Things have been a bit up and down lately. Our eldest is still doing well and his eating is coming on brilliantly. I was so excited last night as he tried some rice for the first time ever! He says he liked it in between 2 crisps so that's what he had for dinner. It may not sound like the most healthy dinner but I was so happy as it was a real sign of progress. He has come so far and is really trying, bless him.
Our youngest who is 3 is still a bit of a mystery. His eating is still hit and miss, sometimes he just won't eat anythign other than cereal and crisps and other times he will have a go at some other foods. It's never easy though and he gets really anxious about little things - he gets really upset over things like: if the HP sauce has peaks in it when i pour it or smears, or if food touches each other, or if the fish fingers have a bit of brown fish.... he has also become a bit anxious about things like fluff, dirt and he makes me change him if he gets anything on his clothes. He also won't go out in the garden at the moment because of 'bugs' and 'slugs'.
Sometimes I can't work out if this is all just normal 3 year old behaviour or if it's anxious behaviour that needs help?? His behavour is quite difficult at times, he throws lots of tantrum and hits his brother a lot, but I think he's still tired as he doesn't sleep through the night and they both get up just after 5am. He won't nap most days too so I guess this will add to his tiredness and irritability.
Despite these problems, they are both still doing well and aren't in the pain they once were. For that we are very grateful. They are living much more normal lives which is really lovely to see.
Kx
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Hi Kitty
Sometimes you have to smile.
Here you are trying to get your children to eat the very foods that I am trying to steer my teenagers away from, and it isn't easy either!
Over the past year I have learned a lot about nutrition that I wish I had known about a lot earlier.
Dr Weston Price’s research demonstrated that humans achieve perfect physical form and perfect health generation after generation only when they consume nutrient-dense whole foods and the vital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in animal fats.
(www.westonaprice.org)
‘Starchy’ foods such as bread, cereals, potatoes, rice, noodles, oats, pasta etc are not nutrient-dense and most are ‘empty’ foods without fortification (which is when the food manufacturer and not nature add the vitamins and minerals to the foods concerned). Crisps are not only ‘empty’ but they also contain harmful polyunsaturated vegetable oils and other additives and flavourings. (But my kids love them!)
I am trying to avoid ‘empty’ refined or de-natured foods and concentrate on organic nutrient-dense foods which include plenty of animal products including their fats (especially butter), eggs, lacto-fermented products (eg yoghurt, salami etc), seafood, organ meats (eg pate), and green leafy vegetables.
We have been an allergic family but have managed to successfully eliminate all our allergies including shellfish which I am now eating with no problems.
The Weston A Price Foundation is dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods to the human diet through education, research and activism.
It was widely reported in the press earlier this week that a high-fat breakfast of bacon and eggs may be the healthiest start to the day. The word is spreading but the Food Standards Agency and the NHS still haven't got the message.
I have experienced some of the anxiety and difficult behaviour you describe and it was dealt with very effectively through Homeopathy.
Take a look at www.gaps.me for further information on digestive disorders and effective nutrition.
I hope you find this helpful.
Best wishes
Margaret
Hi
I understand what you are saying about healthy eating but you seem to have misunderstood about my childrens health problems. I would do anything to get my kids to eat a healthy diet. I have cried many many tears over not being able to get them to eat. I have tried every technique under the sun and spent many hours researching the internet for ideas and answers in desperation.
I don't feed my kids 'empty foods' because I choose to, I feed them whatever they will eat because they have a health problem that leads to food aversions and phobias and they often starve themselves because food has caused them so much pain in the past that they are now frightened. We see the feeding experts at Great Ormond Street and they have told us to give them what they will eat whilst we try to get them more comfortable and build their confidence that food won't hurt them.
If you haven't had very sick children who won't eat and aren't thriving then it's probably hard to imagine what it's like. You do whatever you can to keep your children happy, growing and comfortable. It can take years to re-build their confidence in food so that they will try healthier foods. We have been doing this with our eldest son and it has taken years but he is finally trying some healthier foods now.
If we hadn't followed Great Ormond Streets advice then we would never have got this far with him. That is why I am following their advice with my youngest son. If I don't give him the foods he thinks is safe then he won't eat at all and lives off a supplement. It is far better to keep him eating and build his trust in some foods and then slowly try to increase his range.
As a mother you want to be able to feed your children the right foods and give them the very best start in life. It is devastating when you can't.
Kitty
Hi Kitty
I think it is great that your boys are eating anything at all and you should congratulate yourself on the hard work you've put in with both of them. Well done! When you've come so far I would try not to focus too much on whether foods are empty or not and work from the place that it is good they are managing to eat anything!
I think most parents want their children to have a balanced and healthy diet. What that actually consists of seems to change like the seasons of fashion and one piece of research tell you one thing and then another 2 years later says that was completely wrong! A range of foods from the different food groups makes common sense without getting too analytical. Food is there is sustain and maintain us but it is also there for pleasure! If either or your boys can say they are enjoying eating something that would be wonderful. A little of what you like/everything in moderation works for me!
Eggs and bacon for breakfast now - well it wasn't long ago we were told no processed meats like bacon, ham or corned beef at all! My father in law died aged 54 from a heart attack which at the time was blamed on his eating eggs and bacon for breakfast everyday! A certain amount is in your genes whatever you do. My husband has what his father probably had which is high cholesterol and is on treatment for it but it wasn't known about back then.
I would love my kids to have a "normal" diet. I don't like the fact that my son's entire diet comes in a plastic bag and bypasses his gut completely and goes directly into his heart. But I also couldn't watch him to continue to suffer as he did and loose weight and be malnourished. We all do what we have to do in the circumstances that we are given, often with little or no control over them.
I would carry on as you are, which is doing the best you can and trying your very hardest to ensure the best start you can for your children. You do a great job and shouldn't give yourself a hard time!
Lots of love
Hiya
It's funny about the egg and bacon. I remember my mum avoiding food like that years ago because of cholesterol but she was recently advised to have it - it seems strange seeing her tuck into it for breakfast!
You have had to make some of the hardest decisions any parent could make but you made the right decision because he couldn't be left in such terrible pain. I really hope his gut is ready to try some food again when the 6 months is up. Fingers crossed.
I hope they are both doing ok at the moment.
Thanks for your support!
Lots of luv
Kx
Dear Kitty
I am very sorry if I offended you because that was certainly not my intention. I fully sympathise with your plight and it breaks my heart to read about all the suffering that is going on. I read a lot of comforting and re-assuring messages, and they are great, but it strikes me that what really needs to happen is a breakthrough in healing these vey poorly children. I was simply trying to hasten this by passing on information that could possibly provide this breakthrough. I understand more than you think I do.
I have just finished reading 'Gut and Psychology Syndrome' by Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride and I would urge you to read it too because it would really help you. You could also discuss it with GOSH. Do not be put off by the title or the fact that it talks a lot about Autism and learning difficulties - it contains important information about gastrointestinal function, and how to get (very poorly) children eating.
The medical profession receive very little training in nutrition but this doctor has a Postgraduate Degree in Human Nutrition and her research needs to reach a wider audience.
Please consider getting the book off Amazon.
Thanks
Margaret