My 6-year-old stopped eating after her celiac diagnosis. I'm talking 3 bites of banana for dinner. Here's what finally worked after trying literally everything.
Look, I'm just going to say it: my daughter basically stopped eating when we went gluten-free.
Not like "oh she's picky now" - I mean she'd sit at the table and cry, take two bites of rice, and say she was full. For THREE MONTHS. Her pediatrician started using words like "failure to thrive" and my anxiety was through the roof.
I tried everything the internet tells you. The gentle approaches, the tough love, the "they'll eat when they're hungry" advice. You know what? Sometimes that doesn't work. Sometimes your kid just... won't eat.
Here's what actually got us through it. Not pretty parenting Instagram tips - the messy, imperfect stuff that worked.
Why This Happens (And Why Everyone Says "It's Normal" But It Doesn't Feel Normal)
The doctors kept telling me: "It's normal for kids to be resistant to diet changes. She'll adjust."
What they didn't tell me: Some kids completely lose their appetite after going gluten-free. Like, their favorite foods are gone, everything tastes different, and their gut is still healing so nothing sounds good anyway.
Add in the fact that a lot of gluten-free food legitimately tastes worse than regular food (sorry, but it's true), and you've got a recipe for a kid who just... refuses.
What was actually happening with my daughter:
- Her gut was still damaged (low appetite is common during healing)
- She was grieving her old foods (yeah, six-year-olds grieve)
- Everything we gave her tasted "wrong" to her
- She'd developed anxiety around eating (worried about getting sick)
- She was constipated from the diet change (which kills appetite)
Once I understood it wasn't just her being difficult, I could actually help.
What Didn't Work (So You Can Skip It)
"They'll eat when they're hungry" - Nope. She just didn't eat. Lost 3 pounds in a month.
Making separate meals for the family - Made her feel worse, like her food was "special" (not in a good way).
Hiding vegetables - She's six, not stupid. She knew.
Rewards and bribes - Created MORE anxiety around food. Now she associated eating with pressure.
The "one bite rule" - Turned every meal into a battle. I'd rather she eat nothing than us both crying at dinner.
Comparing her to other kids - "Look, Tommy eats everything!" Yeah, Tommy doesn't have celiac, Susan.
What Actually Worked (The Messy Truth)
Week 1-2: I Stopped Trying So Hard
This sounds counterintuitive, but the first thing that helped was backing off.
I was so stressed about her eating that mealtimes became this tense, anxious thing. She could feel it. Kids always can.
What I did instead:
- Put food on the table
- Ate my own dinner and actually enjoyed it
- Didn't comment on what she ate or didn't eat
- Cleared plates after 30 minutes with zero discussion
What happened: Nothing immediately. But the crying stopped. That was something.
Real talk: This was HARD. Every bone in my body wanted to say "just eat three more bites." I had to literally bite my tongue.
Week 3: I Let Her Eat "Bad" Food
My daughter wanted chicken nuggets. That's it. Just chicken nuggets.
So I bought every gluten-free chicken nugget brand I could find (there are like 8) and let her eat them. For breakfast. For lunch. For dinner.
My mom's reaction: "You're going to let her eat nuggets for every meal?"
My reaction: "Watch me."
What happened: She ate. Like, actually ate. Three nuggets became five became seven. She gained half a pound.
Was it nutritionally ideal? Hell no. But you know what's worse than chicken nuggets three times a day? A kid who doesn't eat AT ALL.
Brands we tried:
- Perdue GF nuggets (★★★★★ - she actually liked these)
- Applegate GF nuggets (★★★☆☆ - "too healthy tasting" lol)
- Bell & Evans GF nuggets (★★★★☆ - good but pricey)
- Ian's GF nuggets (★★★☆☆ - weird aftertaste)
After two weeks of nugget life, I started adding things next to them. A few grapes. Some crackers. She didn't always eat them, but sometimes she did.
Week 5: The "Breakfast for Dinner" Breakthrough
Turns out my kid will eat breakfast food.
Scrambled eggs? Sure. GF pancakes? Absolutely. Regular dinner food at 6pm? Absolutely not.
So we started having breakfast for dinner 3-4 nights a week.
My husband thought I'd lost my mind. "We can't just eat pancakes for dinner."
Oh but we can. And we did.
