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Written by , M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatrics
Midwestern University Multispecialty Clinic

If you have a child who won’t eat fruits or vegetables, insists on one or two “safe foods,” or reacts strongly to new textures; you are not alone. Picky or selective eating is one of the most frequent worries parents bring to pediatricians, and while often temporary, it is a real, measurable behavior with both biological and environmental roots.

What Exactly Is Picky Eating?

Picky eating is defined as a selective pattern of food acceptance and refusal. A child might not choose to eat familiar foods or might not want to try a new food.  Because they are picky about food choices, they may limit themselves to just a few food choices.  Studies estimate that anywhere from 6–50% of children might be picky eaters at some point, most commonly between ages two and six. For many, it improves by age seven, but in others, it persists in adolescence or adulthood.

What’s striking is that picky eating is found across cultures, yet it occurs more often in developed countries. Researchers believe this is due to both environmental and cultural influences. In societies where food variety is abundant, and mealtimes are watched closely by parents, children have more opportunity, and often more parental attention to reject foods. In contrast, in environments with limited choices, children are more likely to eat whatever is available.

Nature and Nurture: Why It Happens

The roots of picky eating begin early, sometimes even before birth. Flavors from the mother’s diet are transferred through amniotic fluid, shaping taste preferences even during the mom’s pregnancy. After birth, feeding challenges, delayed introduction of solids, or excessive pressure around mealtimes can add to the child’s resistance to eating certain foods. Parents who restrict diets too tightly, or who feed the child sugary, salty, or high-fat foods, may also give the child a taste for only those foods that are sugary, salty or fatty. Yet environment tells only part of the story. Twin studies show that identical twins share more similar eating patterns than fraternal twins, underscoring which means that genetics play a part in picky eating. One well-studied gene, TAS2R38, influences bitter taste receptors, determining how intensely children perceive bitter tastes in vegetables such as broccoli or brussels sprouts. This same gene can also give the child a sweet tooth, explaining why some children crave sugary foods more strongly than others.

Overall, picky eating comes from a combination of genetics and the environment. Genetic predisposition may set the stage, but experiences, both positive and negative, shape how eating behaviors develop over time.

This article was originally published in the January 2026 issue of magazine.

_References

• _{Traig J. Wall Street Journal. Published January 4, 2019.} 
• _{Nas Z, Herle M, Kininmonth AR, et al. Nature and nurture in fussy eating from toddlerhood to early adolescence: findings from the Gemini twin cohort. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2024;66(2):241-252. doi:10.1111/jcpp.14053}
• _{Children’s Hospital of Orange County. CHOC Health Library.} 
• _{Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2005. doi:10.17226/10925}
• _{Rethy J. HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. Published July 26, 2024.} 
• _{Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. CHOP Newsroom. Published April 15, 2025.} 

_{This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for questions about a medical or health condition.}