will be met. It is a common for children to eat the same thing for periods of time.  Offer your child a choice of two things which supports their food requirements for blood and body type.  If they consistently chose the same food what harm is being done?

Does presentation make food more appealing?  Children seldom turn up their nose at McDonald’s hamburgers loaded with unhealthy additives and wrapped in paper.  The fast food marketing strategy has brainwashed parents into believing every meal should be enticing and fun.

Does peer pressure have an effect on what a child eats?  Peers can influence a child’s curiosity about food, but not their long-term preferences.  If a child has an allergy to a food most parents are surprised how easily a child will accept the food restriction even though their friends eat it.  With only a few reminders that ‘wheat’ causes your tummy to hurt, so you can’t eat hamburger buns, the child readily eliminates that food.

Does texture/appeal/color, etc. effect what a child eats? Based on body type research certain body types prefer one texture over another. See “Perfect Health: Complete Mind/Body Guide” By Deepak Chopra. Food color has long ago been integrated into the human psyche as the color of food and children quickly learn that the color of food is simply the color of food.

What works and what doesn’t?  “At least one bite” rule?  Number of tries; Threats; Bribery
Begging; Disguising foods?

The ‘at least one bite’ rule sets up a power struggle between parent/caretaker and child.  More often then not, the ‘at least one bite’ includes a bribe.  “You can have dessert if you eat one bite.”  The number of tries, threats, bribery, and begging also sets up a power struggle.  In the long-term, both parent and child, lose.  The parent loses because the child learns they are in control and can extract a price or leverage something by eating.  The child loses because they learn manipulative behavior and controlling versus the parent(s) being in charge of managing a healthy food plan and healthy interactions.  In the long-term the child also loses because it sets up a life-long internal battle with food.   Disguising food also sets up a power struggle in a different way–the child usually suspects the deception at the out-set and will more often than not refuse to eat it.  When the child asks—“Is this ___?”  The parent faces a dilemma, “Do I tell the truth or lie for a greater good—enticing my child to eat what I think they need?   The child will sooner than later discover what has been done.  This deception is a betrayal of trust and the parent(s) loses integrity with their child. The question is:  Is disguising the food in a foolhardy attempt to cajole your child to eat what they don’t want to eat worth compromising your integrity and betraying your child’s trust?

Is it a mistake to make a separate meal for the ‘picky eater?’  Based on eating right for your blood and body type, it is imperative to give your child the food that supports their body’s needs.

How can I convince my child to eat healthy food? It is ironic that we wonder how we can convince children to eat healthy foods.  Children don’t grocery shop—buy only healthy foods and be a role model.

How does diet affect behavior?  Does sugar make children hyper? Will something specific calm them down, etc?  Yes, diet impacts behavior.  “Perfect Health: Complete Mind/Body Guide” by Deepak Chopra identifies the best food for the three body types.

Will kids just grow out of it?   Being labeled a ‘picky eater’ is simply a label, therefore, there is nothing for them to ‘grow out of.’

· Your responsibility is to provide nutritious food. It is your child’s responsibility to eat it. When they are hungry they will eat if their favorite foods for body and blood type are available.

· Never ever use food as punishment or reward—this sets up a life-long habit.

· Serve meals “buffet” style.  Let them choose what and how much they want—‘take it or leave it.’ This eliminates the power struggle.

· Include your child in preparing their meals. Forget perfectly arranged, chopped or prepared ingredients.

· Foster their self-confidence in feeding their body—accept their food preferences

· Watch for food allergies/sensitivities.

· Allow junk food only occasionally.

· Stock refrigerator/cabinets with food for your child’s blood and body type—store in a space reserved for them.

· Stock fresh fruits/vegetables for eating raw/cooking.

· Allow snacking between meals—healthy food consumed anytime is still healthy.

Happy eating/health for everyone.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, specializes in family issues, including sexual abuse, incest and physical abuse prevention and recovery, author, consultant, lecturer, and trainer. If I’d Only Known… Sexual Abuse in or out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention is available at a 20% discount direct from the publisher at www.gen-assist.com/book/asp