Time Limit on Extreme Picky Eating? Does It Ever Go Away?

[Hisgirl]

Yesterday, we had a family dinner for Mother's day.

I have a niece (does anybody else misspell niece EVERY SINGLE TIME? )

When she was a toddler, she was a picky eater to the extreme. I think there were 5 foods she would eat and nothing else.

It continued into her school years, then her teen years....and now, she is 19 and nothing has changed.

We had a huge spread for lunch with many summer foods to choose from and she had 5 pieces of plain pasta, no topping, no sauce, no cheese. Just 5 noodles.

For thanksgiving, she will eat a roll. At restaurants, she will ask for a dish of plain pasta...nothing else.

Has anyone experienced extreme picky eating to this degree and does it ever pass? How does an extreme picky eater go on to have children and feed them healthy foods?

I'm just curious what others have seen with this.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I think a lot of young kids grow out of the picky stage, but at 19, she's probably not growing out of it. At that age there has to be a desire on her end to try new foods....which she probably will never have if it wasn't impressed upon her growing up.

 

[Meriweather]

My daughter is a very picky eater.....still at 35.
Sometimes, it just doesn't go away

 

[mom2rtk]

More than likely when she gets out on her own she'll start eating at places she likes and making things she likes. It will be less noticeable because she won't be trying to eat what the adults around her are serving.

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. Let her doctor determine if it's a problem.

 

[amberpi]

Ah, I'm very new to this parenting game, and my husband and I are terrible tyrants, but we just don't give his small children those kind of choices. Yes, we'll have mac and cheese along with whatever else we're having, but if we're having scallops for dinner, so are the children. At 19 I know it's far too late to enforce such a policy, but seriously, what is this young lady going to do at cocktail parties, while dating, or if she had to entertain clients?

 

[Christine]

I always think that when I see picky eating to THAT extreme, it's more than just a willful need to eat junk food. I kind of give the eye roll over those picky eaters who will only eat chicken strips, mac and cheese, pizza, and/or hot dogs (along with chips, cookies, and candy). I think we all know what that is about.

But when I hear about extremes such as the OP has posted, I think it's more than that. People are either having texture issues/problems or they don't taste things in the way that most people taste something. It certainly cannot be pleasant and your niece's extreme limitations aren't to foods that satisfy the fat/salt/sugar propensity we have.

 

[Hisgirl]

Yes, I wondered that too. She has a serious boyfriend and I noticed him encouraging her to eat but she wouldn't. I hope it doesn't affect her health. I really thought she would grow out of it by now.

It's funny how kids eat nowadays. I think back to my parents who grew up in the depression and you ate what was in front of you and were happy to have it. I have two friends who have picky eating husbands, nothing can touch other food, nothing can have multiple ingredients etc. They can't go out to eat or go to friends's houses for dinner. I'm so happy my own husband is happy to eat, or try to eat anything placed before him. But, he grew up very very poor and was grateful for anything they could hunt and eat that day.

 

[kimblebee]

I’m a picky eater and I’m 42 so no, it probably won’t go away.

I will say, though, that my pickiness is due to taste and texture issues. I’m also not picky to the point I only eat five foods, but I definitely won’t try certain foods.

 

[amberpi]

But when I hear about extremes such as the OP has posted, I think it's more than that. People are either having texture issues/problems or they don't taste things in the way that most people taste something.

That's a good point that I hadn't considered.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I’m a picky eater and I’m 42 so no, it probably won’t go away.

I will say, though, that my pickiness is due to taste and texture issues. I’m also not picky to the point I only eat five foods, but I definitely won’t try certain foods.

Ditto although mine is more of a texture issue. When I was a kid it was pretty bad but I eat much more now and I am better about trying certain new foods.

 

[Hisgirl]

I’m a picky eater and I’m 42 so no, it probably won’t go away.

I will say, though, that my pickiness is due to taste and texture issues. I’m also not picky to the point I only eat five foods, but I definitely won’t try certain foods.

Kimblebee, do you mind me asking about this? I think she feels the same way. I asked if she had ever tasted guacamole and she made a horrified face. I asked if it was due to the texture and she said yes. She wouldn't even consider trying it.

I know she will eating pizza, spaghetti, fried chicken leg, plain pasta and I think strawberries. Regarding what you said, have you ever wondered about the texture? I know you don't 'like' a particular texture, but have you ever wondered what about it causes you to react. Do you think it goes back to a childhood time? I'm very curious about how things get started.

 

[Minniemouse07]

You would definitely classify my 12yo son as "picky" but his pickiness is due to sensory issues combined w/ a reluctance to try anything new...both of which stem from him being on the autistic spectrum.

