I think my 6 year old may have the beginnings of an eating disorder

[acrogodess]

So my 6 year old daughter Olivia tells me quite often I might add, "I don't want to get fat." She tells me how she doesn't "want to be fat and ugly". I am overweight. The funny thing is that she tells me how beautiful she thinks I am. My 8 year old son is overweight. Everyone thinks he and SHE are beautiful and sweet and friendly and smart... She eats all kinds of junk food. She even stashes the wrappers in her pockets, in her pillow case, and anywhere she thinks her father and I won't check. Candy, fruit snacks, granola bars, whatever she can get her hands on... Now, when it comes to her chicken, pork chops, steak and ribs. When it comes to her rice and mac&cheese, her fruits and veggies... She doesn't want to eat. She picks at it, and pushes the fruit around the plate and we have to fight with her to eat her food. She'll eat Lipton Soup, she'll eat fried Spam, she'll eat BBQ boneless ribs from the chinese food, she'll eat McDonald's... Her favorite is cereal. She'll eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I don't know what do with her. Pleads, threats... Nothing works. Any suggestions? Anyone else been through this or going through it now?

This is Olivia.

This is my son, Alexander...

[mommyofone802]

Dec. 19, 2009 at 9:46 PM

most kids seem to go through this. my dd is 8 and a picky eater, she want's what she wants. i can fix a balanced meal and she dont want to eat it. she wants cereal or ramen noodles, etc, she loves brocolli and cheese so thats a veggie. dont let her rule the dinner table, maybe ask her to help prepare the meal. then she may eat it. mine will sometimes. hope its just a phase. good luck.

[acrogodess]

Dec. 20, 2009 at 2:35 AM

Thank you for commenting mommyofone. I appreciate knowing I am not the only one going through this and I too hope it is just a phase.

(Original Poster)