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New research suggests that picky eating habits are largely due to our genetics.The researchers, who analyzed data from the Gemini Twin Cohort Study (a large group of 2,400 pairs of twins that was created in 2007 to explore children's early life, growth and behavior), also found that selective eating habits peak around age seven and tend to decline slightly after that.
The genetic influence on picky eating was found to increase significantly after early childhood, rising from 60% at 16 months to 83% at three years, and remaining stable (over 70%) until age 13 years.
“Fussy eating is common among children and can be a major source of anxiety for parents and carers, who often blame themselves for this behaviour or are blamed by others,” said lead author Dr Zeynep Nas, from the Department of Behavioural and Health Sciences at University College London. “We hope our finding that fussy eating is largely innate may help to alleviate parental guilt.”
But what is the best way to deal with picky eaters? And is there anything parents can do to help?
Keep calm
Being restless at mealtimes can be stressful and frustrating at times. However, it can be helpful to create calm associations for children around mealtime. “Try to remain calm and reassure yourself that most children can meet their nutritional needs and that you will introduce more variety over time,” says consultant psychiatrist Dr Lorna Richards, who specialises in adult eating disorders at Priory's Life Works.
Don't force it
It's never a good idea to force your child to eat. As well as being stressful, this can have a negative impact on their eating habits in the long run.
“Avoid using bribes, rewards or punishments, and don’t force the child to eat a particular food or stay past mealtime to finish it,” Richards says.
Be a role model
Be a role model for your child and show positive attitudes around food.
“Try to eat with others when possible and model healthy, flexible, social eating,” Richards suggests.Keep an eye on it
Picky eating behavior usually improves over time, and as long as kids are getting enough nutrients overall, it's usually not a cause for concern. But watch for signs that could indicate something more serious is going on, such as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).
“While most picky eating behaviors are a normal part of development, it’s important to recognize when it’s becoming a problem,” Richards says.
“There are two obvious differences between picky eating behavior and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ARFID). When someone has ARFID, they lose weight or fail to gain weight (a child will begin to fall below their expected weight trajectory on growth charts), and this interferes with psychosocial functioning.
“Children with fussy eating behaviours may also be linked to developing an eating disorder in adolescence, especially in girls,” Richards adds. “In short, it is often a passing phase, but as with most parenting advice, you need to be vigilant and take these other aspects into account.”
