Are picky earters born or taught?

Question

My son is the pickiest eater ever. He wants his food an a certain plate, cooked a certain way. For example: From a hand full of foods that he like spaghetti he most of the time wants it without any sauce. I know I was a picky eater when I was a little girl, but my 1 year old daughter loves food. What do you think?

Answer 1

I think they are born, but can be taught to change.

My oldest son was very picky, as was my husband's sister.

My daughter's were pretty good about eating a variety of foods, but another son was also fairly picky. It was frustrating a lot of the time that my sons would just want to eat a bowl of cereal rather than what I had made for dinner. Eventually they outgrew it, and now they will eat just about anything.

Answer 2

It is a little of both... picky eaters can be born with certain aversions to textures, colors or flavors of foods, but it can be perpetuated into a cycle by repetition. If all they ever eat is plain noodles, because that is all they want to eat, and no one changes it up and offers a different food, then they can develop severe food restrictions. Some children do not like the textures of certain things, and will prefer to eat all crunchy items, or all soft ones. Others will only eat brown foods, while still others will eat only ones that have a strong flavor to them. The best thing you can do with a picky eater is to encourage them to taste new foods on a daily basis. When you are having dinner, you offer the same foods that everyone else is eating, along with maybe one item that they really like (in a very small portion). Encourage them to take one bite of each of the foods offered on their plate before they get up. If they are not exposed to new foods and encouraged to try them, they will limit themselves to a very small variety of foods. My oldest daughter was very picky as a two year old, and while she still has some reservations about new foods, she tries each one with at least one bite. Now, at eight years old, you'd never know that this girl would refuse meat of any kind, because now she loves chicken, steak, turkey and pork for dinner. It just takes time and consistency. Everyone has favorite foods, just some children need a little push to be able to explore their options.

Answer 3

I think a lot of them are taught. My cousin for the longest time would not eat anything that was made for dinner, ONLY cold hot dogs. (I know, EWW!!) Of course, her parents indulged her ALL the time and she has terrible eating habits. My parents had me always try at least two bites of what was served, if I didn't like it after that, it was addressed then. My eating habits are decent, but I still can't deal with certain foods.

The other thing is - if a parent is grossed out by a food, chances are, the kid will be as well. Most kids learn by example and if mom and dad eat everything, or most everything, chances are the kids will too.

That said, some kids from the age of 15 months anywhere up to 4 years old go thru stages. What is the favorite today might be "gross" next week. That's totally normal!

Kids also like routines and like to know what to expect - that could explain the certain plate and certain way of cooking as well. He might outgrow that. I don't know how old he is, but try getting him involved in meals - help you plan and cook if he can. Emeril wrote a good kid's cookbook, and I'm sure there's others out there. (Added bonuses: he works on his reading and math skills and learns good nutrition.)

Answer 4

Being a picky eater is a learned behavior.
Remember, chidren are like sponges; they absorb everything they see and hear.
Anyway, it seems your son is the parent.................. you need to step up to the plate and be the parent!
Try this; my daughter-in-law, years ago, had problems with my grand daughters and their eating habits. She wasted food, money and just didn't know what to do. We discussed it and came up with a solution, which WORKED! She placed a plate of food in front of them. They would pick at it, not eat the food, want bread or just leave the table. She then picked up the plate, covered it, brought it out for the next meal, heated it up and gave it to them again. If they refused to eat the food again - she would repeat the process until they finally learned they would NOT get anything else to eat until they finished what was put in front of them. Now, they eat their veggies first, move on to the meat and then to the potaotes/pasta. They are not allowed any bread unless it's part of the meal (like hamburgers, etc.). Also, they are not allowed anything to drink until they have eaten everything on their plate. It took a while - put dig your feet in and do NOT give into the boy. YOU are the parent - NOT him!

Answer 5

In my opinion, I think for the most part they are born that way. My son is a picky eater, has been since birth. But I also think the pickiness can be exacerbated by parents, usually inadvertantly. I found with my son that if I didn't make a big deal of food, whether he ate or not, and tried new foods occasionally when I knew he was super hungry, I can expand his repertoire of foods somewhat. But for the most part I try to respect his food dislikes and as long as he stays healthy and growing and thriving, he can worry about it when he's older! :)

Answer 6

I think picky eaters are born not taught. I come from a southern family and I will not eat some of the things that they consider staples. I always say it is a texture thing mor than a taste thing. Some foods just don't feel right in your mouth. Tomatoes Raw no way..in a sauce or ketchup fine with me. Pickles no cucumbers yes. Okra not in this lifetime. He may or may not change as he gets older. You need to try to get him to try things then he will at least be able to say that he tried it and didn't like it, even if it is just one bite.

Answer 7

I think it is a way of him getting attention. If you say no, ignore the behavior and tell him this is what you get or you don't eat, the behavior will stop. I know this because I'm the pickiest eater ever and I think I do it because the behavior was reinforced with attention when I was little. I think I would be in much worse shape if my mother had encouraged it also. Mom would just let me go hungry if I didn't eat. Eventually I just gave in and ate.

Answer 8

We all have our little quirks but picky eaters are made, not born. In our house you get what you get, although we do ask if they want the sauce or the gravy. No child will voluntarily starve to death. If they get hungry, they'll eat. And it can take more than 15 to 18 tries for a child to accept a new food.

Answer 9

I think it's both. Some kids have quirks about how things look and feel to eat. but I believe many things should be offered and have them try at least 1-2 bites of everything. Never fix a special meal for a child, one family eats one meal unless you go to shoneys. lol If the parents make it seem that to eat a varied of foods is what ppl do them the child will soon follow along. And remember never reward not eating a meal with snacks later. They won't starve overnight

Answer 10

Picky eaters are made. It is a learned behavior that they mimic from their parents. You may not be picky but you have allowed him to want things a certain way and expect you to make it that way. Of course their are things that my son would prefer over others but he will eat what i put in front of him or he does not eat..