“Eat you veggies”, is the phrase typically persisted by
parents to children at dinnertime. While, “Eat your chicken nuggets”, is a
statement that ceases to exist at the common American family’s dinner table.
Except in families with children with “food neophobia”, which literally means
fear of trying new foods. For Parents with a child obtaining this disorder,
finding nutrient-dense foods to compensate for their child’s restricting phobia
is a complete struggle.
According to the Graham’s, cooking meals at home for their
young daughter Erin is described as a “daily nightmare”. Erin is an extremely
picky eater with the food neophobia disorder, so trying unfamiliar foods for
her is like having to pull teeth. Mr. and Mrs. Graham struggle daily to satisfy
both Erin’s taste buds and nutritional requirements, which unfortunately
results in a failure most days.
Little Erin’s diet consists mainly of “waffles, pancakes,
some fruit, grilled cheese sandwiches -- with only American cheese, of course
-- chips, French fries, crackers and lots and lots of peanut butter, but only a
specific kind.” You can see how obtaining a balanced, nutrient-dense diet is
utterly impossible with Erin’s unique phobia.
Imagine having a child with such an extreme fear of trying
new foods that even bribing the child with a delicious desert wont make them
budge. Classic child- favorite foods including pizza, spaghetti, hot dogs, and
hamburgers make these select adolescents cringe at the thought of eating them.
Unaware people may jump to conclusions thinking that Erin’s
parents “give in” too easily, but Dr.’s have actually diagnosed her with food
neophobia. The Graham cope with their daughters disorder to the best of their
ability.
For instance a scenario at dinner included Erin’s father
performing a tactic that proposed a deal with her. He would give her a piece of
bread if she would eat half a cherry tomato in exchange.
"Erin, just do it and be done…after you can have a
piece of bread, okay?"
Her dad pleaded. Erin struggled to keep the bite-size tomato
down.
Erin Graham’s takes the meaning of “picky-eater” to whole
other level, which has her parents constantly intervening. All parents alike
the Graham family with a child obtaining a “different relationship with food”
has been required to adapt to their child’s food needs, which in turn can lead
to a permanent lifestyle change.
What might you suggest to these families throughout the
world to help manage their food-intolerant children mange a nutritious diet?
Are you a picky eater? If so what foods can you not bear eat?
