Many children are picky eaters. It’s a childhood behavior that tends to stick around for years, especially if it’s not addressed before a child turns two or three years old.
Everything from family genetics to personality can play a role in the development of this conduct, with children who have trouble regulating their emotions being more likely to experience aversions to food.
If your child has one or two foods that they refuse to eat, that will typically not warrant concern. Parents can find other items to substitute for the nutrition they’re not getting by avoiding those foods.
However, if your child has a very limited number of options they’re willing to eat, a number of deficiencies can occur. That’s when a nutritional evaluation is essential.
When a Concern About Picky Eating Can Cause Nutrition Disorders
Learn more about the most common nutrition disorders picky eating can cause and what you can do about them to protect child health.
Vitamin D Deficiency
A child who refuses to eat dairy products and fish can quickly develop a vitamin D deficiency. In very young children, sun exposure may also be more limited, which further exacerbates the problem.
Without an appropriate level of vitamin D, a child can struggle with bone health issues. This vitamin is vital for calcium absorption and can prevent serious childhood issues like rickets and low bone density.
A deficiency can also impact your child’s growth rate, muscle strength, and immune system function and could even make mood disorders more likely.
Potassium Deficiency
Picky eaters often consume fewer potassium-rich foods than other children in their same age range. Bananas and other fruits, as well as certain vegetables, dairy, lentils, and rice, can all provide adequate potassium intake, but these are often the food groups that picky eaters refuse.
A potassium deficiency can lead to a number of health issues. Your child can experience muscle weakness and spasms, irregular heartbeats, fatigue, dizziness, and trouble paying attention.
Sometimes, increasing the intake of foods rich in magnesium can help these signs because that mineral impacts the regulation of potassium levels. With a nutritional evaluation, your child’s pediatrician can recommend the right way to address the problem.
Zinc Deficiency
Zinc is present in meat, legumes, and seafood. Unfortunately, these food choices are often ones that picky eaters refuse to entertain. A zinc deficiency can result in growth issues and even a loss of appetite. That’s because zinc is involved in the production of appetite-related hormones.
With low zinc levels, your child can also experience changes in taste that could make picky eating behaviors worse. This creates a vicious cycle.
Another sign of zinc deficiency is skin problems. Children with this issue are more likely to develop eczema, for example.
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium is essential for healthy bones, teeth, and overall growth. A large number of picky eaters refuse to eat any form of dairy and may avoid leafy greens like spinach and kale. Tofu is usually out of the question for picky eaters, and fortified foods may not be an option, either. Some also refuse to drink orange juice, which is rich in calcium.
Vitamin C Deficiency
Children who avoid fruits and vegetables have a high risk of developing a deficiency that could be serious enough to cause scurvy. Vitamin C is essential for immune system support, collagen production, and wound healing.
Without an appropriate level of this vitamin, children may experience immune system malfunctions and trouble with their respiration. If your child is not able to fight off invaders like viruses and bacteria, infections that lead to pulmonary issues can arise more often.
Spotting the Signs that It’s Time for a Nutritional Evaluation for a Picky Eater
If your child is a picky eater but consistently gains weight, has normal energy levels, and seems otherwise normal, they may not be experiencing any deficiencies. But what can point to the need for a nutritional evaluation?
Stunted Growth
If your child consistently falls below the normal weight and height parameters for their age, that could mean there are nutritional deficiencies to address. A nutritional evaluation can offer insight into where the problem lies and can assist you in finding out what alternative foods can provide the nutrition your child needs.
Refusal of Entire Food Groups
Extremely picky eaters may refuse to eat any fruits or vegetables, or could balk at dairy. Avoiding entire food groups is more worrying than if they refused just one type of fruit or vegetable, since they will not be getting any of the nutrition that these food groups provide.
If that’s the case, a nutritional evaluation is essential to understand what they’re not getting enough of and whether you’ll need to provide supplements or try other types of foods to fill those gaps. A medical expert can make this process less overwhelming.
Inability to Add New Foods
Some children may stick to foods they’re used to and refuse to try anything new. This could result in a limited diet that doesn’t provide the nutrition they need. If you continue to attempt adding new foods and keep getting refusals, it’s time to see a professional for guidance.
Health Issues
If your child starts developing health issues and you see their energy levels drop, that’s a clear sign that there are deficiencies to worry about. You may notice that they get sick more often because their immune system isn’t working as it should, and they could even begin experiencing mood disturbances or behavioral issues they didn’t display before.
Getting a Dependable Nutritional Evaluation From Newport Children’s Medical Group
The old adage still applies: “You are what you eat.” If your child struggles to eat from diverse food groups, they could face numerous health challenges that could impact their health for the rest of their lives. If you’re concerned about picky eating behaviors and a potential eating disorder, it’s time to ask for help.
At Newport Children’s Medical Group, our team provides the health and nutritional feeding evaluations you need to know whether your child needs medical supplements or other pediatric feeding treatments. Contact us to schedule a visit with a medical professional today.