Is Picky Eating A Problem?

Connie Carr, COTA

It’s normal to feel concerned about your child’s eating, especially when you notice a change that results in LESS: less food, less variety, less hunger. The question of “is picky eating normal” is one that most parents wonder at some point.

And most picky eating is in fact normal, which means that it is a typical developmental phase that they will naturally outgrow. 

Is picky eating normal? Here are signs of typical picky eating: 

• Preferring plain foods

• Eating less than they used to 

• Not wanting to try new foods 

• Rejecting vegetables

• Avoiding mixed dishes and sauces 

• Expressing preferences about brands and preparations

Lots of kids are picky eaters. Often, they grow out of it. But sometimes picky eating becomes a real problem. Kids can eat so little or so few different foods that it starts to affect their health or their daily lives. And it’s frustrating for parents.

Serious picky eating happens for a few reasons. Some kids smell and taste flavors more intensely than other people and that turns them off of a lot of foods. Some kids have anxiety about food or specific foods. The longer a child’s picky eating habits go on, the harder it is to get them to eat foods they’ve been avoiding.

The first step is to understand why your kid is avoiding certain foods. For example, a child with OCD may have an unhealthy obsession with healthy foods and only eat vegetables. Other kids may avoid foods because they don’t like the texture or they’re afraid of choking. This is where a therapist can help kids understand how digestion and diet work. Kids need to know that new foods won’t hurt them. Then the child and the therapist can make lists of the foods the child might want to try and foods their parent wants them to try. Together, they can figure out what’s turning the kid off about each food.

Then they start taking baby steps toward eating those foods. They might start by being in the same room with the food, then smelling it. After a while, they’ll take a tiny bite and work up to trying more of it and deciding if they like it. 

When Is Picky Eating Serious?

Picky eating can be a normal part of childhood, but it becomes a problem when it leads to nutritional deficiencies, developmental delays, or emotional distress. If a child consistently avoids essential food groups, there is a risk of not receiving adequate vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients necessary for growth and overall well-being. In more severe cases, picky eating can lead to conditions like malnutrition or failure to thrive. Long-term avoidance of certain foods can result in gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, and weakened immunity. Picky eating can also be linked to psychological conditions such as anxiety, OCD, or eating disorders like ARFID. If picky eating is causing significant distress or impacting overall health, it's essential to seek professional help. Signs that it might be time to seek help include noticeable weight loss, chronic fatigue, growth delays, or frequent gastrointestinal problems. Emotional signs such as anxiety around meals, extreme fussiness, or feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of trying new foods are also important to note. 

Remember that picky eating can be a normal part of childhood. Most kiddos at some point or another may try to assert their autonomy in showing that they are in charge of what goes into their mouth.  And a normal part of kids growing up is experiencing a change in what and how they eat.

As many as 75% of parents say that their child is or has been a picky eater. And even more report that their child is “sometimes” picky.

Though “picky” means something different to every parent, it’s clear that picky eating is common. More than that, picky eating is actually considered a normal phase of child development that children naturally grow out of. If your child shows any of the more serious signs listed above, seek help from a feeding therapist.