The Predicaments of Picky Eating: Strategies to Approach Meals with Family

Our pediatricians hear it time and time again: "My child is a picky eater." Many times, it starts when kids are young, which naturally creates worry for parents. "It's so innate in us that parents want to feed their children," Dr. Dan Nicklas, our host, says. Researchers looked at the habits of children between 4 and 9 years old and found that because picky eaters don't tend to grow out of it, parents need to intervene before their child turns 2. When children reach the age of 1, the transition from formula or breast milk to whole milk and table food becomes a pivotal time, as children start forming opinions about food.

In this episode, Stephanie Gilley, MD, and Rebecca McNab join us to provide strategies for navigating conversations with patients about their children and how they approach meals with their family. Dr. Gilley is a pediatric Clinical Nutrition Physician at Children's Hospital Colorado, as well as an assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Rebecca is an occupational therapist and certified lactation education counselor. They explain this is a journey many parents find themselves on without a single path, but there are ways to create healthy, intuitive relationships with food for their kids.

There are many resources out there for parents to rely on but it's important to know what you're looking for. "Parents should not be following any account that makes them feel bad about what they are doing," Dr. Gilley says. She suggests two resources in particular: Kids Eat in Color and Feeding Littles.

Some highlights from this episode include:

• Parent's responsibility versus child's responsibility • Importance of fostering a child's independence • Creative ways to make food exciting • How feeding disorders are different than picky eating

Today's episode is underwritten by Aegon Transamerica Foundation, a proud supporter of Charting Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Colorado. The Aegon Transamerica Foundation helps build a better world by committing to the improvement of wellness throughout their communities. Their partnership with Children's Colorado addresses the youth mental health crisis to help create a better mental health future for children. Thank you to Aegon Transamerica Foundation for investing in Children's Hospital Colorado.

For more information on Children's Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org