In January 2018 researchers from the UK published the results of their study to assess the factors involved in a child being fussy when it comes to eating vegetables. A total of 297 parents/carers of preschool children were involved in the study. Information on a child’s fussiness with vegetables, as well as thoughts as to why the child was fussy, was collected via questionnaire. Results showed that the fussiest of children not only had a smaller intake of vegetables but their parents/carers also consumed a smaller quantity of vegetables. It was also noted that a child’s fussiness with vegetables was significantly associated with several vegetable specific feeding practices. These included parents/carers using more encouragement/pressure to eat their vegetables, frequently hid vegetables within other foods, using more food and other rewards for eating vegetables, and there being a greater amount of compromise when feeding vegetables. The researchers therefore proposed that advice should be developed on the feeding practices to be avoided when a parent/carer is faced with a child who is fussy when it comes to eating vegetables.
Holley CE et al. Predicting children’s fussiness with vegetables: The role of feeding practices. Matern Child Nutr. 2018 Jan;14(1).