Our rotation:
- Scrambled eggs with cheese (protein!)
- GF pancakes with fruit (she'd eat like 3 pancakes)
- GF waffles with peanut butter
- Breakfast burritos (eggs, cheese, in a GF tortilla)
- "Brinner" (her name for it) - just cereal honestly
Why this worked: Breakfast foods felt safe to her. They didn't remind her of the "old" foods she couldn't have anymore.
Week 6: I Stopped Cooking Separate GF Versions
Here's something nobody tells you: when you make a gluten-free version of a regular food, kids KNOW it's not the same.
GF mac and cheese doesn't taste like Kraft. I don't care what box you buy.
GF bread doesn't taste like Wonder Bread.
And when you serve her GF pizza while everyone else has regular pizza? She knows she's getting the "other" version.
What I did instead: I made the WHOLE FAMILY eat gluten-free meals.
Not GF substitutes - actually gluten-free meals that don't need substituting:
- Tacos with corn tortillas (naturally GF)
- Stir-fry with rice
- Grilled chicken and roasted potatoes
- Spaghetti with GF pasta for everyone
Game changer: When everyone was eating the same food, she didn't feel different.
Week 8: "Safe Foods" Box in the Pantry
I gave up trying to make her eat what I wanted her to eat.
Instead, I bought a clear plastic box, put it in the pantry at her level, and filled it with foods she could eat anytime.
What went in the box:
- Annie's GF bunny crackers
- GoGo squeeze pouches
- String cheese
- Grapes (washed, in a container)
- GF granola bars
- Banana (she could grab one)
The rule: She could eat from this box whenever she wanted. Hungry at 3pm? Grab something. Don't like dinner? Box is there.
Why this worked:
- She felt in control (huge for anxious kids)
- I knew she was at least eating SOMETHING
- No more negotiating or begging
My pediatrician's reaction: "That's... actually really smart."
Yeah, I should write a parenting book. Except it would just be "let them eat crackers."
Week 10: The Dipping Sauce Revolution
This one is stupid but it WORKED.
My daughter will eat almost anything if she can dip it.
- Chicken nuggets? Better with honey mustard.
- Veggies? Ranch (yes, I let her eat ranch, come at me).
- Fruit? Peanut butter or yogurt for dipping.
- GF toast? Needs Nutella.
I bought like 12 different dipping sauces and just... let her dip.
The ones she actually used:
- Hidden Valley ranch (★★★★★ - will make cardboard taste good)
- Honey (★★★★★ - she dips apple slices)
- Peanut butter (★★★★★ - everything gets dipped)
- Ketchup (★★★★☆ - obviously)
- BBQ sauce (★★★★☆ - for nuggets)
Is it weird that she dips grapes in ranch? Yes. Do I care? Not even a little.
Week 12: I Started Eating First
Here's a weird one: I noticed she ate better when I was already eating.
Not eating WITH her (we tried family dinners - disaster).
But if I sat down with my plate and started eating before putting food in front of her? She'd wander over and pick at my plate.
So I started doing this on purpose:
- Made my lunch, sat down, started eating
- She'd come over: "What are you having?"
- "GF quesadilla. Want some?" (casual, not pushing)
- She'd usually take a bite off MY plate
- Then I'd make her her own
I have no idea why this worked but it did. Maybe it removed the pressure? Maybe my food just looked better?
The Turning Point (Week 16)
Around month 4, something shifted.
Her gut started healing. The GI doctor confirmed it - her antibodies were going down, villi were regenerating.
And suddenly... she was hungry again. Like actually hungry.
She started asking for snacks. Finishing meals. Even trying new foods occasionally.
I'm not going to lie and say it was a smooth recovery. There were still tough days. Still meals where she ate three bites.
But it got better. Slowly, messily, imperfectly better.
What I Wish I'd Known from the Start
1. The "gut healing affects appetite" thing is REAL.
Nobody told me this upfront. Your kid's gut is damaged. Damaged guts don't send proper hunger signals. It's not their fault. It's not your fault.
2. Weight loss in the first 3 months is common.
My daughter lost weight initially even on a GF diet. The doctors were like "yeah that can happen" - TELL ME THAT UPFRONT.
3. This is temporary.
It felt permanent. It wasn't. Most kids' appetites return when their gut heals (6-12 months).
