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If you’ve ever found yourself in a battle of wills with a toddler (or even older) over a piece of broccoli, you’ve likely wondered: why are kids such picky eaters? You can’t always buy chicken nuggets and yogurt for them; you’re probably trying to do what you can to stretch your dollar, and they need to eat healthy anyway. 

One minute, they’re happily munching on carrots or other healthy ideas you thought of for lunch; the next, they’re acting like you’ve served them something straight out of a horror movie. But it’s not even just toddlers, though; that’s the thing: it can be of all ages! Even teenagers can be picky eaters, and this can even turn into adults just being picky eaters, too.

Sure, generally speaking, picky eating is a common parenting challenge, but understanding why it happens can help you navigate these mealtime struggles with a bit more patience (and maybe some more sanity, too). So, with all of that said, let’s take a look at why they’re like this.

It’s All About Control

One of the biggest reasons kids become picky eaters is that it’s one of the few areas of their lives they can control. Yes, it really can stem from just that! Just think about it: kids are constantly told what to do when to do it, and how to do it. But when it comes to food, they have the power to say no. It’s their way of asserting independence.

Sensory Sensitivities Are Real

For some kids, being a picky eater is less about stubbornness and more about sensory sensitivities. Children experience tastes, textures, and smells much more intensely than adults do. So this alone can make them have no interests.

The Power of Familiarity

So it’s really important to keep in mind that kids are creatures of habit. They find comfort in what they know, and this extends to their food choices. This is why you might see your child insist on eating the same food over and over. They know what to expect, and that predictability is comforting.

Natural Instincts

Now this one is pretty interesting, right? If they’re trying something new? Then that might be gamble they’re not always willing to take. This is especially true during certain developmental stages when kids are naturally more cautious about what they put in their mouths—a leftover instinct from our early days when eating the wrong thing could be dangerous. Adults still have this too, but it’s siper strong with children.

The Influence of Taste Buds

Did you know that kids have more taste buds than adults? That’s right, and this makes them more sensitive to bitter flavors, which are often found in vegetables. This could explain why getting them to eat their greens can feel like an uphill battle.

But How Can You Handle Picky Eating?

So, what’s a parent to do when faced with a picky eater? Honestly, it’s fairly tough, it helps know why they’re picky eaters, but it doesn’t instantly mean that you can solve this picky eating issue. But depending on their age, you could get them involved in cooking, because it gives them an understanding of the work it takes to make the good.

 But sometimes, this isn’t a quick fix, either. A lot of parents actually have to resort to sneaking nutrition into regular food that the kids like. For example, they can use premium organic bone broth as a base for soups, especially more basic ones that kids usually like, such as chicken noodle soup (while cans of soup are fine, there’s more nutrition in the homemade ones).