In my house, dinner time is a battle of wills between me and my two children. The table is the setting of our daily negotiations. I offer peas, they counter with pizza, and we usually end up settling on corn and calling it a day. It can be frustrating to fight a seemingly losing battle with your little ones, but your child's pickiness may be part of a larger problem. This is why it's important to pay attention to the signs your kid has a food sensitivity and that they're not just picky.
Unlike a food allergy, food sensitivities can be a little trickier to diagnose. The symptoms of food sensitivity are often a delayed reaction after consumption, and can take up to 72-hours to appear, according to functional medicine expert, Dr. Amy Myers. Some of the most common culprits include corn, dairy, soy, and gluten. And although a food sensitivity is not life-threatening, the symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable for young children, especially if they don't have the vocabulary to express how they are feeling.
Watch your children closely for any of the symptoms on this list, and try eliminating some of the foods you believe may be causing their discomfort to uncover any food sensitivities. Just don't let them convince you to put them on an ice cream only diet.