My 4-year-old rarely eats a single thing at dinner time. Yes, I am a Registered Dietitian and my son won’t eat dinner many nights! Should I be worried?

Let’s take a step back to look at the bigger picture. My son has maintained a relatively consistent growth curve. When I look at his overall diet, he likes a variety of flavors and tolerates various textures. He does not gag, choke or have difficulty swallowing his food.

If I look at what he eats over a week, while he eats some of the same foods daily, overall, he eats a varied diet. He loves tofu sauteed with ginger, served over rice and an almond butter sauce; he loves butternut squash soup and grilled cheese; and he really loves a chicken parmesan pasta dish we make. He likes pizza or spaghetti and meatballs (when he is in the mood!); salsa and hummus; and multiple flavors of yogurt. And no, he does not like hamburgers, chicken nuggets, eggs or broccoli yet; but he loves baby carrots, cucumbers and most fruit. He also really loves chips, ice cream, chocolate and candy. 

If I look at what he eats in a single day, typically he will eat one larger meal, one small meal, and 1-2 snacks. That is it. And for him, that is enough. Often at dinner time, he is tired or wants to play and has no general interest in anything besides the fruit or dessert we serve. I can’t say I blame him - often I find something sweet comforting and tasty at the end of my day. So is this enough to meet his needs? If we look at nutrient recommendations based on age, it often takes less food than we think to meet children’s needs.

how do we differentiate between “picky” eating or something that may be a bigger issue?

Remember, feeding is very nuanced; it is complex and there is not just one correct way to feed a child. Here are a few things to think about:

• Growth: How is your child’s growth curve? Have they been consistently following their own curve or are they falling off?

• Variety: Does your child eat a severely limited number of foods that you could easily count? Or is their diet more varied?

• Textures: Can your child tolerate a variety of textures? Think about foods you may feed them such as yogurt, crackers, beans, chicken, etc., and how they may react to the textures. 

• Chewing or swallowing difficulties: Do you notice that your child is having trouble chewing and/or is gagging or choking often? 

• Experience: Overall, is eating a very difficult and unpleasant experience? It may be very stressful for the child (not wanting to come to the table, crying, not wanting any foods that are served, etc.) and stressful for you as a parent (feeling helpless and not knowing what to serve or what to do).

I always tell parents that they know their child best. If you are concerned at all, have a conversation with your provider and they can work with you to determine if your child may benefit from working with a feeding therapist.

If you feel your child is in more of that “picky” phase and are looking for additional strategies to help with mealtime, contact us - we would love to help!