The Fussy Foodie

You’ve done everything right. Exclusively breastfed your child until they are ready for college. Fed them fresh, organic seasonal vegetables, never once buying the easy store bought prepared food that boasted being organic. Disappointed grandparents with your homebaked hockey pucks or those sugar, gluten and dairy free cupcakes you served at your little one’s first birthday. You’ve made everything yourself. Let your baby make a mess at meal times to encourage eating on their own and asserting their independence. And then it happens. Your adventurous foodie suddenly refuses to eat all their healthy favorites. And, nothing healthy seems to please them. That precious tiny hand pushes the food away as if to say “No.” Ever been there?

Well, if you haven’t yet…you’re lucky. Or, that first refusal might just be around the corner. Like most phases in your child’s life this one too shall pass. What matters here are the choices you make and how you react in the moment. This phase is temporary, but how you respond can have lifelong effects on your child’s diet, eating habits, and tastes. Signs of refusal from our children and our anxieties about our children not eating enough can lead to reaching for bread, processed sugary foods, and a life without those precious greens.

To help you through this period, WeeMunch has come up with a range of questions and ideas to consider before radically altering your child’s diet.

• Is your child teething? That’s often a difficult one to know for sure and can often become an excuse for everything, but is also a valid explanation for fussiness. There are times when their sore mouth may show in a loss of appetite or a desire for liquids over solids. This usually doesn’t last more than a day or two.
• Are you serving the same meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Or the same foods regularly? There does come a point when our children notice. And, what seems like a disinterest in broccoli is really an interest in more variety!
• Phases: There are many of these in your child’s life. When it comes to foods there are many colours under the rainbow. Picasso went through a blue period, then a rose period. Children sometimes want orange, or green, or red only. Don’t fret. Perhaps this is their way of telling you what their body needs. Just try to keep offering a variety.
• Give up control. Some parents are really afraid of a mess. And, sadly the best way to encourage healthy eating is to allow our children to play and experiment with their food. This isn’t always comfortable for us, and we may worry about “teaching” our children bad manners. But my son has proven time and again that his food refusal is often his way of asserting his independence about wanting to lead the eating process. This doesn’t mean letting them play with food that they are clearly finished eating—that’s different. It’s about striking a balance and teaching respect for food.
• We don’t encourage “hiding” or “disguising” the veggies, so to speak, at WeeMunch. But the first years are foundational for brain, bone and immune system development. We also don’t encourage the use of supplements…but there are some good whole food supplements that can enhance your little one’s diet during prolonged periods of fussiness. Read More
• Never give up. Find healthy alternatives. Don’t make a fuss. If they’re not interested…let it go. Don’t get into preparing a new meal…that will go on forever and encourage fussiness in the long run. They’ll eat a bigger dinner or snack later.

Believe it or not, we don’t have all of the answers. So we’ve interviewed some of our favorite foodie mothers for their stories about working through the fussy phase. Send us your stories. We would love to hear from you.

Leslie Sarracino & Heather Jacobs, Owners / Founders of Graze Organic

Not serving your child new and different foods can lead to food fussiness. Don’t give them just chicken fingers and cheese quesadillas. Lead by example. They’ll eat what you’re eating. You don’t have to wait until they’re older to offer them a variety of foods and tastes. Start right away—when they begin eating solids.

We always include the kids in the preparation and cooking of something new and exotic. They can help with cutting, measuring, even setting the table.

We also have a small vegetable garden and we try to plant something new (not the usual tomatoes & cucumbers). Throw in some kale, beets, etc. If they grow it, they will try it. We promise!

Barbara Schellenberg, Owner of Ethical Kitchen and Controversial Kitchen and Vancouver Chapter Leader of the Weston A. Price Organization

Being fussy is probably something that is going to come and go throughout development. When I set out to feed my daughter, Tessa, I imagined that she would eat what I gave her and that would be that… not quite so, I have discovered that she carries with her a temper, a will and this astonishing inner wisdom and all these things influence how, when and what she is going to eat.

In many cases I do believe fussiness starts with the parent… many parents I notice make decisions on what their child ‘won’t eat’ based on a one time rejection of a certain food. People forget that it takes continued exposure to develop tastes for things that are new to us. In many cases I see children being given convenience food where choices were made by the parents based on whether the particular food is going to make a mess, be sticky, etc. not based on how nourishing it is.

That aside, I notice that the inner healer in my child, or probably in any child, when observed, speaks loud and clear about what is going on inside. I have noticed that when Tessa is teething, she nurses more, she refuses rich foods and sticks exclusively to daikon radishes, celery, light colored fruit and frozen grapes. All very cooling foods for her feverish state.

