Picky Eater

We have an extremely picky eater on our hands! Our 10 month old has a few favorite solid foods, and will not deviate from those. When we try to give her anything even remotely healthy (particularly veggies), she throws it on the floor or spits it out. Is there any danger of her becoming malnourished? How do I make sure she’s getting all the nutrients she needs?

And what are those solid foods? Hopefully, they are not crackers, cereal or sweetened yogurt, but I bet they are. Even at a young age, babies can acclimate to sweetened and salted foods. Peas taste pretty dull next to a goldfish cracker. Get rid of all the snack, dry cereal and sweetened foods. You will need to salt or flavor vegetables or fruit to make them interesting enough. Cinnamon in applesauce, curry powder and salt in green beans , for example.

You may also want to speak to a nutritional professional about a zinc supplement to help your baby’s taste and smell acuity. A vitamin supplement may also be something to considered. Studies on picky eaters have found that picky eating can affect development, so I think you are correct to be concerned and should make a correction.

For parents ready to start solid foods, remember your infant cannot get stuck on unhealthy food if you do not offer any and there is no reason in the world to offer dry cereal or crackers to an infant. You have a completely captive audience in a 6- 12 month old. No reason to give them a snack cracker or dry cereal, period. Do so at your own peril. When my three children were babies I just ground up whatever fruit or vegetable I had on hand from the beginning. They had fruit and vegetables before they even got baby oatmeal. Consequently, there was no unhealthy food for them to be stuck on.

Do not be afraid to get professional help if you need it.

Kelly Dorfman is a health program planner and nutrionist who specializes in working with children. You can find out more about Kelly by visiting her website.