DD, food and sleep

[ISaySteadyOn]

DD is 13. We had a talk last night and she is frustrated by her inability to eat a wider range or enough food. This, we realised, contributes to her difficulty sleeping along with the usual adolescent tendency to night owl. But the lack of sleep and feeling hungry but unable to eat means that she is overly sensitive which makes everything harder and ends up in a vicious cycle.

I'm not glad that she's frustrated but I am glad that she clearly wants to solve the problem. I think the difficulties around food are mostly textural. So has anyone experienced this? What did you do?

In the immediate, can DD eat more of the safe foods so she isn’t hungry? Or is she struggling to eat enough of the safe foods too?

Have you spoken to the GP? You could request a referral to an ARFID service.

Will DD take a multivitamin?

Has she had a sensory OT assessment?

Does DD take anything to help with her sleep?

Food chaining can often help. Start by eating the same foods but slightly different. For example, if DD eats chips, will she eat a different brand, curly fries, wedges.

What is DD like with drinking?

She does take a multivitamin, thank goodness. I am in the process of getting more of her safe foods so she feels better but there are external factors causing a lack of appetite.

Food chaining is a fantastic idea. I did something similar with DS without realising and now he eats almost anything.

Key thing is that she is willing to improve.

She's fine with water, juice and her favourite hot chocolate. She likes bubble tea too 😀.

Hot chocolate can work well with chaining too. Made with jersey milk and added double cream. Whipped cream on top. Some kind of topping (e.g. flake/sprinkles). Not all like it but you can add skimmed milk powder too.

If DD will eat juice, will she eat homemade ice lollies?

Would DD drink a smoothie?

If DD is struggling with the quantity of food too, how many calories is she having a day.

Yes, homemade ice lollies plus something that was really popular with all my DC. I got those fruit yoghurt tubes, put them in the freezer, instant frozen yoghurt pops.

She likes spicy noodle cups too.

I don't know about the calories but I will start counting now.

Honestly, thank you so much. I feel less alone and like I have somewhere to start.