Diet | ADHD Information

Both of my sons were picky eaters, but my son with developmental issues was a million times pickier, with a very limited diet.  I was told that it was due to sensory processing difficulties. 

One was that I was able to get protein into my son was by letting him make patterns on his plate.  I put a piece of food that he liked, followed by a piece of the non-preferred food (ie meat), followed by a piece of highly desired food (ie candy).  It worked as a way of tolerating new foods. 

I also noticed that after I put my children on a GFCF diet, both of them tolerated a greater variety of fresh and healthy foods.  GFCF is not a practical starting point, though. 

 

Are all ADHD children so picky with their eating habits?  Matt only eats certain foods and WILL not try anything new.  He eats usually only one of three cereals (Cheerios, Kix, Shredded Wheat).  Will only eat pbj sandwich for lunch......no lunch meat/tuna/ etc.  And eats a very limited dinner ....spaghetti w/out sauce,chicken nuggets,pizza, your typical kids stuff.  He won't eat chicken breast that I make or homemade spaghetti sauce.   He also only eats a few fruits and only carrots for veggies. 

I do believe that diet plays a part in his ADHD and would like to improve that. 

I'm trying so hard to change Matt's diet for the better but how do I go about doing this?  Has anyone else encountered this battle?  For his own good, I'd like him to eat more protein and other nutritious foods and feel guilty that his diet is not more nutritionally sound. 

Thanks,

Andrea

HI,

My DS eats everything.  But, I understand that those with sensory issues (Sensory Processing Disorder) do have issues with food.  DS is on the opposite side of the spectrum - stimulis seeking.  He sees an OT who works on sensory stuff.

_______

Sandy

 

The DS in my family is definitely a picky eater. NO sauces or gravies, no visible spices (not even something that looks like pepper), PLAIN foods only. He says it's because he, "Has a young mouth." The OT at his school said it is a sensory processing difference, but that hasn't been officially diagnosed. Constant meal time battles can be very exhausting. I've resorted to compromising. For example, he "buys" TV and video game time by finishing a few bites of the nutritious stuff. I know it's a bribe, but you can only get so many nutrients out of a vitamin pill. Also, I compromise on quality, in order to get the protein (like corn dogs, or fast food burgers). Remember, peanut butter is an excellent source of protein. I, myself, ate PB&J for lunch at school every day for years! The alternative ADHD sites say go heavy on the fruits and vegetables...it might not be exactly what they're thinking, but Mandarin oranges and apple sauce go over well with my DS. Bacon is another favorite, but it has to be low salt and not too thick, or he won't eat it. If you try and make sure your grain products are whole-grains, they can't really eat too much of them, especially if your DS is similar to mine. Then, the battle is just getting him to eat at all! Toast with a little cinnamon-sugar usually passes muster. I stay away from the junk food, but I don't worry so much about fats, like butter. He burns up every ounce of cell food that enters his body . If these sorts of things don't go over well, let me know, and I'll try to think of some other things that are passable in DS's mind, and I think fill some of the niches missing from his preferred diet.

Hi Andrea,

Was wondering if you started the meds this weekend, and if so, how is that going? I know, with Kendal, we saw a huge difference the first day. As for the diet, I can sure relate to that! His total menu consists of Carnation instant breakfast with whole milk, lunch is peanut butter which he used to have on bread but now will only eat on Saltines, a few chips and Trix yogurt, dinner is cheeseburger, grilled cheese, or pizza....period! Not a fruit, not a vegetable. We've tried everything to coax or to hide things like shredded carrots in his burger, fruit in a shake...he freaks. He cannot sit at the table with us because he says he smells our food. I know it's a sensory issue, and I am not stressing out over it. There's too many other things to worry about! He takes a vitamin every day, and he's healthy. I'm hoping one day he will start trying new things!

Here is an article from the University of Michigan  Health System

( at:  http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_gainwght_pep.htm)

 

Little things you can do…like adding some powdered milk to the milk added to the morning’s breakfast cereal will add extra carbos and protein (1/3 cup instant milk has, in addition to vitamins, 12g carbohydrates and 8g protein).  If not already, use whole grain spaghetti instead of the standard pastas (blend in slowly so no one notices!!).   Homemade pizza is a great way to personalize toppings and might entice your son to experiment a little....especially if each person gets to make their own pizza and then gets to taste anothers once they're out of the oven.

 

My nephew, now 33 years old, happy, healthy and successful, existed on the following growing up until he left home for college….. PB&J sandwiches, buttered spaghetti, French fries, and a few other limited foods.  So, contrary to what our mothers believed, such diets don’t necessarily spell doom and gloom!

 

Helping Your Child Gain Weight What should I do if my child is not gaining weight?

If your child seems to be gaining weight too slowly, you should take your child to your healthcare provider for a check-up. There are many reasons why your child may be underweight:

not eating enough food a health problem that may cause your child to gain weight slowly or not at all stress too much exercise lack of interest in eating due to anxiety, depression, a food allergy that causes an upset stomach, or an eating disorder a sudden growth spurt.

Your provider can help you figure out why your child is having trouble gaining weight.

When children are underweight, they may need to temporarily take in more fats and calories than normally recommended in a healthy diet. Your provider can also advise you about the right amount and type of physical activity for your child.

How can I add calories to my child's diet?

If your provider has recommended a high-calorie diet, here are some ways to add extra calories.

For Babies

You can add calories to formula or breast milk. Ask your provider for instructions on how to make a high-calorie milk that is safe for your baby.

See Making High-Calorie Formula or Breast Milk

For Children

For children old enough to eat solid foods try some of the following:

Add powders such as Carnation Instant Breakfast to milk to increase the calorie content. Cow's milk can be given to a child after age 1. Add cheese, meats, or sour cream to eggs. Add peanut butter to starchy foods and vegetables. Peanuts themselves, however, are a choking hazard and should be avoided until 4 years of age. Mix cheese, avocados, ground beef, or sour cream to refried beans and eat it with chips, crackers, or tortillas. Make a tuna sandwich with mayonnaise. Add avocado slices to sandwiches, salads, or chips. Serve pasta with meat, meatballs, or cream sauces. Add cheese or butter to vegetables. Squash, for example, can be prepared with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Feed your child more potatoes. French fries, tater tots, mashed potatoes with butter and sour cream will provide many calories. Make bread or biscuits with butter, honey, cheese, or cream cheese. Serve dessert. Many desserts have lots of calories. Ice cream with all the fixings is a great way to end a meal. Or give your child an ice cream milkshake. Shakes can be made with yogurt and fruit for additional nutrition and calories.
 John D40188.8351041667

My daughter was just diagnosed more inattentive and very mild. She is not currently medicated. She is a picky eater for sure.

She is loving steak at the moment, with steak sauce. When she finds something she loves, she has to eat everyday until she is sick of it.

And there is never anything for her to eat in the house according to her, even after the 0 grocery shop.

There are times she has even done the shop with me and there is still nothing to eat.