Worried About Your Child’s Picky Eating? Here’s What Parents Should Know

Picky eating is common among children and can often leave parents concerned about whether their child is receiving adequate nutrition. However, refusing certain foods, preferring a limited selection or repeatedly asking for the same meal does not necessarily indicate a feeding disorder. Dietitian Dt Deepali Sharma noted that children’s appetite and food preferences can naturally change as they grow.

Sharma explained that some children may eat very little during one meal and make up for it at another, while others may need to be offered a new food several times before accepting it. Parents therefore do not necessarily need to be alarmed by occasional food refusal or a temporary preference for familiar foods. The focus, she noted, should be on gradually encouraging a wider range of foods rather than forcing children to follow a supposedly perfect diet.

Picky eating may require closer attention when it begins affecting a child’s everyday life or nutritional adequacy. Sharma highlighted signs such as eating only a very small number of foods, avoiding entire food groups, losing foods that were previously accepted or becoming highly distressed by the sight or smell of unfamiliar foods. Concerns about growth, low energy or repeated nutritional deficiencies are also reasons for parents to seek professional medical advice.

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Several mealtime practices can help children gradually become more comfortable with different foods. Sharma recommended eating together as a family, maintaining predictable mealtimes and offering unfamiliar foods alongside foods the child already enjoys. Parents should avoid turning meals into a battle, as the broader aim is to encourage gradual expansion of food choices. If selective eating continues to cause concern, a professional assessment can help determine whether behavioural, sensory, nutritional or underlying medical factors are involved.

For regular meals, Sharma recommended offering children a varied and balanced diet that includes whole grains and other cereals, pulses and beans, vegetables, fruits, milk or suitable dairy alternatives, nuts and seeds, and quality protein sources. Depending on dietary preferences, protein can come from foods such as eggs, fish, poultry or vegetarian alternatives.

She also suggested a simple plate approach in which about half the plate can comprise vegetables and fruits, with the remaining portion including whole grains or cereals and protein-rich foods. Appropriate amounts of milk or dairy products can be included throughout the day. Key nutrients requiring attention include protein, iron, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate, zinc, iodine and essential fats, with individual requirements varying according to a child’s age, growth, activity level and dietary pattern.

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