Picky eating: New study suggests ways to treat it in young children
Typically, most infants are adventurous eaters who like to try new things, but by the time many of them turn 2 or 3 years old, picky eating habits start to develop.
"So, it's not uncommon (to hear) parents say, 'My kid ate vegetables, and they liked this and they liked that, and now they don't eat anything,' and we see that pretty frequently," said Jennifer Hyland, a registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic.
A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics evaluated eating habits of more than a 150 pre-schoolers before concluding that several factors play a role in whether a child is a picky eater
Genetics, which can be linked to a child's sensory responses, could be one factor.
Picky eating varies from child to child, but for most, it does not go away on its own unless parents focus on changing the child's behavior.
Hyland said it is important to not give up on exposing children to new foods so that they eventually learn to eat the meals. Experts say it could take anywhere from 10 to 20 tries for the child to grow to like the item.
One strategy, experts say, is to ask children to take what's called a "no thank you" bite.
This approach allows the child to refuse an item, but they have to at least try a bite of each food item.
That kind of continued exposure over time may help them develop a taste for a wider variety of foods.
Hyland said parents should offer at least one item on the plate that the child likes but everyone at the table should be given the same foods.
"The child may not eat all parts of it, but it's important that you encourage them to at least try," Hyland said. "And you set an example of trying these foods yourself (so) over time they will learn to eat these foods."
Parents should remember to be consistent with their child and continue to offer up healthy new food dishes. Youngsters who have problems chewing or swallowing, or seem overly anxious about new foods, should consider seeing a doctor.
