Abstract
BackgroundEstimates of picky eating are quite high among young children, with 14-50% of parents identifying their preschoolers as picky eaters. Dietary intake and preferences during the preschool years are characterized by slowing growth rates and children developing a sense of autonomy over their feeding and food selection. We argue that the current conceptualization of picky eating defines acts of resistance or expressions of preference (acts of autonomy) by a child as deviant behaviour. This conceptualization has guided research that uses a unidirectional, parent to child approach to understanding parent-child feeding interactions.ObjectivesBy reviewing the current feeding literature and drawing parallels from the rich body of child socialization literature, we argue that there is a need to both re-examine the concept and parent/clinician perspectives on picky eating. Thus, the objective of this paper is two-fold: 1) We argue for a reconceptualization of picky eating whereby child agency is considered in terms of eating preferences rather than categorized as compliant or non-compliant behaviour, and 2) We advocate the use of bi-directional relational models of causality and appropriate methodology to understanding the parent-child feeding relationship.DiscussionResearchers are often interested in understanding how members in the parent-child dyad affect one another. Although many tend to focus on the parent to child direction of these associations, findings from child socialization research suggest that influence is bidirectional and non-linear such that parents influence the actions and cognitions of children and children influence the actions and cognitions of parents. Bi-directional models of causality are needed to correctly understand parent-child feeding interactions.ConclusionsA reconceptualization of picky eating may elucidate the influence that parental feeding practices and child eating habits have on each other. This may allow health professionals to more effectively support parents in developing healthy eating habits among children, reducing both stress around mealtimes and concerns of picky eating.
Highlights
Estimates of picky eating are quite high among young children, with 14-50% of parents identifying their preschoolers as picky eaters
Picky/fussy eating has been defined as an ‘unwillingness to eat familiar foods or try new foods, severe enough to interfere with daily routines to an extent that is problematic to the parent, child, or parent–child relationship’ [1, 2]
Changes in dietary intake during the preschool years are influenced by physical changes such as slowing growth rates, children change psychologically, developing a sense of autonomy, preferring self-feeding, and exercising their own power in food selection. As agents of their own preferences and actions, children may resist eating foods that are unappealing to them. Many of these food selection behaviours that are considered normal in the development of children’s eating habits are often considered by parents to be ‘picky.’ In this paper, we argue that the current conceptualization of picky eating defines agentic acts of resistance or expressions of preference by a child as deviant behavior
Summary
Estimates of picky eating are quite high among young children, with 14-50% of parents identifying their preschoolers as picky eaters. We argue that the current conceptualization of picky eating defines acts of resistance or expressions of preference (acts of autonomy) by a child as deviant behaviour. The early years are characterized as a time for rapid growth and development, with the rate of weight gain peaking by age two and slowing between the ages of two and 5 years [5]. Coinciding with this decreased rate of growth, most preschoolers experience a decrease in appetite [6]. From an evolutionary perspective, it is expected that young children show initial rejection of new foods to ensure that they are not poisonous [8]
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