Many children are picky eaters in that they are very selective about the foods they consume. Picky eating can vary on a spectrum from having mild to severe food preferences, with the latter being classified as avoidant food intake disorder (ARFID) due to the weight loss and malnutrition that it can cause. It is normal for children aged 2-5 years old to go through phases of being a picky eater, but some children get caught in this habit and only want to eat specific foods, which can result in weight changes for the child and increased demands on the parent.
Picky eating in children can be caused by a variety of things, including mental health disorders such as anxiety, developmental and behavioral disorders, sensory sensitivities, having bad experiences with food, and feeding difficulty. Picky eating may often be brushed off as a non-issue, but it can put children at risk for nutritional deficiencies. Nonetheless, picky eating is resolvable; psychologists recommend these five tips for helping children overcome their selective eating patterns.
First, understand that picky eating results from food anxiety; the child does not enjoy eating new foods and picky eating helps them cope. Second, do not coerce or make your child eat foods that they don’t want to eat. Allowing your child to choose what foods to consume decreases pressure to eat, and in turn allows them to eat better. Third, begin to provide your child with new food experiences to help relieve food anxiety. For example, you could take them to the grocery store with you and teach them about new foods. Fourth, consider making a change to how you present meals to your child. A common method of feeding picky eaters is providing them a different meal at a time separate from when the rest of the family eats. This method can isolate a child and decreases their exposure to different foods. Instead, consider using a family meal approach, where a couple of dishes are prepared and served buffet-style. This approach allows the family to eat the same foods together, and grants picky eaters choice as well. Lastly, set boundaries around eating, such as how long meals should last or whether electronics are allowed at the table.
Helping a child overcome picky eating is a family effort that requires patience, but overall is a worthwhile process that in the end can improve your child’s nutritional health.
Kylie Robinshaw
Research Assistant, UConn KIDS
Article Link: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ask-child-psychologist/202211/how-do-i-get-my-picky-eater-try-new-foods