There are days when she is looking very chubby and obviously in a growing spurt because she is sleeping much more than usual and eating only the richest, fattiest foods she can get her hands on; fatty lamb, butter by the finger-full, cheeses, and always some kombucha or water kefir to balance herself.

Seeing as though she is growing up in a restaurant and is around food all day every day, and with a staff that love her so much, it’s inevitable that she is getting her hands on sweet treats probably more than is optimal. I noticed that sometimes the fussiness is really a true fussiness, not a state of her body wanting to heal itself. There are times now when it is clear that she is rejecting her meal because she would prefer a fresh baked cookie or a morsel of chocolate.

I have to use my own wisdom in acknowledging when she is acting from her inner healer and when she is being truly fussy. Most of the time, however, I find she is happy with a staple of broth, which she has never rejected though at times prefers cold over warm broth; and the freedom to pick and choose what she needs in her state.

I have faith on days when she is excessively fussy that she will eventually get hungry. I don’t follow her around the kitchen with a spoonful of soup and I don’t try and strap her into a highchair until she is finished with her meal. If she won’t eat, I know that she will be hungry later and that eventually she will eat.

First Foods: A Holistic Guide

When to introduce foods to your baby

There is no clear-cut guideline for knowing what and when to first feed your child. There are always exceptions to every rule and everyone has somewhat different needs so our first recommendation is, instead of reading every bit of advice you can get your hands on, remember to use your heart and your intuition to decide what is best suited for your child. Sometimes the most effective way to parent is being the observer, rather than the teacher.

Having said that, we've put together some simplified guidelines (as we all need to start somewhere) comprised of various resources as well as some personal experience.



First Foods: Some Guidelines

•There is no rush to introduce solid foods, breast milk is the best food for babies. If you are not breastfeeding there are healthy alternatives, as most formulas are inadequate for proper digestion and can be highly allergenic. That said, if you choose to go the formula route there are organic formulas on the market, which can be a viable alternative to non-organic infant formula. Also, look for infant formulas without syrups, such as corn syrup.

•When milk is introduced, organic + raw goat or cow milk is best (if available, ask us how), or organic + non-homogenized as a second choice (Avalon Dairy in Vancouver, BC, now has this available). Goat's Pride in BC also makes an excellent certified organic, whole goat milk that is pasturized at a lower temperature than larger dairies. Goat's Pride believes that the lower temperative kills the bad bacteria, while preserving the healthy bacteria/digestive enzymes found in goat's milk.

Probiotics and Essential Fatty Acids may need to be added if using any pasteurized milk as a primary food source. Health Canada does not support the sale of raw milk or introducing whole goat or cow milk to children that are less than one year old. They suggest introducing only a small amount of whole milk, 3 or 4 ounces, at 9 months.

•In the beginning, introduce a variety of foods, one at a time. When introducing allergenic foods such as egg yolks, yogurt, fish, wait 3-4 days before introducing next new food to note any potential reactions. Remember that you know your baby best. That said, we don't find it necessary to wait 3 to 4 days when introducing zucchini, for instance, though nitrate veggies such as carrots, beets, would be worth the wait.

•Avoid solids until 5-6 months, start with homemade pear and/or apple sauce, or perhaps mashed avocado, but not processed rice cereal.

•Avoid jarred baby foods, homemade is easy and healthier.

•No honey, strawberries, egg whites, grains or other potential allergens until 12 months.

•If any immediate family has specific food allergies, avoid those foods until after 2 years.

•If baby has had colic, eczema or other digestive issues consider delaying solids until at least 9 months. If this is not for you, an alternative is to avoid introducing allergenic foods to your baby and to focus instead on introducing simple, fresh, single foods that are easily digested until 9 months.

•No pasteurized milk, nuts or nut butters until 18-24mos

•If baby rejects a food, try again in a few days or weeks, their tastes and needs change faster than you'd think.

•Cook with virgin coconut oil or organic butter or ghee (devoid of milk solids and best for med-high heat), or cold-pressed olive or vegetable oil (these are recommended for low to medium heat only.



5-9 months

(Avoid carrots, spinach, beets, turnips or collards until after 9 months, they are too rich in nitrates for baby)

•Organic bananas
•Organic, free-range egg yolks
•Stewed Fruit (apple, pear, prunes)
•Cooked and pureed veggies (limit orange veggies)
•Pureed Soups (using an organic bone stock base is a great way to deeply nourish and strengthen their immune systems)
•Avocados
•Coconut and hemp oils and butters, olive oil
•Simple garden herbs and spices (thyme, parsley, fennel, dill seeds, basil are ok but not necessary as their taste buds are very heightened and will notice more flavour in food than we will. Simple ingredients are perfectly adequate.