4. Sometimes survival mode is the right mode.
Chicken nuggets for every meal isn't ideal. But keeping your kid fed and reducing mealtime stress? That's actually great parenting.
5. Trust your kid's body.
She didn't starve. Even when she ate almost nothing, her body kept going. Kids are resilient in ways we're not.
The Actual Meal Plan That Worked (Months 4-6)
Not perfect. Not Instagram-worthy. But she ATE.
Breakfast (she'd eat breakfast - this was our win):
- GF cereal (Chex, Nature's Path) with milk
- OR scrambled eggs with cheese
- OR GF frozen waffles (Vans brand - ★★★★★)
- Side of fruit (grapes, berries, or banana)
Morning snack (from her Safe Foods box):
- Annie's GF crackers
- OR string cheese
- OR fruit pouch
Lunch (this was hit or miss):
- GF chicken nuggets (always in the freezer)
- OR quesadilla (cheese in GF tortilla)
- OR peanut butter on GF bread
- Side: whatever she'd tolerate that day (usually crackers or fruit)
Afternoon snack:
- Popcorn (★★★★★ - could eat a whole bowl)
- OR yogurt tube
- OR GF granola bar
Dinner (low expectations):
- Whatever we were having, but I always included one "safe food"
- If we had tacos: she got cheese quesadilla
- If we had stir-fry: she got plain rice with soy sauce
- If we had pasta: she got GF pasta with butter
Before bed (if she didn't eat much dinner):
- Small bowl of cereal
- OR yogurt
- OR piece of fruit
Total calories: Probably 1200-1400 on a good day? Her pediatrician said that's okay for short-term.
Signs It's More Than Normal Pickiness (Call Your Doctor)
I'm not a doctor, but here's when you need to actually call one:
- Weight loss over multiple weeks (not just a pound or two)
- Signs of dehydration (dark pee, no tears when crying, sunken eyes)
- Refusing ALL foods including their previous favorites
- Extreme anxiety or fear around eating
- Vomiting or pain when they do eat (could be something else going on)
- Seems weak or lethargic (not just tired - actually weak)
My daughter hit the weight loss threshold. We did weekly weight checks for a month. Her doctor was monitoring closely.
If you're worried, CALL. That's what they're there for.
What Other Parents Did (Real Stories)
Sarah's son (age 8): "He only ate GF pretzels and apple slices for like 6 weeks. I was freaking out. Pediatrician said just supplement with a multivitamin and wait it out. He eventually started eating again." ★★★★☆
Mike's daughter (age 5): "We did smoothies. She wouldn't eat but she'd drink. I put protein powder, fruit, spinach (she couldn't taste it), almond milk. She lived on smoothies for 2 months." ★★★★★
Jessica's son (age 7): "Honestly? I let him eat McDonald's GF options (fries, nuggets if they had them). Not nutritious but he actually ATE. Sometimes you just need a win." ★★★★★
Tom's daughter (age 9): "She was old enough that we could talk about it. I explained her body was healing and her appetite would come back. That actually helped - she understood it was temporary." ★★★★☆
Foods That Worked for Other GF Kids Who Won't Eat
Top 15 most successful "at least they're eating" foods:
- GF chicken nuggets (★★★★★ - literally every parent mentioned this)
- Cheese (string cheese, shredded, cubes - whatever form)
- Fruit pouches (GoGo squeeze, Mott's)
- GF crackers (Annie's bunnies especially)
- Yogurt (tubes, squeeze pouches, cups)
- Bananas (easy, portable, safe)
- GF cereal (Chex was most popular)
- Popcorn (surprisingly filling)
- Rice (plain white rice with butter and salt)
- GF frozen waffles (quick, they eat them)
- Peanut butter (spoon, bread, celery, crackers - whatever)
- Grapes (easy finger food)
- GF pasta with butter (if you're lucky)
- Scrambled eggs (good protein at least)
- Smoothies (you can hide nutrition in these)
Notice what's NOT on this list? Vegetables. Balanced meals. The food pyramid.
Sometimes you're just trying to get calories in. That's okay.
