Time to re-think picky eating?: a relational approach to understanding picky eating

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.

Feeding Practices and Parenting: A Pathway to Child Health and Family Happiness

“…Food fussiness (FF) or “picky eating” is an eating behaviour reported by 10–50% of parents and a source of considerable concern and conflict in families [18, 32-35]. There is no consensus on the definitions of “fussy” or “picky” eating [33].…”

“…It is also heritable but varies with age, and some adults retain neophobic eating behaviours [34, 37]. Parents often also report concern about erratic appetite and seemingly “ad hoc” refusal of foods which their child both is familiar with and usually eats [32, 35]. Whilst often perceived as a “negative” eating behaviour, such refusal potentially signals satiety and the child’s intrinsic self-regulation in action.…”

“…The perception of their child as a fussy eater at 14 months, despite healthy weight status and no measurable relative reduction in dietary quality, was prospectively associated with less appropriate food parenting at 2 years of age [36]. In summary, it is the characterisation of developmentally normal food refusal in young children as “fussy eating” and a problematic non-compliant behaviour [35] that is more of an issue than the behaviour per se. Assisting parents to understand that these child eating behaviours commonly labelled as “fussy” or “picky” eating are influenced by genetics and developmental stage and, hence, are “normal” and, furthermore, could be important signals of satiety, may reduce anxiety and concern related to feeding and have a positive impact on food parenting.…”

“…From 12 to 24 months of age, growth and weight gain slow such that relative energy and hence food requirements/appetite decrease. In addition, neophobia escalates and separation/autonomy becomes a key developmental task [34, 35]. Suddenly, parents are faced with a baby who was a “good eater” transitioning to a toddler who has an erratic appetite and overall appears to eat less, insists on self-feeding despite limited fine motor skills and feeding competence, starts to show distinct likes and dislikes and refuses foods previously well accepted, needs to assert and test their emerging independence, is much more mobile and less willing to sit still for extended periods and is often frustrated with the many tasks of emotional, cognitive and physical development [39].…”

Child and Maternal Correlates of Picky Eating in Young Children

“…Another central limitation is its complete reliance on maternal report. As Walton, Kuczynski, Haycraft, Breen, and Haines (2017) point out, picky eating is the parental conceptualization of the child's eating behavior, whereas a more child-centered description might reveal eating preferences and behaviors that differ from those reported by their parents. Walton et al (2017)…”