If your child refuses food, it doesn’t mean they’re difficult. It means their brain is processing food differently.

Studies show picky eating is influenced by:

• Sensory sensitivity to textures and smells

• Early feeding experiences

• Late exposure to textured foods

It’s not stubbornness – it’s biology, exposure and development.

Research consistently shows picky eaters consume:

• Less fibre

• Lower levels of iron and zinc

• Fewer vitamins like C and E

Over time, this can affect immunity, energy levels, and growth, which explains why parents worry so much.

Picky eating doesn’t just affect children. It affects parents too.

Studies link picky eating to:

• Higher parental stress

• Mealtime conflict

• Guilt and anxiety around feeding

The critical insight:
How parents respond matters just as much as what children eat.

Children fed with structure and choice - rather than pressure - show fewer picky eating behaviours over time.