(no subject)

[baratron]

Just found this by accident when searching for an old article: Breaking news from New Scientist Kids’ asthma linked to mothers’ depression.

*blinks*

Comments

fussy eaters

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Because, of course, anecdotal evidence from mothers isn't possibly enough to base serious scientific research on *eye roll*.

I was reading a few months ago that apparently, a lot of adults with food allergies and intolerances were extremely fussy eaters as children. What happened in my case was that I would eat just about anything as a baby, but by the time I was 3 or 4 years old, I would eat just a very small number of different foods, and had very strict rituals around food. The thing that particularly sticks in my mind are the dairy products, because I have so many problems with them now. I remember that I could not stand the taste of "raw" milk, that I would only drink it flavoured with Kellogg's Raspberry Milkshake powder and if it was put in my orange mug, and that after I had chicken pox even the raspberry-flavoured milk tasted wrong and was never right again. I only started eating cheese when I was old enough that there were American-style pizza restaurants, but even then have never managed to eat cheese unmelted.

It seems fairly clear to me that as a small child, I must have eaten things which made me feel ill or "wrong", and I didn't know why because it didn't seem to do that to anyone else, and I didn't know that some people react badly to some foods. So instead I became fussy, eating only the foods which seemed "safe". But because I didn't have enough understanding or language to explain this, and because food allergies were fairly rare and intolerances virtually unknown, it didn't really get sorted out.

I still have to fight the urge to be fussy about food. I certainly eat far far more different things than I'd ever have tried at the age of 13, when I first became vegetarian. But I still NEED to be in control of my diet. I like to either go to a restaurant where I can choose food that is suitable for me (exclusively vegan restaurants are heaven, because I know I can eat just about anything on the menu without becoming ill), or cook at home, or eat food prepared by a friend who is fully understanding of what I can and can't eat as well as what I like and don't like to eat. I've always been twitchy if I'm forced to eat food prepared by someone I don't know well (e.g. a friend or partner's parent), because one can't easily interrogate a stranger about every single item that has been put into a dish without seeming critical. At least I have a reason for the fussiness now.

This is also one of the many reasons why I won't go on any kind of weight-loss diet, even the type that is about long-term healthy eating rather than quick mass reduction. I need to be in control of what I eat - that means ME, not some plan that says on Thursday I am eating carrot soup.

Re: fussy eaters

[ailbhe]

Because, of course, anecdotal evidence from mothers isn't possibly enough to base serious scientific research on *eye roll*.

I've done that rant, just over a year ago.

I've always been twitchy if I'm forced to eat food prepared by someone I don't know well (e.g. a friend or partner's parent), because one can't easily interrogate a stranger about every single item that has been put into a dish without seeming critical.

My mother would be ideal for you. She cooks very good, simple food, and will always know exactly what's in there. And it will always be a short, simple list. And she's the one who identified my dairy intolerance while breastfeeding, not the doctor. She thinks this kind of thing is important; my second-oldest sister was seriously ill from dairy intolerance, so the doctors got my mother to put her on formula. She got much, much worse. Mum's still furious.