What can I do about my foster son only wanting to eat bread I tried so much stuff I even asked him what he likes eat he says bread …. Someone help me, My three kids eats anything I feel bad for my foster son not wanting eat really anything !
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Depending on the age of the child, that could be something in his mind that he has to work out on his own. Just keep offering food for him at meal times and he’ll eat when he’s ready. Even though it’s just bread, he’s eating something. Don’t push him, it could make it worse. And also mention this to his social worker. He may need some therapy as well. Poor kid.
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Maybe see if you can add jelly or something like bread dipped in something
My first thought was to tell you to stop buying bread so he could eat something else, but he is a foster kid so this has to be handled differently ( in my opinion) can be something mental or even emotional related to his abuse .
You should talk to his social worker or pediatrician, in the meantime keep giving him bread and offering different kinds of food
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How old is he? Can you ask the foster service what kind of trauma he suffered and how it might affect his eating? Was he only allowed to eat bread, for example? Ask him what would happen if he eats something other than bread.
Have him take multivitamins.
Ask if it’s because his teeth, stomach or anything else hurts when he eats. Get him evaluated for food allergies.
See if he’ll drink meal replacers with his bread, like Ensure. Will he drink milk or juice?
Keep introducing/offering (but not pushing) him foods the rest of your family eats. It might just be a phase until he’s more comfortable with you all. They say it takes seven tries before a kid will eat something new.
Get him different kinds of bread: whole wheat, nut breads, seeded, sprouted, multi-grain, sourdough, croissants, doughnuts, Danish.
Will he eat bread with butter or peanut butter or apple butter? Can you make or buy zucchini or carrot or banana bread so he gets some other nutrients? Would he try stuffing with cubed bread?
Hope he’s getting some counseling as his bread-only diet probably relates to issues of control because he had none over his previous circumstances, or other stuff.
Good luck and thank you for fostering!
I would try amping up the piece of bread! Offer a piece with just butter. But also offer the bread how they like. Let them have a choice. Be encouraging when trying to get them to try the bread in a new form. It may take awhile but if they do come around to the buttered bread, they will start to understand that other foods are tolerable. Then try a piece with melted cheese or peanut butter. Always offer what they’re use to but encourage the attempt of something new. It may take weeks or months but it’s important to keep the child in their comfort zone. This is what I’ve found to work best with young children. But every child is different. As a foster parent, you know what’s best. Do what your gut tells you based on the information you know. Foster children are delicate and sometimes you don’t know what to do until you suddenly do.
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Will he eat bread with peanut butter and banana, maybe cut with cookie cutter to make a shape. Maybe get creative and let him help make the sandwich.
My pediatrician always said they could have picked something worse.
Talk to his pediatrician and social worker. I would ask him if he would like to make it in different ways…see if he wants to help you make it cheesy bread, pizza bread, toast, grilled cheese etc…
Probably a comfort thing or maybe was all he was allowed to eat, so fears other food. Definitely handle with care. Counseling is a for sure and talk to his case worker to see if you can find out the why. Once you know the why it will be easier to figure out how to navigate the rest. You might try (if he’s old enough) to get him involved in cooking dinner or baking. This will make good memories related to food, which could help. This is heartbreaking, it hurts my heart that kids go through this type of stuff.
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It could be a sensory issue. My grandson can only eat certain textures and bread is one of his favorites. Some things cause him to gag and end up sick ruining his whole meal so I’ve never pushed him to eat anything but I do give him vitamins because veggies don’t do well.
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Why feel bad? When we’re picky eaters, we don’t care what people are eating and we don’t feel like we’re missing out on things we don’t like. We’ll also often only eat certain brands, certain people’s cooking, etc. I’m super picky. Have you thought he doesn’t like what you make or may have texture issues? I don’t eat a lot foods due to texture or smell. I have a kid who eats like 6 different meal ish items. Fruit is going to be your best bet for healthy options.
he’s a foster kid, he’s not one of yours… talk to his case manager to see if he’s got food trauma, has he been seen by Dr or dietician?
Give him bread as a side to whatever your serving. It sounds weird but the exposure to the other food gives him a chance to eat something else with the ability to have some control were he has none right now and gets a couple slices of bread. Sometimes kids in foster care just need to have some control of what’s going on. I’d just not make it a big deal and let him work through this. Bread is a lot less dramatic than huge epic meltdowns or something like that
My daughter goes to occupational therapy. And has food sensory issues. I was told to offer her what we are eating, but have her preferences on hand incase she decides she doesn’t want to try it.
