Health worries limited diet

My daughter is 13years old she has always had a very limited diet but recently she has decided she doesn’t like some things she has eaten for years she doesn’t eat any fruit or veg as she previously only ate pink lady apples and raw carrot sticks but now she won’t eat them at all I am concerned about her nutrition she cannot bring herself to try new things and suffers with terrifying panic attacks when asked to try new food I admit we pander to her a lot but we would prefer a happy healthy child than a child that conforms to “the norm” however now I am concerned the amount of foods she eats is getting less and less I refuse to force her or hide food as she will not eat rather than eat food she doesn’t like. Any advice much appreciated. Thanks in advance. 

Parents
  • My suggestions may be overly simplistic, and if so please don't take offence as I have no experience of eating disorders and am coming at the problem only from my experiences of having had teenage daughters, but perhaps taking her shopping with you and allowing her a small budget to buy whatever (foods) she wants would be helpful - even if it is only apples!

    If she knows that she is in control of her own food choices like this, she may make choices different from those you might have considered. Obviously these choices may not always be the healthiest but if it's a choice between her not eating at all versus choosing £20 worth of apples and crisps that she WILL eat, then at least she's eating something.

      

Reply
  • My suggestions may be overly simplistic, and if so please don't take offence as I have no experience of eating disorders and am coming at the problem only from my experiences of having had teenage daughters, but perhaps taking her shopping with you and allowing her a small budget to buy whatever (foods) she wants would be helpful - even if it is only apples!

    If she knows that she is in control of her own food choices like this, she may make choices different from those you might have considered. Obviously these choices may not always be the healthiest but if it's a choice between her not eating at all versus choosing £20 worth of apples and crisps that she WILL eat, then at least she's eating something.

      

Children
  • Great ideas Endymion and Teagansmum, you are right, it is better that your child is happy and not simply ‘compliant’. 

    I had blood tests taken recently, and after more than a year of barely eating and when I did eat, it wasn’t great, my blood results were great. Even my vitamin D levels were higher than the doctor had ever seen and I have barely been out of the house in over a year. There is far more to being healthy than what we put in our bodies. Of course it’s a good idea to keep trying different ways to introduce a wider variety and more healthy foods, but trust yourself, you’re right in what you say and you know your daughter, you will know if she’s becoming unwell. A more relaxed approach will always have more chance of being successful and I have known children overcome barriers to eating a healthy diet. 

    Teenage years are difficult for any teenager, and teenagers often use food as a way of exercising some control over their lives. Maybe look at ways of reducing stress in other areas of her life and empowering her in different ways so she feels she’s more in control and her eating would naturally improve if she is using food as a way of coping. It is a worry but worrying won’t help and can close us down to possible solutions etc. Good quality meal replacement drinks can sometimes be a good option, smoothies made in her favourite flavour can be a good way of getting greens and fruit into the diet. 

    I was forced to eat food as a child and it never did me any good. I used to gulp it down without chewing and I still have a fear of food today, especially if I lose my flow with eating. Best wishes to you both.