Picky eating, problem or phase?

Picky eating, problem, or phase?

Over the last 10 years of working exclusively with parents of fussy eaters, I have found most parents know when their child’s eating has become a real problem.

If deep down you know that what is happening for your child is more than a normal fussy phase, then trust your gut. Even though many other people, including trusted professionals may be telling you it is a phase, if you are sure that what is happening for your child is beyond the norm, you are almost certainly correct.

Picky eating problem, or phase?

Fussy eating is not a neat little problem to be described and defined in one sentence. Even experts from around the world use different words, different parameters and various definitions when talking about picky eating.

In my mind, it is best viewed as a spectrum. There is a big difference between a child who refuses all but a few vegetables and one who vomits at the thought of a carrot.

Let’s look at both ends of the spectrum, with of course, many children falling somewhere in the middle!

The picky eating spectrum

On the one hand there are the children who are averagely fussy:
– They may refuse some meals and most…