Picky eater -help needed

[loopyluna]

DS is coming up 14. He has been a very picky eater since he was about 5, getting worse and worse. He exists on:

Pasta (no sauce, but he'll have butter and grated cheese or philadelphia in it.)
Pizza (cheese and tomato only)
Sandwiches (peanut butter or cheese)
Baked potato
Hard boiled eggs
Chips
Toast
Tomatoes, grated carrot, cucumber
Most fruit
Yogurt

That's about it. Basically no meat, no fish, no cooked veg. He can even refuse potatoes ffs :-(

He's quite small for his age but is within the "norms" and has, amazingly, just had a but of a growth spurt. His voice is breaking and he has about 4 hairs under his arms (proudly displayed to me last week), so is not delayed in puberty. He is rarely ill.

Two things worry me massively though. Firstly, he gets tired, grumpy and has tummy aches. He loves running and football but gets injured easily which I put
down to lack of physical strength from the poor diet. At school he finds it difficult to concentrate which could also be down to a lack of protein. (I think?)

Secondly, he can be very controlling over food. If someone annoys him before (or during) dinner, he'll storm off and refuse to eat, even if he's previously said he's hungry and it's something he likes.

On a basic note, any ideas of how I can "feed him up" a bit, would bd welcome. I'd also appreciate a bit of a reality check -should I be more /less worried about this?

Thanks

He might be deficient in iron. It might be a good idea to get his ferritin levels checked. Also levels of vitamin B12 and B6.

I don't know how to tackle fussy eating in a teenager, but if he was agreeable to seeing a GP or nutritionist and taking appropriate vitamin/mineral supplements that should go some way to tackling any nutritional deficiencies and any resulting mood/behaviour problems.

Sometimes a change in circumstances can start young people off on eating a wider variety of things eg residential trips etc.

fussy eating is a bit simplistic. Sorry - if he has psychological problems with eating he might benefit from specialist psychological help.

FWIW - I would be worried if I were you - but you might get posters telling you about people they know who ate nothing but egg and chips for ten years and were fine...

Chocoluvva, fwiw, I am worried! That's why I posted.

I will ask GP for a blood test to check his iron levels. That's a start. I think I might go to a nutritionist with him too. I'm worried about making a big deal out of it but, at the same time, worried he' won't improve if I just leave him

It must be very difficult when you're worried about making an issue out of it with him. You have my sympathy.

Sometimes people improve their eating habits when they have to cook for themselves eg when they're a student, or because they begin to feel embarrassed at their limited repertoire compared to fun new friends/GFs so there's hope that his diet will improve when he has more control in his life, but equally it might not.....

He eats some veg, lots of fruit, and a very limited range of protein and carbs so I'd think he's probably is lacking in some nutrients and his blood sugar might be fluctuating too much.

You might find The Optimum Nutrition Bible by Patrick Holford a helpful read.

Could you persuade him to take a multivitamin/mineral tablet every morning? It may at least reassure you that he is getting the essential nutrients he needs. A Complan shake might be the way to go if he won't take a tablet.

In the meantime I think as this has been going on for so long you should as others have suggested, seek professional help. ds2 spent years on maxijul and paediatric seravit in an effort to keep him out of hospital due to eating problems and is now at 17, much smaller than his peers still only wearing age 13 trousers.