Picky eating is a common developmental phase that begins in early childhood characterized by a child's refusal to eat certain foods, a preference for eating the same foods repeatedly, or an unwillingness to try new foods. Prevalence rates range from 14%-60% in preschool-aged children and 7%–27% in later childhood. (3) While common, picky eating is often a significant source of stress for families. Understanding potential contributors to picky eating and implementing effective strategies can help parents, caregivers, and teachers manage this behavior and support children to find a balanced diet that works for them.

Contributors to Picky Eating

  •  Developmental Phase: Picky eating can be a normal part of development that peaks in the toddler years and remittance occurs with most children. As children grow, their rate of growth slows down, which can affect their appetite and interest in trying new foods as compared to the first 6 months of life. (3,7)
  • Parental & Peer Influence: The way new foods are introduced and reactions to children's food preferences by parents and peers can influence picky eating behaviors. Research has demonstrated that pressuring children to eat or displaying anxiety at mealtime can exacerbate the issue. (2,6,8)

Strategies for Managing Picky Eating

  • Follow the Division of Responsibility: Parents are responsible for what, when, and where children eat and children are responsible for whether they eat and how much. (9) Giving children autonomy within consistent boundaries encourages healthy eating habits and can reduce parental stress.

  • Create an Enjoyable Mealtime Environment: Encourage regular family meals without distractions from devices. Engage in conversation about topics other than food to minimize pressure on eating behaviors. Positive modeling goes a long way both in the home and at school. (2,3)
  • Consistently Offer New Foods: It may take up to 20 exposures to a new food before a child accepts it. Be patient and keep offering new foods alongside familiar ones (3). Offer a variety of foods in different textures.
  • Include Children in Meal Preparation: Involving children in gardening, cooking, and meal preparation can increase their interest in trying what they helped create. (4) When offering choices at mealtimes, keep it simple by providing children with two options rather than open-ended questions.
  • Avoid Negative Strategies: Do not engage in bribes, use certain foods as rewards, or create separate meals for children. This can lead to negative associations with certain foods and put pressure on children that backfires. (1,5,6) The best reaction is no reaction!

       

If picky eating affects a child's usual growth trajectory or health, consider consulting a pediatrician or dietitian. Warning signs can include but are not limited to: significant weight loss, fear of eating, frequent gagging, or vomiting during meals. Early intervention can make a big difference in addressing underlying issues and promoting lifelong healthy eating habits.

By understanding what contributes to picky eating and implementing supportive strategies in home and at school, parents and teachers can help children develop healthier relationships with food while navigating this common developmental phase with minimal stress.

 

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References

  1. Galloway, A. T., Fiorito, L., Lee, Y., & Birch, L. L. (2005). Parental pressure, dietary patterns, and weight status among girls who are "picky eaters". Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 105(4), 541–548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2005.01.029
  2. Hendy, H. M., & Raudenbush, B. (2000). Effectiveness of teacher modeling to encourage food acceptance in preschool children. Appetite, 34(1), 61–76. https://doi.org/10.1006/appe.1999.0286
  3. Johnson, S. & Moding, K. & Bellows, L. (2018). Children's Challenging Eating Behaviors: Picky Eating, Food Neophobia, and Food Selectivity. 10.1016/B978-0-12-811716-3.00004-X.
  4. Kim, S. O., & Park, S. A. (2020). Garden-Based Integrated Intervention for Improving Children's Eating Behavior for Vegetables. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(4), 1257. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041257
  5. Kininmonth, A. R., Herle, M., Tommerup, K., Haycraft, E., Farrow, C., Croker, H., Pickard, A., Edwards, K., Blissett, J., & Llewellyn, C. (2023). Parental feeding practices as a response to child appetitive traits in toddlerhood and early childhood: a discordant twin analysis of the Gemini cohort. The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 20(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01440-2
  6. Mascola, A. J., Bryson, S. W., & Agras, W. S. (2010). Picky eating during childhood: a longitudinal study to age 11 years. Eating behaviors, 11(4), 253–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2010.05.006
  7. Taylor, C. M., & Emmett, P. M. (2019). Picky eating in children: causes and consequences. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 78(2), 161–169. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665118002586
  8. van der Horst K. (2012). Overcobut ming picky eating. Eating enjoyment as a central aspect of children's eating behaviors. Appetite, 58(2), 567–574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2011.12.019
  9. Satter, E. (2024). Ellyn Satter Institute. Retrieved from https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org

 

— Christine Torressen

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