Picky eaters may wreak mealtime havoc, but they may have good reasons for their gastronomic aversions. No matter why your child has become picky, how you handle the situation can shape his gastronomic future. Look at your child’s nutritional profile over a week, instead of focusing on what he ate or did not eat that day. Encourage him to at least taste the foods the rest of the family eats. Expect inconsistencies and changing appetites as your child grows.
Neophobia
Neophobia, the fear of the new and unknown, is common in children; it often manifests itself at the dinner table. Some children just refuse to try new foods because they do not know what they will taste like, while others automatically dislike new foods before even tasting them. Some kids take it to the extreme and will only eat a few foods that they know they like. Psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Capaldi states that, by the time children reach the age of two, they have a food routine that they do not want disturbed by new offerings at the table.
Genetics and Environment
A study led by Dr. Lucy Cooke of University College London and published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" concluded that picky eating in children stems from genetics and environmental factors. The research, which followed the eating habits of 5,390 pairs of twins between the ages of 8 and 11, found that roughly 75 percent of the neophobia in the children was inherited, while 25 percent was due to other environmental factors.
Growth Slowdown
Children grow at a rapid pace during their first year, and that growth slows down dramatically by their second year. Although they continue to develop, fast-paced growth like that in the first year tends to come in spurts. When a child is not experiencing one of those bursts of growth, their body needs less energy; that translates into a smaller appetite. When children are not hungry, they tend to only indulge in foods that appeal to them. They reject new foods and foods that are not one of their favorites. Some children will limit their intake to one particular food, like hamburgers or pancakes, leaving all other foods untouched.
Neurological Dysfunction
In some cases, many real reasons exist for why a child has food aversions or behaves as a picky eater. Roughly five percent of children who are 10 years of age or younger have some type of neurological dysfunction that impacts their eating habits. These children tend to suffer from a finite group of issues, including Asperger’s syndrome, pervasive development disorder and non-verbal learning disabilities. These children may be overly sensitive to specific textures or smells, or their brain may not be able to process sensory information properly.
References
- Pediatric Services; Why Kids Are Picky Eaters; Allison Krieg
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Genetic and Environmental Influences on Children's Food Neophobia; Lucy J.Cooke, et al.
- AskDrSears.com: Feeding the Picky Eater - 17 Tips
- Parenting Bookmark; Feeding Disorders and Picky Eating in Infants and Children; Abigail H. Natenshon, MA, LCSW, GCFP
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