I grew up in a house where you ate everything mom put on your plate. It usually didn't bother me much since I eat most things, but I remember my sister sitting at the table for hours trying to eat her detested peas. I swore when I had kids, I would never put them through that and I'm glad since we didn't know about my son being on the spectrum until he was 6yo. Trying foods is always encouraged, but never forced...and I'm good w/ that.

 

[msjprincess]

Some kids outgrow it some don't. Some kids are picky no matter what you try. I have 3 kids all raised the same way. My youngest was the pickiest when she was younger. I was pretty smug until she was born.

 

[amberpi]

I’m a picky eater and I’m 42 so no, it probably won’t go away.

I will say, though, that my pickiness is due to taste and texture issues. I’m also not picky to the point I only eat five foods, but I definitely won’t try certain foods.

This is not snarky at all, I'm legitimately curious...how do you know the texture if you haven't tried a particular food? Or is it more that you know you don't enjoy the texture of ground beef for instance, and then assume you won't like the texture of a sausage patty, which would make sense. I mean, we all have things we don't care for, but I'm on the opposite end of the picky spectrum; if it's weird or I've never had a food item, I want to try it for sure!

 

[fab1976]

For my picky eaters it’s a lot of anxiety over trying something new. For my 5 yr old, if she has never tried it or seen it before she just won’t. For the 10 yr old it’s much more obvious it’s an anxiety thing and is coming out more in other aspects of life too. And both of them would rather be hungry than eat what’s in front of them. I have hoped it will improve later in life but it is very frustrating and hard to deal with right now.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

Meh, some kids outgrow it, some don't. My oldest son has a friend who is extremely picky - he just absolutely hates food and eating in general. Nothing is ever going to change him. If he adds a new food to the 3 or 4 things he will eat then he drops one of the others. Ie when he started eating cheese pizza he refused to eat chicken nuggets any more. My son is pretty picky too, but he likes to eat and is willing to at least taste new things as he gets older (they are 15 now).

A former boss told me once that there are 2 types of eaters - those who live to eat and those who eat to live. I think many of the super picky eaters are in the second category - they eat because they have to, not because they enjoy it.

 

[Hikergirl]

I was very picky as a child but definitely out grew it. I grew up in a house where you ate was was served and was punished if you did not.
Not really the way to get a picky eater to not be picky. I grew up healthy and am no longer picky (I would say that even at 19 I still was), so you just never know.
My one ds was very picky too but at 17 he has out grown it.
It was never due to lack of exposure or encouragement to try new things, it was just how he was. I never punished, if he didn't want to eat that was fine, if he wanted to fix something else that was fine too.
My other 2 kids never had any picky issues.

 

[Seahorse17]

I am 74 years old. I have never eaten a salad. Only veg is corn. Never tasted pizza or Italian food. No Mexican. Only eat a few American foods. Have never tasted coffee.only potato is FF.

 

[Hisgirl]

I am 74 years old. I have never eaten a salad. Only veg is corn. Never tasted pizza or Italian food. No Mexican. Only eat a few American foods. Have never tasted coffee.only potato is FF.

Oh how interesting!!

I get the salad...so many odd combined textures. But pizza! Even bad pizza is good pizza, LOL! I have always wondered when I hear of someone such as yourself who has not eaten pizza, or bacon or chocolate or another commonly loved food, what if you tasted it and nearly died from the wonder and awe of it all, LOL! Was it the texture? Had you ever considered a chew and spit try? Fascinating!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Has anyone experienced extreme picky eating to this degree and does it ever pass?

Not quite to that degree, but I did once attend a wedding where the groom had a grilled cheese sandwich while everyone else was having a fancy dinner! I think whether it passes depends a lot on the reasons. A child with texture issues may be able to make progress, but only so far. A kid who just has bad habits will most likely run into situations that expand his or her tastes. And I definitely think there is a balancing act between encouraging a wide range of foods and making eating an emotional battle.

I remember hating anything with fat when I was little, but mostly outgrew that in time. (I still don't like really "marbled" meat, but I like creamy sauces now.)

I remember my niece having a "white phase" for a while - rice, mac 'n cheese, etc. She eventually outgrew that extreme, but she's still not an especially adventurous eater as an adult.

My DS was also quite picky when he was little (nothing touching, nothing mixed together, etc.) and now tries things easily. He definitely still has some things he hates, but he can always find something he likes now. The key for him was trying new things in low-pressure situations (like when we were out to eat) and having friends who were even more picky. - He saw how much it limited them and vowed to expand his own menu.