Watch out for 8 signs of picky eating

Food refusal is the most common form of picky eating, especially when toddlers are trying all sorts of new flavors.

Food refusal is the most common form of picky eating, especially when toddlers are trying all sorts of new flavors.

Picky eating is extremely common, with up to half of kids aged 2-6 showing signs of pickiness at some point. One of the most common forms of picky eating is simple food refusal, with toddlers and babies pushing food away, spitting it out, or throwing it off their trays and plates. This is especially true for vegetables, which are naturally more bitter than some milder foods. The key is to keep offering foods—research shows it can take up to 15 exposures before a child will accept a new food.

Reviewed by Dr. Sara Connolly, September 2020