Message from Non-subscriber re: Unusual case

[Laura Larsson]

Well, I hope this message gets through.   I've never sent an Internet
message before.

One area to assess is the feeding relationship.   If  you can find a
dietitian in your area who is skilled in this area, I think that would be
helpful.   You could also call Ellyn Satter at 608 271-0173 to see if she
knows anyone in your area who has received training from her about
feeding relationships.   Ellyn has written two books about feeding
relationships, How To Get Your Kid to Eat but Not Too Much and Child of
Mine.   She also trains health professionals around the country to assess
and intervene about feeding relationships.

One of the concepts of this approach is that there is a division of
responsibility.   It is the parent's job to offer a variety of healthy foods in
a neutral fashion (no praise and no pressure or forcing to eat.   It is the
child's job to decide what to eat of the food offered  and how much, if
any, to eat.   If the child chooses not to eat, the parent simply offers food
again at the next meal or snack.

 If the child is coerced to eat a food, the parents ends up with a battle on
their hands, and they may get what they didn't want.   Interestingly
enough, kids who are praised for eating or trying a new food are less
likely to eat the new food later than are kids who were offered the food
in a neutral fashion.

Parents also need to offer structure for kids by only feeding them at meal
time and snack time.   Generally, this is accomplished by having 3 meals
a day and 2-4 snacks per day.   This is to keep kids from panhandling
and helps them to come to a meal or snack with a hungry appetite.
Satter reports that kids who can eat anytime during the day eat less than
kids who eat only at meal time and snack time.   Also, kids with a hungry
appetite are more likely to try new foods.

It helps if the parents eat with the children.   Their job is to keep meal time
a pleasant time and to model eating a variety of foods too.

I don't know if that is the case  here, but it is worth checking out.   If this
is an entrenched problem, the family may also benefit by mental health
counseling.   Sometimes a family battle around a child's eating can be a
way for parents to avoid an issue between the parents.

I hope this helps.

By the way, I'm a dietitian with the Oregon WIC program.    My phone
number is 503-732-4701.


Message from Charles Slaughter, forwarded by Laura Larsson


Laura
larsson at u.washington.edu
listowner: PHNUTR-L at u.washington.edu