I struggle with balancing nutritional needs with children's eating preferences.
Wait . . .
as a parent
(period)
I struggle with these issues.
There is a certain child in my household
who once was very, very thin,
and we struggled to put weight on him for a long, long time.We supplemented meals with Pediasure.
We had his tonsils and adenoids evaluated.
We limited milk to avoid filling up on liquid instead of solid food . . .
(which was not the problem, by the way.)
Whole milk switched to 2%,
then only with meals,
then back to whole milk for the calories . . .
We even medicated him with Periactin,
an old antihistamine used to stimulate appetite,
which made him a very, very angry boy:
Unbearable behavioral side effects that even he noticed and asked why he was having.
No go.
You know what worked eventually?
Chicken nuggets, french fries, McDonald's cheeseburgers,
cheese quesadillas, lots of yogurt (thank God he loves Greek yogurt),
milkshakes (Pediasure, protein supplements, ice cream, whatever) . . .
Now, he is a picky eater.
He likes hot dogs and cheese chips.
He'll eat Subway, but prefers a good cheese pizza.
He loves pancakes and bacon, biscuits (no gravy, please), and waffles.
He's 8 years old now and finally 67 pounds.
He's in gymnastics and swims and loves to ride his bike.
He'll eat raw carrots and small portions of salad, if coated in ranch dressing,
but expect him to eat potatoes or green beans and he'll literally puke in his plate.
Compare him to his younger brother:
Also thin, but in a different way . . .
Under the ribs that one can count, there is a bit of a swollen belly.
He's much, much shorter than his older brother,
with little bitty feet,
and at 7 years old, he wears 5T clothing.
But I'm sure those things will change rapidly,
soon.
I have personally witnessed him having a square roll for a meal,
off set the following night by a plate of rice and beans
heaping so high that I would have difficulty eating it all . . .
but he did, of course,
in case the next dinner was bread again.
When we visit, he constantly asks for water in the bottle we bring,
something that isn't always available to him, otherwise.
What will he think when he is finally home,
able to push a button on the fridge and have cool water whenever he wants,
all the time.
We have snacks and meals and more snacks,
all day long.
Every
single
day.
How do I argue with one to eat,
while the other struggles not to hoard and over eat?
How do I discipline one for not even tasting food that he deems to be "yucky looking,"
when the other feels guilt for his friends left behind and the food they don't have?
Where is the balance?
I can read all about one,
and work with him to accept his blessings without guilt or fear of losing his new security . . .
but other than nagging and reminding him what his brother does not have,
instilling guilt in him, I'm not sure how to fix the oldest.
We are cooking more at home,
buying organic and trying tasty recipes;
always having fresh fruit and veggies present and available . . .
but the war rages on.
Tonight, we made cookies simultaneously with dinner.
They help me cook and love being in the kitchen participating,
but when the time comes to eat or miss out on dessert, the pressure is on.
G repeatedly told his sister about "barfing in the toilet" after eating potatoes,
etc., etc. with lots of embellishment.
I was effectively ignoring most of it while cleaning up the dishes,
until I heard the distinct sound of gagging and turned to see my little one's eyes full of tears,
mouth bulging and the look of fear all over her face.
I banished him to his room and announced his dinner done.
Sister spit out her potato on command and sobbed to catch her breath.
Unbelievable.
I tried to cool down, but lost it when I called him out and told him of the food insecure children in our own community, including a child I cared for today:
obviously malnourished and behind on his developmental milestones,
taken into state custody at the age of 3 young years.
A son, spoiled by his economic status,
comfortable in his environment and secure in his needs being met;
Unaware of the blessings we take for granted that make us a minority.
Another son, waiting with no idea of what lies ahead of him,
but secure that he will be loved and wanted and part of a family.
A mama, torn between two worlds,
aware of what others need and do not always have,
wanting to teach my children and show them what they have . . .
not wanting them to grow up too fast,
but also needing to make them aware.
