Does DD need to see a doctor?

[Rowrowrowyouryacht]

My MIL thinks that DD8 needs to see a doctor because she is a fussy eater. I'm not sure. She's definitely a bit limited but I don't think it's really bad and she does make an effort to try new things. This is what she will eat:

Carbs are fine - bread, pasta, rice, couscous, potatoes
Lentils
Processed veggie food like soy nuggets etc
Cheese
Milk and butter, yoghurt
Peanuts, cashew nuts etc
Eggs
Fruit - apple, banana, strawberries, melon
Veg - carrots, spinach, squash, cucumber, tomatoes, olives
And of course chocolate and sweets

No spice or anything. She likes quite bland food.

She's been vegetarian for a couple of years.

Obviously it's not a massive list of foods and I'd like it to be much longer, but AIBU to think that she doesn't need the doctor?

No, I wouldn't see a doctor , does your mil want her to eat spicy food , does she not agree with her being a vegetarian?

She doesn't agree with her being vegetarian but that's not a conversation I'm willing to have with her. It's DD's choice and I support her. But MIL thinks she has psychological problems around food. I'd be very sorry if I didn't help DD if it was needed.

Is your daughter well? Growing, keeping up with peers, not unduly tired as compared to classmates?

What specific concerns does your MIL have? What does she hope a doctor might do to change her tastes?

DOI- mother of a fussy eating and a GP 😬

That isn't a fussy eater diet.

That doesn’t look limited for an 8 year old to me!

Does she eat them in the quantities she needs to in order to stay healthy? What is it your mother-in-law is worried about? Is she concerned about nutrition or about an eating disorder?

Thanks @Boomarang . She seems fine. She's growing at the expected rate (always been just a bit taller than average) and her energy levels are fine.

I think MIL just thinks she should be eating more types of food and a visit to the doctor will do that.

Also, forgot she also likes cereal, weetabix, porridge.

Any 8 year old that eats lentils, spinach and olives does not have any sort of eating issues! Her diet sounds great. It'll expand as she gets older.

@determinedtomakethiswork she could definitely eat more fruit and veg as she would always rather load up on carbs, but she will eat maybe 2 or 3 small portions a day. I can see why MIL is concerned but I don't think it's that bad.

MIL concerned about an eating disorder 😣

Sounds completely fine

@titchy it's strange isn't it?! She's only just got into potatoes after many many many attempts, but hand her an olive or some cooked spinach and she's all over it!

How is a visit to a doctor going to change your daughter's eating habits. Be careful that your (and MiL's) anxieties about food don't lead to disordered eating.

I don't think your DD's eating habits are the problem here - maybe your MIL needs to visit the GP to get her interferingitis checked......

Agree 100%.

You have an interfering MIL issue here, not a child with an eating disorder.

As we grow our tastes change, what may taste fantastic to adults can taste absolutely fucking vile to children - as long as shes got the opportunity to try/explore new foods in a normal, natural (casual) way I really wouldn't worry.

What will absolutely fuck things up is someone interfering, insisting she try, refusing to let her have foods she knows are safe/tasty and generally commenting on anything she eats/does not eat.

You have a normal 8 year old and an interfering MIL.

Thanks very much all for your messages. I'll keep introducing new food but try not to make a thing of it! Think MIL is comparing DD to when she was first weaned and would eat anything and everything, but I'm sure that'll come back in time!

At 8yo personally I wouldn't let a child make the decision about becoming a vegetarian especially if they are already fussy. My dd wanted to become a vegetarian at 10yo and we negotiated that she would still eat fish but not meat.

It's really hard to get enough protein into fussy kids if they don't eat meat. My dd went onto develop an ED and I've since learnt that becoming a vegetarian in pre teens can increase the risk of developing EDs in some kids.

They all eat everything when first weaned. When I compare the diet my 6yo has now with the diet she had at 1! But all very normal.

I agree the biggest danger here is that your DD overhears your MIL and that causes issues with food. Her diet is fine. No MN patented incredible but fine.

Looks absolutely fine to me. I have older teens who have gone through phases for their entire childhoods of eating anything and everything to almost nothing. Eldest at 19 will try anything and eats most things. I’m still waiting for the 17 year old to come out of the fussy, I want a takeaway phase!

And echoing other posters, please don’t talk about your DDs diet in front of her or she will end up with disordered eating.

The doctor won't care.

You have a MIL problem

My gorgeous DN will only eat processed cheese slices from one specific shop, white bread of one specific brand, Birds Eye potato waffles, Aldi chocolate spread and will only drink double strength orange cordial from Aldi or green milk. That's It, The entire diet. Once in a blue moon we will be shocked that wet have got them to try something simple like say... rice crispies and they are briefly accepted but at the cost of another food being dropped. We have never ever got him to eat more than 5-6 food items and even "treats" like chocolate etc is treated with the very highest suspicion.

That is a restricted diet.

It doesn't matter if she eats the same things on repeat or eats a wide range, as long as she gets a range of nutrition. She seems to eat enough to get a balance of protein, fat, fibre and vitamins, so no issues. Historically, we would have had a much smaller range of foods and hardly any spices in a UK diet. One of mine is pescatarian by choice. Never really ate much meat from weaning and refused all together from around 5. I think he just doesn't like the taste/texture.

Sounds a bit as though your MIL wants her to have an eating disorder.

Well firstly having had a "fussy eater" (actually ARFID) that list sounds pretty good.
Secondly what exactly does your MIL think a Doctor is going to do about an 8 year old who is a healthy weight and height who eats a reasonably balanced diet?