Need help for my child to chew

[Raw Angel Mom]

My daughter is three now and she still refuse to try food to chew. She eats only smoothies. They are rich of nutriment and she is perfectly healthy, but i wish she would start eating food i eat. In summer 2007, she ate by accident a very spicy salad with avocado that i made for me and my husband. I think she has fears about our food since then and think it will hurt her. She won't eat fruits etc.. only if they are in her smoothie

Any ideas on how to help her to overcome that fear to eat different food and to chew?? She doesn't talk yet but she understand.

[spicyfull]

I have a Friend who went through the same thing but he had allergies and anything he got down that did not effect him, she was grateful. Has she been around other Children eating?

[rawstrength]

Have your child watch you when you are making the smoothie. Cut a piece of a fruit that you are adding to the smoothie off, and leave it to the side. Add the rest of the same piece of fruit to the smoothie. Serve the cut piece of fruit with the rest of the smoothie, with no obligations that she eat it, and she just might try it.

Here's another suggestion; add some cut up chunks of soft fruit such as banana to her smoothie for her to chew. Gradually reduce the ratio of smoothie to fruit chunks until she is eating solids.

I'm a little concerned that she is three and doesn't talk yet. Have you looked into possible causes for this? She could have developmental delays due to a nutritional deficiency. Or there could be something structurally wrong with her mouth/jaw that makes it painful to talk and chew. Of course, Albert Einstein didn't speak until he was six and every child is so different.

Best of luck to you. I really admire parents who take care to give the most nutritious and healthy food to their children.

[Raw Angel Mom]

She has been around other children eating but not as much. She will feed us but she is scare to try food that isn't what she used to eat.

I still nurse her (just pump my milk). In her smoothies she has hemp seeds (omega 3, 6 and 9), sunflower sprout sometime, pea shut at time, e3live at time, kale at time, strawberry, banana. I am going to try to add coconut milk and meat in them. In term of nutrition, with my milk, i know she is more then ok but i would love to find a way to take chance and try normal food that require chewing.

As for development, she is fine, she says words and repeat with us, and i heard many stories that children won't start talking until 5 years old. We got her check and she is ok. Also she is learning two languages which could cause a delay. I have been told by doctor who don't know about the raw food that whatever i am doing with her to continue for she is full of vitality and developing very well. She seems to be taller then children at her age.

I think she has fear. I read that a child could have a physical memory until they are five. She got really burn with that food last year and i suspect this is that.

How do you help your children to overcome their fear? Psychillogue told that this is important to help them to face their fear at a young age for they can carry this later on in different form. She used to be afraid with close, but now i simply wash all the new close first, i think she was having allergic reaction with the product they use to fabricate close. Now this problem is solved, i just need to help her with the chewing. Any idea?

[RioRaw]

Phytomama recently posted that she has given her daughter a small cooler with various snacks inside which she can get into at anytime. I have heard other parents also use this technique but with a drawer in the refrigerator. Maybe cut up some snacks and place them in the drawer in your fridge. You could even place a label on the drawer with her name and let her know that she can come and get something from the drawer at anytime. Maybe she would be more likely to try eating something if she has ownership over the choices and knows that it is her choice to get the food. Just a thought.

Great job with the smoothies and nursing! Keep us posted.

[shashibala]

Could you keep some of the fruits in her smoothie a little chunky? Like a few soft bits of banana. Then she will need to chew just a little to swallow them.
Then maybe move to a thicker smoothie that you can give her with a spoon. It will look the same, but will move her toward non liquid food. Using a straw to drink, if she can manage it ,will help strengthen her muscles in her mouth. If you have had her checked by a doctor and a feeding specialist or an occupational therapist and you are sure her language is fine, then perhaps it will just take some time.
I wish you the best.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Great ideas! Thank you

I will wait for her to recuperate from her cold and will give another go. I love the idea with her own personal food. The only reason that i have old on with nursing is because of her not wanted to eat solid food,i just wanted to make sure she gets all the nutriments she needs. I tried orange juice for her, she didn't like the experience at all, but she is sick so this isn't the greatest time for her to try something new. I read that if you keep giving sample, they will eventually develop a taste for it, so i am crossing my finger. I think once she is done with this flu, i will slice some fruit an pour her smoothie on top and cross my finger. I will also try to figure out some food for her to pick and to chew.

[livin]

She has been around other children eating but not as much. She will feed us but she is scare to try food that isn't what she used to eat.

Perhaps you can arrange a weekly "play date" or "mother's day out" which would allow your daughter to spend time regularly with children during meal or snack times. There may be day care centers or pre-schools that allow her to spend a half day per week. Give her a smoothie before she goes and one to take with her, along with containers/bags of cut fruit (same as in her smoothies). Maybe she will choose to eat as she continues to observe & interact with her peers.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Thank you Livin, love this idea

((((Hugs))))

[MiahTay]

Possibly try freezing her "normal" smoothie into a freezer pop? Then the taste would be what she is used to and it will melt if she sucks on it or she can chew on it a little? Just a thought.

Blessings,
Heather

[Raw Angel Mom]

Oh mye Heather, i wouldn't have thought of this. Great ideal also.

She is now over her cold and will put this plan to guide her to chew. I read that when they don't chew, their tongue don't get exercise which make it more difficult to talk. So the sooner the better.

Wishe me luck!