The Supplements I Used (Check with Your Doctor First)
Since her diet was pretty limited, I added:
Kids multivitamin (★★★★★):
- Flintstones Complete (GF, has iron)
- She liked the taste, actually took it
Probiotic (★★★★☆):
- Culturelle Kids packets
- Mixed into applesauce
- Seemed to help her gut/appetite
Omega-3 gummy (★★★★☆):
- Nordic Naturals (they don't taste fishy)
- For brain development since she wasn't eating fish
Fiber supplement (★★★★☆):
- Benefiber (unflavored, dissolves in water)
- Because she was constantly constipated
- Constipation kills appetite
Pediatrician's take: "This is fine for short-term. We'll reassess in 3 months."
The Mental Health Piece Nobody Talks About
This almost broke me.
I cried more during these months than I did when she was diagnosed. At least the diagnosis had answers and a plan.
This? This was just watching your kid not eat and feeling helpless.
Things that helped my sanity:
Weekly weight checks: Knowing her weight let me relax between appointments. If she was stable or gaining, I could breathe.
Tracking what she DID eat: Instead of focusing on what she didn't eat, I wrote down what she did. Some days it was just "4 nuggets, 10 crackers, 1 yogurt" - but that's SOMETHING.
Connecting with other celiac parents: Found a Facebook group. Everyone had been through this. Just knowing I wasn't alone helped.
Therapy for ME: Yeah, I saw a therapist. The anxiety around meal times was consuming me. Talking it through helped.
Giving myself permission to feed her "bad" food: Once I let go of the perfect diet ideal, everything got easier.
The Recovery Timeline (What to Expect)
Month 1: Everything sucks. Kid eats nothing. You panic.
Month 2: Still sucks but slightly less panic. You've identified 3-5 foods they'll eat.
Month 3: Gut starting to heal (usually). Appetite might start returning. Or might not yet.
Month 4: Turning point for many kids. Appetite improves. Trying new foods occasionally.
Month 5-6: Much better. Still not perfect, but MUCH better.
Month 12: Most kids are eating relatively normally (for a picky kid).
Important: Every kid is different. This was our timeline. Yours might be faster or slower.
What I'd Do Differently
Start with safe foods immediately: I wasted weeks trying to make her eat balanced meals. Should've just let her eat nuggets from day one.
Get the pediatrician involved sooner: Weekly weight checks should've started in week 2, not week 6.
Lower my expectations: I thought she'd be "back to normal" in a month. Setting realistic expectations would've reduced my stress.
Ask for help: I tried to handle it alone. Should've involved a pediatric dietitian or feeding therapist earlier.
Trust the process: Her body knew what it needed. I should've trusted that more.
FAQ: When Your GF Kid Won't Eat
Q: How long is too long to let this go on? A: If weight loss continues past 2-3 weeks or they're losing more than 5% of body weight, call the doctor. Otherwise, most kids self-regulate.
Q: Should I force them to eat? A: No. That creates negative food associations and makes it worse. Offer food, don't force it.
Q: What if they're only eating carbs? A: Short-term, that's fine. Add a multivitamin. Long-term, gradually introduce protein sources they'll accept.
Q: Is it okay to give them Pediasure or nutritional shakes? A: Check that they're GF first (most are), but yes - if they'll drink calories, that's better than nothing. We used Orgain Kids Protein shakes (★★★★☆).
Q: When should I see a feeding therapist? A: If it's been 3-4 months with no improvement, or if mealtimes involve extreme anxiety/meltdowns, a feeding therapist can help.
Q: What if they're losing weight? A: Doctor. Now. Weekly weight checks. Possibly see a pediatric GI or dietitian.
Q: Will they ever eat normally again? A: Yes. Almost all kids eventually expand their diet once their gut heals and they adjust. It just takes longer than you want it to.
The Bottom Line (From a Mom Who's Been There)
My daughter eats now. Not perfectly - she's still picky. But she eats.
She's gained back the weight plus some. Her energy is back. She doesn't cry at mealtimes.
If you're in the thick of it right now, here's what I want you to know:
You're not failing. Your kid isn't broken. This is HARD and it's temporary.
Feed them whatever they'll eat. Yes, even if it's crackers and cheese for every meal.
Lower your expectations. Survival mode is a valid parenting strategy.
Trust that their appetite will come back. It almost always does.
And if you need to cry in your car after dinner? Do it. I did. Multiple times.
You're doing better than you think. Your kid is going to be okay.
And hey - my daughter ate a salad last week. A SALAD. There's hope.
Hang in there.
