This morning a nutritionist came to our house to meet with Kate. To give some background, Kate is in an early childhood intervention program because she just isn't talking as much as we think she could. She understands speech fantastically, but isn't able to articulate her own thoughts very well. Our pediatrician listened to my concerns and referred us to this program and it is wonderful. Kate has her own little team that comes by to help her. (Allie and Luke think that's pretty cool.) She has had a hearing test, sessions with a speech language pathologist and today was the nutritionist. (Kate is very small for her age, at 2 she is a whopping 21.5 lbs) Anyway, today the nutritionist came by this morning. Kate only likes soft, mushy foods and likes food with flavor and spice. The nutritionist thinks Kate has a "sensory issue" and referred for a OT (occupational therapist?) to basically check out her chewing. It sounds kind of funny to have this team of experts for Kate when there isn't anything wrong with her, but I guess any kind of help is good. The nutritionist gave me some great ideas ( I wish I had know her when Luke was little--he was just like Kate) Here's one I tried today. She suggested feeing Kate scrambled eggs (Kate will only eat the white) and putting ketchup or salsa on them to give them more flavor. I remember my cousin Ryan eating ketchup on his eggs and thinking that was kind of gross so I've never offered it to my children. She asked me if Kate liked ketchup.
I flashed back to some pictures I just took just yesterday:
Clearly, she likes ketchup. She grosses us all out by eating it plain. After the nutritionist left, Kate was hungry so I made her and egg with ketchup. Yuck. However, Kate devoured it and asked for another. I feel dumb not thinking of it, but I think that woman was on to something. I'm excited to try out some more of her suggestions. Perhaps Kate will be a milk drinker by my next post!
8 comments:
ellie won't even eat eggs without ketchup, but that's how i like them, too. i'd be interested in what else they suggest feeding her... ellie is a little picky and i'd like to broaden her food world.
I grew up eating ketchup on eggs and I will not allow my kids to do it, it just sounds so gross now. If it works though, that is great. We had Ashley in Early Intervention because of her hearing. She had a lot of wax buildup in her ears and could not hear very well so that was the cause for her delayed speech. I hope that you can get her into programs like that here in Oregon.
how can anyone NOT like ketchup on their eggs? Do you actually eat them plain. GROSS! :)
Ketchup and Ranch dressing are how we got Olivia to eat vegetables. Charlotte has been another story and that hasn't worked with her. I can't say when she last ate a vegetable. Oh picky kids! Keep sharing the suggestions you get and what works.
grampa m. i like ketchup or salsa on my eggs omelets and black strap molasses on fried eggs & bacon. my dad started me when i was real young and cole& ike like it too. kate's taste buds are ok in my book.
Sounds like she's getting the help she needs. Good parents!
i feel completely justified for my own habit of eating eggs with ketchup (or, lately, hot sauce). if you're ever near florida, i'll feed kate. we'll get along smashingly. :)
Brad loves ketchup on his eggs, too. Today I even made him breakfast nachos (eggs, sausage, salsa on chips). It was a new recipe and he decided he could do w/o the chips next time. So maybe in a tortilla? Anyway, Ellie is in Speech and has been for about 6 mo. However, a few months after she was tested and diagnosed with a delay, she decided that she could talk and is now quite the chatterbox. But, for quite a long time she only had 2-word phrases and even then I might hear a word once and then never again. Keep us posted on how she is doing--she is so stinkin' cute!
Post a Comment