Abstract
Caregivers’ perceptions of children’s pickiness are relatively scarce in relation to the five core food groups and their importance in providing a nutritionally balanced diet. Furthermore, there is no validated questionnaire that examines child-reported food preferences in an age-appropriate manner, and the use of terms such as a “picky eater” can be attributed to environmental and genetic factors. Despite potential links between children’s food preferences and endophenotype bitter taste, associations between bitter taste sensitivity and picky eating is relatively unexplored. The proposed cross-sectional study aims to develop and validate a parent-reported core-food Picky Eating Questionnaire (PEQ) and child-reported Food Preference Questionnaire (C-FPQ) and simultaneously investigate environmental and phenotype determinants of picky eating. The study will be conducted in three stages: Phase 1, piloting PEQ and C-FPQ questionnaires (15–20 primary caregivers and their children aged 7–12 years); Phase 2 and 3, validating the revised questionnaires and evaluating the 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) bitter taste sensitivity to examine perception to bitter taste (369 primary caregivers and their children). Study findings will generate new validated tools (PEQ, C-FPQ) for use in evidence-based practice and research and explore picky eating as a behavioural issue via the potential genetic-phenotype basis of bitter taste sensitivity.
Highlights
The term “picky eating” is an umbrella term used to capture a spectrum of behavioural or appetite traits that are perceived by parents or caregivers as a problematic issue [1,2]
The age range of 7–12 years was selected as a considerable proportion (59%) of children 7–12 years have age range of 7–12 years was selected as a considerable proportion (59%) of children 7–12 years have been reported as picky eaters in previous literature [1,25,26]
This study aims to examine child-reported food preferences for core and discretionary foods and investigate children’s response child‐reported food preferences for core and discretionary foods and investigate children’s response to (PROP) bitter-taste sensitivity
Summary
The term “picky eating” is an umbrella term used to capture a spectrum of behavioural or appetite traits that are perceived by parents or caregivers as a problematic issue [1,2]. A systematic review examining picky eating in children aged 4 months–17 years of mainly cross-sectional studies (31/41 studies, n = 32–4987) from the USA, UK and Europe reported that higher levels of picky eating were predominantly (22/41) associated with lower children’s weight status with only 2/41 studies showing the inverse relationship [4] In both reviews, picky eating was measured as a behavioural or appetite trait commonly using the CEBQ [6], dietary intake using 24 h dietary recalls, food records, or food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) [1] and weight status as Body Mass Index (BMI) z-scores [4].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call