What is Food Neophobia?

According to Wikipedia, Food Neophobia is an eating disorder also known as a "fussy eater" disorder.  Wikipedia goes on to inform us this disorder can occur in toddlers and young children. It also states, that a traumatic incident in the "terrible two's" phase can bring this on.

I believe this is what happened to my daughter. No, she has not been diagnosed by a doctor.  However, at 18 months her primary caregiver, my mother, had heart failure and was hospitalized. From birth to 18 months my daughter and mother were inseparable.  My husband and I both worked full-time and my mother was the chosen one.  While my mother was in the hospital I placed my daughter in a daycare. Oh and just before this all happened we had moved into a new much bigger home.

As a baby, my daughter always ate well.  It wasn't until she was just about 2 years old that she started pushing food away.  At 7 years of age (almost 8), my daughter now has a very limited menu.  Macaroni and Cheese, Ramen noodles (which she calls Orange Noodles due to the color of the bag), Cup o' Noodles, pasta with butter and salt and potato chips (preferably the spicy ones).  These are her main staples.  She does eat other foods but not many.

I have talked to her pediatrician about her eating habits but she says it is normal and she will grow out of it.  The pediatrician also says she is very healthy so no foul.  However, my husband and I want so desperately for her to eat more healthy foods and have a variety of meals to choose from.

As my daughter will be entering the 3rd grade on September 5th (yes, she starts late...actually she starts on time, remember we always started school after Labor Day), I have decided to Start with Lunch Time! Against my husband's checkbook wishes I bought a Planetbox Rover lunch system.  I am hoping it arrives before the first day school.  The first day of school hopefully will be the start of a new adventure in more ways than one.  More to come...