Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD

Thyroid Pharmacist

Podcast Episode 124: Picky Eating in Children: Nutrients, Root Causes and Solutions With Dr. Amber Brooks

124: Picky Eating in Children: Nutrients, Root Causes and Solutions With Dr. Amber Brooks

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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, I spoke with Dr. Amber Brooks, a pediatric health practitioner who specializes in picky eating, to explore some of the potential underlying factors that can contribute to food aversions in children. We discussed nutritional deficiencies, gut health, food allergies and sensitivities, and why a child’s reluctance to eat certain foods may be connected to how their body feels. We also talked about the practical challenges parents face when trying to make dietary changes, introduce supplements, and navigate testing for little ones.

In this episode, we cover:

  • Whether picky eating could be about more than food preferences. Dr. Brooks discusses her approach to picky eating, which includes investigating nutrient deficiencies, gut imbalances, and inflammation. She shares the tests she uses to explore these concerns, and highlights the need to test for ferritin.
  • The food reaction clues parents might be overlooking. Could disrupted sleep, digestive discomfort, or increased fussiness be part of the picture? Dr. Brooks shares why she asks about these patterns when investigating possible food reactions, even when parents haven’t noticed an obvious allergic response.
  • How to eliminate foods when your child already eats almost nothing. Dr. Wentz shares the very real worry of removing foods from an already limited diet. Dr. Brooks walks through how she helps families find familiar food swaps and navigate the grocery store so they have a practical place to start.
  • The supplement mistake that could be making things more challenging. Mixing supplements into a favorite smoothie or juice might seem like an easy solution, but a change in taste or texture could put a trusted food off the menu. Dr. Brooks discusses ways to protect those foods and get creative with tricky flavors and clumping powders.
  • Why forcing your child to eat may make mealtimes harder. Dr. Brooks explains how pressure to eat can reinforce the fear and discomfort a child already associates with food – here’s what she encourages parents to do instead.

Freebies

Connect with Dr. Amber Brooks

Tools and Resources Mentioned

  • Organic Acids Test (OAT): An organic acids test analyzes organic acid metabolites, typically in urine, and may provide information about certain metabolic processes and potential nutritional or microbial imbalances. Dr. Brooks discussed using this test as part of a broader assessment of a child’s health.
  • Food Allergy and Sensitivity Testing: Dr. Brooks discussed assessing potential food allergies and sensitivities as part of her approach to investigating picky eating. Testing methods differ, and food allergies should be evaluated with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. For food sensitivities, I like the Alletess food sensitivity test.
  • Milk Frother or Matcha Mixer: Dr. Brooks recommends using a small handheld milk frother or matcha mixer to help disperse powdered supplements in liquid and reduce clumping.
  • Oral Syringe: Dr. Brooks described using a large oral syringe to administer a prepared supplement mixture, which may help minimize exposure to unfamiliar colors, smells, or textures for some children. Administration methods should be appropriate for the product and child’s age, and should follow professional guidance.
  • Numbing Cream for Blood Draws: I used a numbing cream prescribed by my son’s pediatrician to make blood draws more manageable. Parents can ask their child’s healthcare professional whether an appropriate numbing product may be suitable before a blood draw.

Products and Supplements

  • Multivitamin: Dr. Brooks described introducing a multivitamin as part of her nutritional support approach for children who may not be getting a broad range of nutrients from their diets.
  • Fish Oil: Fish oil was another supplement Dr. Brooks mentioned using as part of her approach to nutritional support for picky eaters. Consider Nordic Naturals Children’s DHA (available via Fullscript; if you don’t have an account, you can sign up with my credentials here). (Note: My articles suggest supplement types and dosages for adults. Please consult a pediatrician to ensure this would be appropriate for your child, and to get dosing recommendations for children.)
  • Zinc: I shared my experience using zinc to support my son. Zinc is an essential mineral involved in many physiological processes, and supplementation should be guided by a child’s individual needs. (Note: My articles suggest supplement types and dosages for adults. Please consult a pediatrician to ensure this would be appropriate for your child, and to get dosing recommendations for children.)
  • Serum-Based Immunoglobulins: I discussed using serum-based immunoglobulins as part of my son’s nutrition support plan, including the challenges of finding a form he would tolerate. A high-quality option I like for adults is Ortho Molecular SBI Protect Powder (available via Fullscript; if you don’t have an account, you can sign up with my credentials here). Please consult a pediatrician to ensure this would be appropriate for your child, and to get dosing recommendations for children.

Resources About Kids Health & Nutrition

Get the Full Episode Transcript

Let’s Connect!

Got questions? Drop them in the comments! 🙂

About Our Host

Dr. Izabella Wentz

Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.

Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and Adrenal Transformation Protocol. Her latest book, IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is available here.

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About Our Guest

Dr. Amber Brooks, DC, APRN, FNP-C, CACCP, BCIP, FMAPS, is an Integrative Pediatric Wellness Coach and founder of Healing Roots Pediatrics, a virtual practice supporting families of children with autism, developmental delays, behavior challenges, sensory processing differences, picky eating, sleep struggles, and gut health concerns. With nearly 20 years of pediatric traditional and integrative medicine experience, Dr. Brooks holds credentials as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C), Certified Advanced Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (CACCP), Board Certified in Integrative Pediatrics (BCIP), and a Fellow of the Medical Academy of Pediatrics and Special Needs (FMAPS). Through her structured 20-week program, The Developmental Blueprint, she helps parents move past symptom management and understand what their child’s body is really communicating, using education, root-cause guidance, and a clear plan instead of guesswork.

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