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Picky Eater
Aka: Picky Eater, Picky Eating
- Epidemiology
- Incidence: Up to 50% of those under 2 years
- Physiology
- Aversion to trying new foods is part of normal development
- One of many signs that child is exercising their autonomy
- Significantly restricted diet (limited to a few foods) may however result in adverse effects
- High Carbohydrate, highly sweetened foods may replace more nutritionally adequate diet
- Galloway (2003) J Am Diet Assoc 103(6): 692-8 [PubMed]
- Risk Factors
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Management
- Review growth charts to confirm no Growth Delay
- Typically the normal growth charts are reassuring to parents
- Supplements and Vitamins are not needed and risk Overdose
- Children are wary of new foods
- May take exposure to a food up to 10 times before they accept it
- Avoid punishment or reward as this may exacerbate the problem
- Birch (2001) Pediatr Clin North Am 48(4): 893-907 [PubMed]
- Offer a wide variety of healthy foods at each meal
- Child decides which foods and how much to eat
- Those items not eaten may be re-served as leftovers
- Older siblings who eat a broader variety of foods may be a good influence (modeling)
- Combine foods in fun ways
- Limit milk to 24 ounces daily in toddlers
- Limit juice to 6 ounces per day
- References
- Cathey (2004) Pediatr Nurs 30(2): 101-7 [PubMed]
- Nasir (2015) Am Fam Physician 92(4): 274-8 [PubMed]