Textbook Problem

A Picky Eater

Nutrition assessment sources are the parent interview and physician records for Greg. Greg does not yet have a nutrition or medical diagnosis.

Greg is a well-groomed boy almost 3 years old. He has been growing as expected, but he does not talk. He can walk and move about well, but he prefers to play alone. Favorite foods are juices in his sippy cup, which he likes to carry around; macaroni and cheese; white bread without crusts; mashed potatoes; Honeycomb cereal; and crackers. Greg cries and throws food that he does not like, such as hamburgers, fruits, most vegetables, and any food combinations. He will periodically eat cheese pizza, scrambled eggs, and applesauce.

His mother tries talking to the pediatrician about his picky appetite, but the pediatrician reassures her that Greg will eat when he is hungry and she should not worry. Greg’s mother is frustrated that he is so difficult to take out to eat because of the tantrums he throws in restaurants and friends’ homes. He sometimes eats a large portion of a food he likes. Most of the time, he is satisfied just drinking juices all day from his sippy cup, and he is rarely interested in eating when others eat. He is able to eat with a spoon, but he does not like to touch foods with his hands. Greg has been referred for speech therapy, but his therapy does not address his eating. His medical history shows that he was born full-term and has had three ear infections but no major illnesses.

Nutrition assessment shows that Greg is consuming adequate energy at 1350 calories/day, or 85 cal/kg. His diet is excessive in vitamin C and B vitamins, with adequate protein at the RDA for his age. His sources of protein are mainly his starchy foods of bread, crackers, and dry cereal.

Questions

What are the signs that Greg’s feeding problem may be related to his speech?

Summary Introduction

To determine: The signs that Person G’s feeding problem is connected to his speech.

Introduction: A child refuses food often or eat the same food over and over is referred to as picky eater. Picky eating mostly peaks in the toddler and preschool years.

Explanation of Solution

Person G is aged 3 years and is a well groomed boy and does not have a medical or nutritional diagnosis yet. Person G walks and moves well but he prefers to play alone. The favorite food of Person G includes macaroni, cheese, and white bread without crusts, mashed potatoes, honeycomb cereals, and crackers. Person G throws foods like hamburgers, fruits, most vegetables, any food combinations that he does not like.

Person G’s mother took him to a pediatrician due to his picky appetite and the doctor told there is nothing to worry. His mother is very much frustrated due to his eating habits and feels difficult to take him out. Person G is not much interested to eat food when others eat and he is satisfied in drinking juices. Person G has been referred for a speech therapy and his medical history shows that he has three ear infections and there is no other major illness.

Person G’s nutrition assessment shows that he is taking around 1350 calories/day (85cal/kg) and his diet includes excessive amount of vitamin C and B vitamins with adequate protein.

The signs that Person G’s feeding problem is related to his speech are as follows:

• Person G only prefers to consume easily digestible and soft textured foods like macaroni, cheese, and crackers. These types of soft texture and mild taste are relative more toward a child closer to one year of age, whereas Person G is almost three.
• The foods that Person G dislikes need higher feeding skills.