Written by Cate Graney, for Bebe Bitez

In today's discourse on childhood nutrition, the prevalence of picky eating among children underscores the critical role of parenting styles in shaping eating behaviors. Understanding how parenting styles influence food acceptance can empower families to cultivate positive eating habits and ensure children receive optimal nutrition from an early age!

1 in 4 toddlers/preschoolers are picky eaters. Picky eating causes a distortion of nutrient intake in children, potentially affecting growth, development, and overall healthy habits for the rest of their lives. 

Studies have found that picky children do not consume enough essential nutrients like fiber, zinc and iron, usually caused by a lack of vegetable intake. Picky eating in children can also lead to low energy levels from inadequate protein consumption, likely due to the aversion to the texture or taste of meat. Additionally, it makes the parents' lives more difficult when their children refuse to eat the meals prepared. 

In most circumstances, picky eating is actually taught, whether it's intentional or not. There are many different ways children can develop picky eating habits, including:

• Effects of inappropriate feeding techniques: pressuring, bribing and punishing children to eat their food instead of letting them listen to their bodies.

• Bad modeling: children will copy parents or peers' behaviors around food. If someone they respect refuses to try a certain food, it is likely they will do the same.

• No routine: Children need structure and are more likely to develop good eating habits if there is a certain meal routine. 

• Excessive intake of beverages like juice and milk: The sweetness of these drinks can reduce their appetite and lead to dependency on drinks instead of actual nutritious food.

While these are all ways children can be influenced into picky eating, new studies have found that parenting style has a huge impact on children's relationship with food.  

So how do I know if my parenting style is making my kid a picky eater?

There are three main types of parenting styles: Permissive, authoritarian and authoritative. These parenting styles translate to mealtime practices and habits and can potentially dictate food acceptance. 

Permissive: Are you a parent who loves their child dearly but lacks structure and boundaries? Permissive parents are known for imposing little rules on their kids. While it is important that your children have enough freedom to learn from and grow from their decisions, permissive parenting can make your kids picky eaters. 

• Supports picky eating behaviors, including behavioral issues related to mealtime etiquette, eating limited foods and drinking liquids instead of food. Children of permissive parents are the most likely to become picky eaters because of a lack of exposure and structure.

• Lacking modeling and monitoring, the study shows that permissive parenting likely involves bribing at the table or making a new meal if the child disapproves of the current one.

• Unhealthy practices like turning mealtime into a game to persuade eating and not actually teaching about the food 

Authoritarian: Are you a parent who has certain expectations/rules and little room for negotiations with your children? Authoritarian parents are known for having very well behaved children, but such strict rules around the dinner table can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food. 

• Lack of trust in food can lead to picky eating. Children of authoritarian parents may struggle when food is not to their liking. In these circumstances, picky eating looks less like a refusal to eat and more like crying/getting upset, cringing and being suspicious of food. 

• Pressure to eat or restriction on food can be extremely damaging to these children. Negative mealtime strategies like withholding favorite foods, pressuring the child to finish their whole meal can cause a harmful relationship with food.

Authoritative: Are you a parent who is a mix of both of these parenting styles? Authoritative parents usually have a nurturing relationship with their children that is expressed by clear guidelines and expectations. Scientists say that this parenting style is most effective in creating a healthy relationship with food and limiting picky eating behaviors. 

• A better relationship with picky eating. While picky eating can still occur in children of authoritative parents, it is more likely that the child will communicate exactly what they don't like about the meal and be more susceptible to trying new things.

• Modeling, monitoring and perception of responsibility are all highly valued in authoritative parenting and will likely result in children who actually look forward to mealtime and trying new foods.

What now?

I’m not going to sit here and tell you how to parent your child; at the end of the day, it is each family's choice what style works for them. But if you are looking to improve or diversify your child’s palette, we must look at the facts. There is a clear way to positively influence your child's relationship with food and ensure that they are receiving the best nutrition possible. At Bebe Bitez, we know how important it is to expose our children to an array of foods. Ultimately all parents have the goal of creating kind and responsible, self-sufficient humans. These habits and choices start at the kitchen table.

Re-posted with permission from Bebe Bitez (https://www.bebebitez.com/), a Bay Area-based baby food company focused on providing healthy, locally sourced, and organic meals for infants, toddlers, and young children.