Multiple allergy toddler REFUSES to eat

[mossybecca]

Hi, so my 21 month old has multiple allergies: dairy, egg, peanuts, soya, pineapples and all tree nuts except pecan. We're being treated at st Thomas' but need help with his eating. Have worked out he only eats about 500kcald a day if that and he's incredibly active.

I spend hours researching new recipes for him but he refuses to eat most things. He's very particular about texture and likes dry savoury things like fish fingers, chicken nugget, chips (sweet pot & normal) and cocktail sausages. He won't even try pies, pastry, mash pots, casseroles, shepherds pies, pastas, pizzas. For pudding he'll eat the coyo yoghurts and ice creams, sometimes fruit. He used to eat toast but that's stopped.

I really need tips on getting him to eat, he's underweight and losing centile % every weigh-in. I'm going nuts and it causes huge stress in our family.

Drs & nutrionist a say we should offer him one food and no replacement at each meal with two snacks. But he will only eat for me if he grazes and wanders around with the food.

Any tips would be massively appreciated!!

I hope you find a solution.

My DD is only 11 months and with multiple allergies too, and in a very similar situation, although she is much younger. I am very worried though as she hardly eats anything despite the variation of things I offer. She just keeps wanting breast milk!

Btw, out of interest, who do you see at st Thomas's? Any recommendations?

I'm also trying to look out for high calorie food that is allergy free but it's been difficult to be honest.

My Ds was the same. Our dietician said to throw any notion of healthy eating out the window and just try and get as many calories in as possible. We were told to offer pudding after every meal. Unsalted kettle chips were recommended. Sponge puddings, rice pudding made with coconut cream. Roast vegetables and potatoeswith olive oil.

DS has CMPA & soy allergies. He was very fussy about texture for ages. Still won't eat rice, pasta, stews, sandwiches or much 'wet' food. Weight gain was an issue but better now. He loves..

Polenta chips (the solid block) roasted in the oven.

Fish cakes

Roast potatoes

Tuna mayo (Hellmans full fat) & sweetcorn with potatoes

Ham, scrabbled egg and chips

Avocado, olives and bread sticks

Bangers and mash.

Gnocchi - I used to boil it, then crisp it up in the frying pan but he now has it boiled.

I used oatly cream in cereal, mash and everything I could to fatten him up.

The dietician was useful and said don't worry about calories or you will drive yourself mad. We added deserts, crumbles, cake for extra calories but he's not keen. He will occasionally eat digestive biscuits.

Thanks for answering, sometimes it helpful just knowing other people have gone / are going through similar things. ArtFine we're under Prof Lack's care at st Thomas' hospital, they're one of the leading allergy specialist teams in uk, appt include a more holistic approach with dieticians on hand etc. it takes ages to get an appt so get referred sooner if you think you want to go.
Thanks trixymalixy & superworn for the food ideas, here's hoping something works!

Mossy, thanks! We've been referred and got our 1st appointment this week with Prof Lack. What should I expect? Is he friendly and approachable? Any tips? I've heard so many good things about their team that I've really got high hopes!

When we were trying to get extra calories (and calcium) into DD2 aged 2.5 now, but biggest issue was when she was just under 2 (allergic to dairy and egg, plus possibly issues with too much soy), her dietician recommended making "fake Turkish delight" - making jelly up with her oat milk and using only half the liquid, then cutting it up into small squares to give her after dinner.

We've also had huge success with avocado - she'd happily eat a whole one in one sitting, and her crèche have said that roast pumpkin used as a pasta sauce goes down well.

I'm lazy very busy so refuse to cook multiple meals, so our general cooking is dairy and egg free. Like your DC, DD isn't keen on pies etc - so I often pull out her portion and plate it up separately (e.g. We had chicken pie the other day: kept out some chicken and veg, and gave her her mash separately. She ate it all, but wouldn't have if it had been in a pie.

If she has totally refused to eat, I will offer bread and butter (well, marg) with honey or jam if I think she's genuinely hungry.

One thought - could there be something else your DS is reacting to on a low level? We noticed that DD's appetite decreases rapidly when she's had too much soy - I think it gives her stomach cramps so then she is afraid of eating anything in case it hurts.

Viola, the Turkish delight is a good idea but I'm worried about the sugar? Or does that not matter?

ArtFine, DD's dietician didn't seem to consider it a major issue, within an otherwise fairly balanced diet - particularly, I think because almost all "treat foods" at that stage were baked by me, so I was able to control the sugar there pretty well.

And also, as someone mentioned above, I think she was more concerned at getting calories into her than being overly strict about the source of those calories (within reason).

Thanks viola! Do you by any chance have the Turkish delight recipe? I want to try it for my little one