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Do you have a picky eater in your home? Â Perhaps this story about how a small daily dose of spearmint extract fixed the problem for one Mom might help you too.
While on vacation over the Memorial Day holiday, I had the pleasure of meeting a lady named Marcie from Pennsylvania. Marcie and I really hit it off as she totally gets the Real Food way of life.
One of Marcie’s pre-teen children, Selima, has been a picky eater and struggling with poor appetite over the past couple of years due to some problems with her stomach’s signaling of hunger to the brain. In other words, she really has to be hungry before her brain will tell her it’s time to eat.Â
What’s more, once Selima does start to eat, she gets full really fast as the signal of satiation is very strong.
For most people, this would be a great problem to have. But, a picky eater in the form of a growing child can be a serious issue as this can hamper proper development and health.
Marcie tried a number of remedies to assist Selima with her poor appetite but none worked very well. Even using cinnamon didn’t work as Selima developed an allergy to it after about one week.
Marcie finally hit on something that worked so well for her picky eater and was so simple, I thought I should write a blog about it. I know that a lot of readers probably have at least one child that is a picky eater and could use a safe, at home remedy to boost appetite for Real Food!
Spearmint Extract for the Picky Eater
Marcie uses spearmint extract (quality source) as an herbal supplement and it is really helping Selima with her appetite and also with gaining weight. Prior to using spearmint extract, Selima’s weight wasn’t even listed on the weight charts for her age and height. She is now near the 10th percentile!
Marcie uses spearmint extract (find it here). It is preferably a glycerin based tincture with a strong potency although alcohol as a base is fine too since such tiny amounts are used.
Only 1/4 tsp in the morning 30 minutes or so before breakfast is all that is required. She initially tried 1/2 tsp in the morning, but found that Selima would get so hungry from that size dosage that her stomach would literally hurt.
Spearmint extract initially suppresses the appetite and then the appetite comes back very strong a few minutes later, so be sure to use it in first thing in the morning so that it works all day, including for breakfast.
Spearmint Extract Won’t Be Much Help for a High Sugar Eating Child
Also note that too much sugar and grains in a child’s diet will also suppress appetite quite effectively, so reducing these types of foods can go a long way toward remedying the situation.
In addition, low thiamine (Vitamin B1) will result in poor appetite as well, so adding some nutritional yeast to popcorn or smoothies may do the trick. Â Pineapple is also high in thiamine.
If these dietary approaches just don’t seem to work, however, spearmint extract may turn out to be just the ticket for turning your picky or reluctant eater into a Real Food hound!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
I need to know where to buy this too!
I agree thehealthyhomeeconomist! – kids that eat a wide range of healthy foods rarely overeat because they are nourished and don’t crave empty foods, therefore avoiding obesity. And from my experience, some kids really need support in eating enough to meet their bodies needs whether this is because of low appetite, picky eating, or their digestion/absorption is poor. Also gluten and casein can cause picky eating (when they are intolerant and addicted), so that is also something to think about too. Thanks for this!
lol spearmint icecream?
Where do you buy your spearmint extract?
Thank you
Great to know about Spearmint Extract! I work with a lot of picky eaters, and Zinc deficiency is a significant factor contributing to poor appetite in kids. When the body is very low in zinc, it does not have the ability to smell and taste foods properly, and real food can seem very unappealing and taste bland or boring. I have found that once zinc levels increase, the appetite does too! A great way to test your child’s zinc levels is with the liquid Zinc Challenge by DFH. Hold liquid in mouth for 15-30 seconds, and if it tastes like water, your child is deficient. If they spit it out because it tastes horrible, then you know their zinc levels are good! Here a link to Zinc Challenge Liquid:
Just came across this article, hopefully I get a reply…what kind of zinc to supplement?
My 1 year in old son was tongue tied and had preference of eating purees and I am struggling to get him on to table foods. We have got his tongue tie snipped but wondering if he will ever get on to.table foods.
Yes but how do u get the picky eater to eat the spearmint???
It’s only 1/4 tsp off the spoon and tastes good so hopefully this won’t be a problem?
Any idea where I could get “spearmint extract in a glycerin base”? My 6dd was just diagnosed with cancer and I’m going to need all the help I can to keep her appetite up.
Melinda – Just wanted to say I will think of you and your family. Best wishes to your daughter and your family, that is so difficult.
Hi Melinda, I am so sorry to hear this news. Marcie told me that she uses Limited Edition as the brand but I have googled it and not found it anywhere. Perhaps someone else will have better luck finding it?
I wasn’t talking about getting the children obeses… but sometimes some children take their time to grow up and there is no need to hurry things up.
In most cases, I believe in trusting your bodies signals. But for some kids the signals just don’t work. My 13 yo daughter does not recognize hunger and easily loses interest in eating. She is extremely thin and her growth is stunted as a result of caloric deficiency. I am going to pick some spearmint extract this afternoon!!!
In some cases leaving them alone is fine. In others, there definitely needs to be encouragement as with the case in this blog. Kids who eat Real Food rarely get obese unless there is a generous helping of refined carbs on a daily basis accompanying the Real Food.
i have a one year old baby and he REFUSES to eat any thing other than my breastmilk! a good day for him may include 5 or 6 bites of something. I have tried making every creation available…what am I to do!!!?
Hi Fumika, he will eat more over time. He is still so little! 🙂