texture aversions as self-preservation?

[spedteacher30]

We've known for over 4 years that our just-turned-5-year-old has peanut and other food allergies. He outgrew his allergies to milk, eggs, beef, and corn. We went to the allergist for allergy testing prior to the start of kindergarten in the fall, and he came back positive to every single tree nut, coconut and sesame seeds. Prior to this panel, we've never tested him for any of the tree nuts or seeds.

But, M has always had pretty significant texture aversions, and won't eat any food with a lump or chunk in it. We've always joked that we don't want to take him to an OT because his pickiness pretty much guarantees he won't ever accidentally eat an allergen.

But, now, I am wondering if his texture aversion isn't really a physiological response to his allergies. if he spits out all lumps in his cookies or muffins or food, and won't take another bite (which is how it manifests itself), could this not be a "sensory disorder" but rather a logical, evolutionary response to his allergies? Is it just a way for his little instinctual self to keep him alive in the wilds by spitting out foods he is actually allergic to?

[scsigrl]

There are theories that kids with food allergies develop a sixth sense about those things.  I am not sure it is "documented" anywhere but many many allergy Mom's have talked about it.  I think there is something to it.  My DS (FPIES to banana) would just look at a banana and say he didn't like it.  That was before we knew about his FPIES. 

[spedteacher30]

I've definitely heard of kids who refuse to eat things they are allergic to prior to diagnosis/recognition of the allergy, but this is a little different i think...

he won't eat things that have a texture similar to what you would experience if there were nuts or seeds in an item. Like, he'll eat donut, but he won't eat a crumb-top donut. Or, he'll eat strawberry ice cream, but he won't eat it if there are chunks of strawberry in the ice cream.

And, if he is eating cookies--for example--and comes across a lump of flour that wasn't fully mixed in, he won't eat any more of the cookie. or, when they decorated cookies at pre-school for valentines day, he wouldn't eat the cookies once he put the candy hearts on them--he'll eat a candy heart by itself, or a cookie by itself, but not a cookie (crumbly texture) with a candy heart (hard and crunchy like a nut).

it's just interesting. We have been debating talking to a nutritionist and OT about feeding therapy, but now I am considering it in a new light. it really makes me contemplate the idea of "disorders" versus normal defensive reactions--as a former special education teacher, I find it very interesting professionally too.

[sbgrace]

Well, my non allergic child is like that about lumps and bumps. In his case it is sensory. But I do think kids could have self protective instincts, yes. This same child can't metabolize fat. He used to vomit with just a taste of certain (high in the chains of fat he can't metabolize) foods. I do think it was instinctual for him (he was a toddler).