What is selective food disorder?

Question

I believe my 7 yr. old son may have selective food disorder but I'm trying to learn more about it. Can someone fill me in?

Answer 1

Selective Food Disorder, or Selective Eating Disorder, is an eating disorder that prevents the consumption of certain foods.  This can be due to taste, texture, aroma, appearance (color, shape), or if paired with other foods (will not eat peas and carrots mixed together, but will eat them separately).

Right now there is very limited knowledge on this condition, mainly because most who exhibit it are in your child's age range, or younger.  As children get older, they tend to overcome this behavior problem.  A lot of parenting books and child psychologists will say "picky eating is just a phase", but there are reports of adults who still suffer from SFD or SED.

Normally children with SED or SFD may appear normal in height and weight for their age group, and no physical or mental abnormalities may appear during routine medical examinations.  In most cases, toddlers will exhibit picky eating habits more than children your son's age.

One thing you can try to do is set an example.  Try to show him that certain foods he won't eat are, in fact, good for him.  It's possible he's learning to not eat certain foods through his peers.  Often times children will learn what not to eat from others their own age, and that often carries over into the household.  Children who might have eaten their vegetables willingly before, and really enjoyed them, may suddenly reject them because their peers told them they're bad.  If the child has been ridiculed by his or her peers for liking vegetables, then they may learn to dislike them from now on.

Often SED or SFD disorders are very common in young children and adults who have any autism spectrum disorder (Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, etc.).  In the source I have included a link for Asperger's and autism.

Answer 2

its basically being a very very fussy eater.

when i was growing up i had it, i would only eat for example, a burger peas and bread for a month straight, then it changed to a jacket potato for another few weeks and then something else e.t.c.

i had it quite bad, and i mean it can be very unhealthy because its so restrictive of other foods that you need.

i started eating more when i just realised i needed to when my mum explained the consequences to me, which was a bit shocking as i was like 9 but it prompted me to eat more even if i didnt partiuclary like it. if your son seems to have it try and incroporate more foods little by little