One of the most common issues parents face: "My child won't eat anything". The picky eating It is particularly common between the ages of 2-6 years and in most cases is a normal stage of development.
What is Picky Eating?
The term describes children who:
- They refuse. new foods without trying them
- They only eat specific foods repeatedly
- They react negatively to new textures, flavors or colors
- They ask processed snacks instead of meals
Why It Happens
Selective eating is related to many factors:
- Neophobia — the normal fear of the young, which peaks at the age of 2-3 years
- Need for autonomy — the child discovers that he can say "no"
- Meal environment — pressure, negative comments, distractions (screens)
- Sensory sensitivity — in texture, temperature or smell
What You Can Do
- Don't push. — pressure increases resistance
- Offer the same food many times in different formats — acceptance may require 10-15 exposures
- Eat together as a family — children imitate
- Let the child participates in cooking
- Avoid rewards with food ("if you eat the spinach, you'll get dessert")
- Keep them short meals (20-30 minutes maximum)
- Don't make a separate meal — offer the same choices as the rest of the family
When to Seek Professional Help
If selective feeding:
- Leads to weight or height stagnation
- It significantly limits the acceptable food groups (e.g. less than 15-20 foods)
- Creates intense stress to the child or the family
- Accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms
then the evaluation by specialized dietitian can identify any deficiencies and design a management strategy.
Learn more about nutrition in childhood → or make an appointment →
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