Picky eating children have been found to be lighter and shorter for their age, compared to non-picky eaters.1 In addition, if your child is a picky eater, he or she may develop nutrient deficiencies. Some children may consume adequate calories, but the diet may be insufficient in vital nutrients. Over time, this may impact growth and development.
Picky eaters could be missing out on key nutrients essential for optimal physical and mental development. This may result in the following undesirable consequences:
Picky eating might lead to missed growth milestones
Picky eating may make your child more prone to illness
Picky eating may lead to lower cognitive development
Picky eating may lead to strained parent – child relationships
A study by the National University Hospital of Singapore found that 1 in 2 parents in Singapore identified their children as picky eaters. Also, picky eaters were first noticed as early as one year old.* Below is a list of picky eating behaviours to look out for:
Avoid distractions during mealtimes.
Tolerate age-appropriate messiness during mealtimes.
Maintain a neutral attitude during mealtimes. Do not get overly excited or animated. Never become or even appear angry.
Introduce novel food. Expose your child to new food one at a time. Try the new food up to 15 times before assuming it will not be taken.
Encourage appetite for picky eating children. Allow 3-4 hour interval and provide only water between meals/snacks. Limit meal duration to 20-30 minutes.
Talk to a healthcare professional. If your child persists being picky about food, ask your doctor for advice and check if there are any underlying problems.
Encourage independent feeding. Your child should have his/ her own cutlery and be encouraged to feed himself/ herself.
References:
1 Xue Y et al. Appetite.2015;91:248-255.
* Goh DY, Jacob A. Asia Pac Fam Med.2012;11:5
SG.2022.28302.PDS.1 (v1.0)
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