My Child is a Picky Eater: Part 1

Food Sensitivities

Terms used in this article are: Immunoglobulin G (IgG) (G is for Gut) and Immunoglobulin E (IgE)

Food sensitivities or intolerances are in the gut and digestive system (IgG) and food allergies (IgE) are a medical concern that can be life-threatening. This article is not intended to address IgE allergies. The terms (sensitivity, intolerance and allergy) are often used interchangeably and thus confusion sets in as to what is really being discussed.

Food sensitivities and intolerances are terms used interchangeably and clumped in the group of (IgG) Food Sensitivity. An IgG reaction is different than an allergic reaction. The reaction is usually delayed, sometimes by 15 minutes or hours—and sometimes by days. The reaction often shows up as unwanted behavior such as anger or inability to pay attention. Physically, some children display eczema, constipation, diarrhea, bright red ears, or they may drool constantly. The symptoms often come and go, and can change over time. Specific foods (casein, gluten, food dyes for example) often trigger IgG antibodies and it is these antibodies that create antigens which are then deposited in the body tissues. It is technically called an antibody-antigen complex. Food sensitivities are a disorder of digestion and assimilation in the gut.

An IgG test can show your child’s immune response to over 150 foods. This test is by no means perfect, and if your child has a leaky gut, there can be false positives. Plus, if your child is not consuming the triggering food, there will be a false negative. It is much easier—and less expensive—to do an elimination protocol (discussed later in this article). And, to complicate matters further, food intolerance is commonly known as non-IgE (Immunoglobulin E) mediated food hypersensitivity or non-allergic food hypersensitivity.

In summary, food sensitivity or intolerances pair with IgG and about digestion. For the sake of simplification the term food sensitivities will be used to embrace both food sensitivity and intolerance.

Food allergies are associated with Immunoglobulin E (IgE). These are antibodies produced by the immune system. Say you have an allergy to peanuts. Your immune system will over react to this allergen (peanut) and produce IgE antibodies. It is these antibodies that travel to certain cells that release certain chemicals causing the allergic reaction. Exposure to these foods for some people is life-threatening and medication like the epi-pen is used. Most people who have severe food allergies are under the care of licensed medical physicians.

Severe allergy to peanuts are so commonplace in the US now that many organizations who have contact with the general public such as ball parks and airlines are beginning to phase out peanuts.

In my years working as a pediatric occupational therapist, I have observed many mothers worrying and agonizing over their child who simply will not eat. It appears perplexing at first—and the mom gets plenty of advice from family and friends on how to address the situation. The advice, while well meaning, all too often fails. The anxiety level of the primary caregiver starts increasing as the child’s food intake decreases. Not only does the intake decrease, the variety of foods start to decline, until the child is only eating one or two foods—for example, chicken nuggets from a specific fast food place such as McDonald’s, or Cheerio’s cereal (eaten dry), and to drink copious amounts of cow’s milk. Often that particular eating scenario is associated with children who are on the autism spectrum.

What symptoms can appear with IgG food intolerance?

Behavior: I have also noticed that food sensitivities in children bring out some pretty difficult to handle behaviors, such as: hitting, crying, throwing tantrums, food refusals, intense anger, self-injurious behavior, self-stimulation such as hand flapping and humming—and sometimes the child reports pain in the joints or legs or fatigue.

Most of these children refused purees, or gagged on purees as infants, and often had other sensitivities like the need to continually switch out formulas as well as bottle nipples due to reflux, vomiting or formula refusal. These children were often slow to gain weight and frequently the only foods toddlers would accept were simple carbohydrates like cereals, protein bars, crackers, “puffs”, etc.

Physical: I have observed bright red ears and intense drooling past the developmental age of drooling. Alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation were commonplace with complaints of stomach ache. Also, the child has repeated ear infections as well as throat infections. Some children have unexplained weight gain or loss. Frequent bed wetting is commonplace. Yeast infections (thrush and others) are routine. Eczema and asthma are also common.

Emotional: Frustration is commonplace both for the child and the parent. The meltdowns and negative behaviors regarding introducing different foods and actually eating different new foods can be severe. The conversation in the home was mostly about the child not eating, and the stress level of the caregivers was off the charts. The parent often goes from doctor to doctor with little relief of the problem. The problem gets larger and larger, often resulting in a full blown eating disorder or diagnoses of oppositional defiant disorder, ADD/ADHD and are subsequently prescribed mind blowing prescription medications. I urge you to seek professional help as soon as possible in your child’s life if any of these behaviors are frequent, severe in nature and apply to your child. Children with ADD/ ADHD and Autism usually have food intolerances and gut issues.

To be clear, many children have feeding disorders that develop over time (think food sensitivities). Many other children are born with medical conditions that impact eating and drinking from the start of their life. Additionally, some children go on to develop additional medical conditions due to the feeding disorder. Most children go undiagnosed with excess heavy metals such as aluminum, lead, mercury, nickel and arsenic, which also complicate the picture. It can get confusing and that is where professional help usually enters the picture.

How do food intolerances relate to picky eating?

Interestingly enough, your child might be a picky eater because the limited foods they eat are not being digested well and they get a “high” or rush from the very food that they are intolerant to. The body craves the foods that they are most intolerant to.

My next article takes a dive into just what a picky eater is and some ideas to help you resolve this.

Rosemary Slade, PLLC, OTR, NC is a practicing occupational therapist and mineral-nutritional practitioner. She can be reached on this website.  This article is not in any manner, shape or form intended to be considered or construed as medical advice or providing a medical diagnosis. This article is for entertainment purposes only. Please see your medical doctor for medical diagnoses.