“She Won’t Eat Anything” - How to Solve a Common Parent Concern

I skimmed the chart before walking into the exam room.
Chief complaint: “Won’t eat anything.”

I took a deep breath. My clinic schedule was already packed.
I was running 30 minutes behind. And now...
A 5-year-old who won’t eat anything?

Internally, I sighed.
“Seriously? Nothing? Highly unlikely.”
But I kept that to myself and opened the door with curiosity instead of judgment.

Her mom got straight to the point:
“Is there a medication you can prescribe to increase her appetite?”

Another deep breath.
And this time, a mental reset.

Because when I hear this question, I know there’s usually more to the story.
So instead of reaching for a prescription pad, I asked a few questions first:

1. Why is mom asking for medication?

Is she overwhelmed? Worried about growth?
Has someone else—maybe a teacher or grandparent—commented on her daughter’s eating habits?

Understanding the why behind the ask often tells me more than the question itself.

2. What exactly is this child eating?

Parents often say “she doesn’t eat anything,” but when we go meal by meal, snack by snack, and drink by drink…
we usually uncover that she is eating—just not in the way the parent hopes.

In this case, I asked mom to walk me through a typical day.

3. What’s going on with stooling patterns?

It might surprise you, but constipation is one of the most common reasons kids stop eating.
If the gut is backed up, there’s no room for more food—and appetite naturally drops.

Sure enough, mom shared that her daughter was pooping only once or twice a week and was straining to do so.

4. What are mealtimes like at home?

I asked about screen time. Bribing. Pressure to finish food. Whether they sit together at the table.

Turns out this little girl was eating most meals alone… while watching YouTube.
No connection. No conversation. No fun.

We had our answer.

This wasn’t a medication issue.
This was a case of common (and fixable) feeding challenges:

• Chronic constipation

• Mindless screen-based eating

• Lack of connection at meals

So, we made a new plan:
✅ More fiber + water to support regular stooling. If you want tips on how to do this, learn more here. 
✅ Turning off screens during meals
✅ Bringing fun and family back to the table

Nothing fancy.
No supplements or meds.
Just simple changes grounded in connection, rhythm, and a little silliness.

Because if you know me, you know I love a good dinner time dance party.

If you’ve ever heard the phrase “She won’t eat anything,” chances are the problem isn’t just about food.
It’s about connection, comfort, and consistency.

And yes—I did an entire podcast episode on this.
I dive into constipation, picky eating, pressure at the table, and strategies that actually help.

🎧 Want the link? Click here to listen to Episode 46: Food Play 

If you work with kids:
Here are 3 questions I always ask when a parent says their child isn’t eating:

1. “Can you walk me through what they ate and drank yesterday, including snacks?”

2. “How often are they having a bowel movement?”

3. “What’s mealtime like—screens, pressure, alone or with family?”

The answers tell me everything I need to know.

Let’s stop jumping to meds and start getting curious.
Because kids can learn to love food—if we help make it safe, social, and silly.