Picky eating (PE) is a common problem worldwide. Picky eaters typically eat a limited amount of food and refuse food, particularly fruits and vegetables.¹

• Parental perception of their children’s pickiness with food ranges from 20% to 50%, based on studies in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and China.¹
• In Singapore, a survey of more than 400 primary caregivers of children aged 1-10 reported that nearly half of parents/caregivers perceived their child to be a picky eater.²
• Observational studies suggest that icky eating can lead to an unhealthy or inadequate diet, which may result in poor health outcomes, e.g. being underweight/having poor growth, being overweight, having gastrointestinal disorders or developing eating disorders.^3,4
  • Picky eaters had a slightly lower protein intake and lower intakes of some micronutrients, particularly carotene, iron, and zinc, compared with nonpicky eaters.³ This was attributed to lower intakes of meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits in picky eaters than in nonpicky eaters. There were also higher intakes of sugary foods and drinks in older picky eaters.
  • Picky eating in 3-year-old children was also associated with an increased prevalence of hard stools – a symptom of constipation.⁴ This association was mediated by low dietary fiber intake, particularly from vegetables, in PE.

Potential impact of PE on paediatric development and health

Compared with non-picky eaters, children aged 2 to 4 years old with PE generally have lower quality development with⁴

• Lower z-score and percentile of weight-for-age, height-for-age and body mass index-for-age (p < 0.001)
• Poor physical activity such as running and sport activities (p = 0.001)
• More constipation (p = 0.044)
• High frequency of medical illness (>2 times in the previous 3 months) (p < 0.001)

Strategies to help manage PE⁵

• Avoid distractions during mealtimes (television, cell phones, etc)
• Keep the atmosphere neutral or pleasant during mealtimes
• Encourage appetite by limiting meal duration (20-30 minutes) and frequency (4-6 meals/snacks a day)
• Serve foods that are age-appropriate
• Encourage independent eating
• Regularly and systematically introduce new foods
• Be tolerant of age-appropriate mess during eating
   

For more nutritional information, please view https://Singapore.wyethnutritionsc.org
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