to ask for a solution - DD10 not eating at school.

[RoyalChocolat]

We live in France where packed lunches are banned. You either have hot school lunches or go home for lunch.

I got a phonecall from DD's secondary school yesterday. She did not eat at lunch. Nothing. It has been going on for weeks and weeks and it is getting worse.

DD is extremely fussy. She doesn't like meat apart from a certain type of chicken breasts. She doesn't eat eggs or cheese. She won't eat salad if there is dressing.

I manage to feed her a healthy diet at home (I make crêpes or waffles for breakfast so that she has some dairy and eggs, lots of pulses which she likes...). But she won't touch school lunches.

I cannot take her home everyday for lunch. I am not allowed to send a packed lunch or snacks. She leaves the house at 7:30 and comes home at 5:20. She cannot go on with a long schoolday on an empty stomach!

I am going to send her to our GP to check that there are no underlying physical or mental issues. In the meantime, is there anything I can do?

[Devereux1]

Clangus00
Devereux1. That’s bollox.
Sorry but it is.

Care to expand more on your definitive, illustrative and exceedingly insightful post Clangus00?

[Pinkette06]

It is not true as put above, that a child will just eat if hungry, not in all cases and this sounds a bit like I was. I have many issues with food and had never heard of ARFID until this year and I'm pretty sure that's what I have. Slowly trying to change now and it is so so hard. Trying something new makes me anxious, sick, is terrifying for me even now but I am determined, it is a slow thing. If there is an issue like this (obviously may not be but if so) just being hungry will not make her eat. That was done to me many times and it did not work, I would prefer to be hungry. It was easier for me as I could have packed lunch with things I'd eat. But I know I'd have been the same, my parents did it with meals times to make me try things and eat things, I'd go hungry or be given the same as evryone else or given the same dinner again. I would prefer to go hungry and I would. Obviously this may not be the case here but sometimes it isn't as easy as some people think.

[Pinkette06]

Sorry op my post wasn't helpful with a solution and I hope you find one but just had to say to those who think it's always easy to make a child eat, as I know I was a nightmare!