Abstract
Children are often categorized as picky eaters by parents and caregivers for their rejection of foods, such as vegetables, and for exhibiting other difficult mealtime behaviors. However, there are several factors that contribute to these mealtime behaviors, including early feeding practices (i.e., breastfeeding, introduction to solid food), repeated exposure to novel foods, and genetic taste sensitivity to certain compounds. Using the online database of PubMed, a review of the literature on the development of picky eating in children, its outcomes, and intervention strategies was conducted. This review groups the developmental contributors to picky eating into the categories of nature and nurture and explores the interaction between the two. This paper will also summarize the potential outcomes of picky eating and the various strategies that are currently recommended to mitigate picky eating in young children. However, there is a lack of longitudinal work targeting consistent picky eating behaviors that have the potential to impact long-term food preferences and dietary variety. Future intervention strategies should address the factors that influence the development of picky eating on an individual level.
Highlights
Picky eating is a commonly used term to describe the mealtime behaviors and food preferences of young children
We propose that the phenotype of picky eating represents an interplay between genetics and environment, as repeated exposure to less palatable foods can lead to greater acceptance [4]
The outcomes of picky eating and mealtime challenges can have a significant impact on families; research studies to support healthy dietary intakes among young children are greatly needed
Summary
Picky eating is a commonly used term to describe the mealtime behaviors and food preferences of young children. The age at which children are introduced to complementary foods may play a role in their readiness to consume new foods. Those who receive solids after ten months of age have lower dietary variety, consume fewer fruits and vegetables, and exhibit more feeding problems [42,43]. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for around six months, with the possibility of introducing solids at four months It recommends introduction of potential allergens before six months to prevent the development of allergies [44]. As there is still relatively little evidence on the impact of age of introduction to solids on picky eating, further research in this area is warranted
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