Maybe that will help him to realize it is ok to eat other things.
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Will he eat different kinds of bread at least, then maybe you can get him nutrients from other things through the bread. Like I eat a whole grain bread and it’s got sunflower seeds in it. I was just recently told by a dietitian that exposure to new foods consistently is the best way to get them curious about trying new foods. So give him his bread and a healthier bread then his bread and a tiny bit of Mac and cheese and a piece or two of broccoli.
Give him the bread, all the bread and different kinds of bread but also serve it with a portion of the meal you made. Tell him he doesn’t have to eat it but it’s there if he wants to try it. It’s possible he came from a home where the only thing he could get himself was bread so it’s the only thing that he knows. Sit down with him and eat some bread too, don’t make a big deal about it just do it, it just might give him the support he needs to then “copy” you at meal time, again don’t make a big deal about it, just let it be.
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Clue in his caseworker. Message bio parents if that’s an option. (We had a communication binder during visits for mine). Sometimes they have insight and tricks for the child.
Instead of asking just what he likes, ask what he had at home. If he’s school aged, ask the school to let you know what he does eat off his plate.
Ask what snacks he likes. He may be afraid of your cooking not looking like what he’s used to but prepackaged snacks may feel more safe.
Get a gummy multivitamin in the mean time. If you truly can’t get him to eat anything else, his caseworker should get him in therapy.
Sounds like that might of been only food he had before he was placed in foster care. This might be a trauma response too so this is a good question for the child’s therapist if he’s in therapy and possibly his social worker that’s assigned to him and your family.
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Toast a slice and put baked beans on it or scrambled egg. Make toast and jam or cheese on toast make bread pudding or bread and butter pudding . You can make pizza, chicken or beef or lamb sandwiches its quiet versatile. Let him help you.
I went through a stage in my childhood that I’d only eat white bread. The thought of anything else made me gag. I didn’t understand it, still don’t. My mom was besides herself. It was months. Then one day I was able to eat more. I don’t have advise for you on how to get him to eat other things. But please don’t pressure him. Have other foods available but make sure bread is one of the options. Provide different spreads for his bread. I was able to tolerate butter & mustard sometimes. Pressuring him will make him feel bad about himself. It won’t help him eat more variety.
See if you can’t offer something on the bread.
Start with butter bread, then peanutbutter (assuming he doesn’t have an allergy), then jelly. Then peanutbutter and jelly. Then toast with butter. Then try lunch meat. Then offer fruit or chips with it.
Also, continue to offer other foods.
I would also talk to his case worker and pediatrician.
Therapy is also a good idea - If he’s in foster care, there’s a good chance that he’s been through some trauma.
How old is he and how long has he been with you? It might take some time to adjust. Can you have a basket just for him available that he can access when he wants to? Is there someone you can speak with about his eating history?
My grandson will eat food I let him or help him cook. He would eat just the hotdog bun before.
This could be a trauma response or a comfort thing. Don’t push him. Continue to offer other things and let him know he can eat other things but don’t force it. These things take time. Especially if he hasn’t been in your care for long.
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Trauma response. Please speak with his health care professional. That could be a safe food he was use to eating and it’s become familiar and comforting to him. One thing that might help bring him around is letting him help with his food choices and preparations. Let him go to the store and pick out the foods he’d like to try. You could use something as an incentive for trying new foods. My oldest son was a special needs picky eater and I made a paper pizza with the slices cut and laminated. I attached velcro on each piece and every time my son tried a new food, he would earn a slice of “pizza”. Once his pizza was whole he earned a special interest prize. Back then he was really into transformers and blind bags lol 
It really worked for us.
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Tons of great advice here. I’d suggest making your own bread and having him help you. It’ll be much healthier, you can add protein and it might end up being a healing experience for him 
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Woo woo woo - this is the caseworker’s responsibility. You are an Angel for trying- but this behavior is possibly part of a deep seed response- seek any and all the resources you can - from caseworker, Medical- psychological- this young man needs help NOW - please - I’ve seen it ( not with just bread but similar foods)- he needs help
Awww. Maybe his teeth hurt
This is clearly a child clinging to something safe and familiar. Try to be laid back about it. Let him know that if that is what he wants that is OK, but keep offering other foods as well. Don’t make a big thing of it. If he eats bread, he is eating! Short term it’s not a healthy diet, but taking his wishes and needs seriously sends the message that you are listening and respecting him. It is building trust and saying that you are a safe person and not a dictator. In your shoes I would offer peanut butter, honey, jam etc on the bread and work from there. I would also, as others have advised, seek professional advice and support.