03/26/2026
Research finds that up to 59% of children may be classified as “picky eaters” (meaning they eat a limited variety of foods and resist trying new foods. “Picky eating” is common throughout childhood but may be most common between the ages 1 to 4 years, peaking around age 2 (Cardona et al., 2015).
So how do you prevent picky eating? 🤔
During mealtimes, do not pressure your children to eat more or “healthier” food. Research consistently finds that pressuring children to eat will likely have the opposite result. Specifically, research finds that pressure from adults to eat more or eat certain foods during mealtime is associated with more picky eating in children (Cole, An, Lee & Donovan, 2017; Satter, 1986). In addition, the more frequently children are pressured to eat by adults, the less they tend to eat (and this effect seems to be worse when children are pressured to eat at home more frequently). This finding suggests that children become more resistant to pressure when it is used more. Another study even found that children who are pressured to eat actually eat fewer fruits and vegetables and more snacks with low levels of nutrients (Brown et al., 2008). Finally, college students report that they continue to dislike and avoid the foods that they were pressured to eat as a child (Batsell et al., 2002), suggesting that pressure from parents may even have a long-term impact.
So what should you do instead? Teach children to notice their own sensations of hunger and “fullness” and ask them to respond to these feelings instead of your pressure or the goal of a “clean plate.” Keep the climate at meals relaxed and happy. Research finds that this approach is associated with less picky eating (Cole, An, Lee & Donovan, 2017; Satter, 1986).
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