Picky Eater Dropping off in Growth

[Lineymom]

My DS just turned 6.  He is as healthy as can be.  Last saw the doc at 18mo.  Hasn't had a fever in probably 3yrs.  Anytime the rest of us get sick, he gets a milder version.

He is a very picky eater.  He lives off of pb and nuts.  He likes sweets and chips.  The only real solid food he will eat is pizza.  He has refused any meat and veggie all his life, but recently started eating pepperoni pizza (yay for the nutritional, huh).

I try to limit processed food etc in out house (though I am far from perfect about it)  This means he goes most everyday with only pb sandwiched and cashews. 

We don't do well child visits, but measure every 6 months at home.  His growth has really slowed.  He grew less than the 2in min. that children his age are supposed to grow in a year and basically none of it came in the last 6 months.

I know that comparing sibling isn't really a good method, but it really bothers me the difference between him and his older brother.  He was born a lb heavier and a in longer than his older brother (he was 11lb1oz and 23in!!!!)  By a year they were about the same.  He has slipped more and more and now he is 2 and 3/4 in shorter and 8lbs lighter than his brother was  at the same age!!!  That said they have really tall genetics and he is still a little taller than most kids his age. His brother has always been a whole head taller.  I know a doc would tell me there is no concern based on his height.  I think he is still around the 90th percentile in height, but under 50th in weight.

My simple question after this long post is should I just start buying him frozen pizza????

[One_Girl]

If you are worried then I think you need to take him to a pediatrician who has the education to tell you whether this is something normal or not and can help you discover if something else is going on to slow his growth down.  Have you had him tested for a gluten allergy or Celiac's?  I didn't believe it was a real thing to worry about until this year when we had an entire family diagnosed with it (parents and kids).  Sometimes kids are picky for medical reasons that can be solved with a different diet.

[D_McG]

I have a very picky 5 year old and I have a lot of guilt over not getting help for him earlier.  I finally spoke with an OT last year and now we have a plan.

I would definitely talk to the doctor and get a referral.  PB sandwiches and cashews is literally all he eats in a typical day?  There are definitely tools that can help him!  My goodness you must be worried sick.  :hug:

[OTMomma]

Have you heard of the Sneaky Chef cook books? She has some great ideas for making kid friendly foods more healthy- like mixing carrot baby food with tomato sauce on homemade pizza. I loved her book until my picky eater was diagnosed with food allergies a few weeks ago, which has made things more complicated, because she is allergic to wheat and various other foods we were eating daily.