9-12 months

•Organic, non-homogenised, full fat yogurt (cow or goat but goat is more likely to be tolerated)
•Organic Butter (the yellower the better!)
•Organic or free-range non-medicated poultry and red meat
•zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, kale, tomatoes, spinach, beets, turnips, carrots, collard greens
•Blueberries, papaya, mango, peaches, nectarines
•Beans

12+ months

•Oats, wheat, spelt, kamut, rice and other wholegrains
•Spinach, strawberries
•Whole organic or free-range, non-medicated eggs
•Cheese (raw is best, try goat first)
•Raw (unprocessed) honey, melons, corn, oranges
+Nuts, Seeds such as almonds, pecans, cashews and pumpkin seeds (raw and pre-soaked only)

24+ months

*Potential allergenic foods that run in the family
*sugar or other 'foods to avoid', on special occasions only (over restricting can lead to food bingeing and addictive tendencies later in life)

In summary, choose an Organic, Whole Food, Seasonal Diet including…
•Seasonal fruits, vegetables
•Homemade soups, stews
•Whole grains
•Beans/legumes, nuts/seeds *be sure to buy all raw and pre-soak before eating
•Fish oil, butter, avocado, unrefined, cold-pressed vegetable oils in moderation
•Organic or free-range, non-medicated meats and eggs

Foods to AVOID:

•Corn syrup, sugar in just about any form (except the few truly un-refined ones)
*Fruit juices (ALL, except fresh- pressed)
•Anything hydrogenated modified (partially or otherwise), fried foods.
•Processed grains, white flour, included puffed, flaked, or other shaped grains/cereals.
•Dairy products, most soy products (unless sprouted or fermented and only in moderation)
•Artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colours
•Reduced fat foods
*Refined/iodized salt (choose unrefined salt only, after at least 12 months.)

What about supplements?

We do not believe that breastfed babies need Vitamin D supplements or iron-fortified foods as long as the nursing mother has a healthy, iron rich diet and the baby is exposed to at least 5 minutes of sun per day. After 10 months add flaxseed oil (1 tsp per day) or cod liver oil (1/4 tsp per day). After 12 months you may want to add beneficial bacteria to your child’s diet.

Last, but certainly not least, it's helpful to know that a baby's digestive system is far less mature than ours so even though they may be ready to begin some solid foods, such as certain simple fruits and veggies they may still be a long way off from being ready for grains or meat (which employ a more sophisticated and longer digestive process.

A baby’s system is designed for maximum absorption of breast milk. From the mouth to the colon, their system is designed to digest and absorb the nutrients found in breast milk alone. They do not produce sufficient enzymes to digest a wide variety of foods and their stomachs produce minimum amounts of gastric acid to ensure the survival of the live immune cells and beneficial bacteria found in breast milk. Another vital consideration is that their small intestines are relatively permeable and absorb foods with much less discretion than that of an adult.

This enhanced absorption can and will allow undigested proteins from food to pass into the bloodstream and this is where allergies can be triggered. When an undigested protein enters the bloodstream the body recognizes the substance as a foreign invader (or antigen) and produces an immune response to fight it. This immune response is what we know as an allergic response. The allergy can be permanent or the baby may outgrow it at a later date. Either way it is a stress that you and your baby would probably rather avoid.

Common signs of food allergies:

Respiratory Passages:
Runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, stuffy nose, watery eyes, bronchitis, recurring ear infections, persistent cough, congestion, rattling chest

Skin:
Red sand paper like facial rash, hives, swelling in hands and feet, dry, scaly, itchy skin (mostly on face), dark circles under eyes, puffy eyelids, lip swelling, tongue soreness and cracks.

Intestines:
Mucousy diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gassiness, excessive spitting up, vomiting, intestinal bleeding, poor weight gain, burn like rash around anus, abdominal discomfort.

Specific to Infants:

•Redness around mouth usually within 1-2 hours or around the anus within 12-24 hours,
•Abdominal bloating, gas and distension
•Constipation, diarrheaa or foul odour to stools
•Vomiting or frequent spitting-up
•Nasal and/or chest congestion and runny nose, chronic middle ear infections, asthma
•Red, chapped eczema-like skin on face, groin, bottom or anywhere on the body.
•Colic, fussiness, difficult sleeping
•Failure to thrive, loss of appetite
*Allergic symptoms can occur within minutes or within days after the food is ingested.