Leopoldine Cabaret
Holistic Therapist
Food Neophobia and Food Fussiness: Restrictive eating phenotype.
Is my child a fussy eater or does my child suffer from food Neophobia?
Food is our fundamental source of energy and life. It is a physiological requirement for basic survival so one would think this would be straightforward. However, we have all encountered some difficulty, refusal and fussiness with food at some point in our lives. This restrictive eating phenotype can be recognised as food Neophobia and food fussiness.
So, what is the difference between those two phenomena? How can we differentiate them?
Food Neophobia (FN), fear of new food is the total refusal of unfamiliar food. Food fussiness is the tendency to be selective towards one food to consume.
These characteristics arise in childhood, typically from ages 2 to 6. In FN, the unwillingness to try new food is a physiological and adaptive response to protect the person from ingesting potentially poisonous foods.
Many factors can influence those predispositions including environment, coercive and feeding behaviour, food exposure and prenatal feeding exposure.
What are the factors which influence these types of behaviours?
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Environment and food exposure are fundamental in dealing with and preventing food rejection. The manner of presenting one’s food in the eye of a child is crucial. Children respond very much to visuals.
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Human feeding behaviour is dependent on various factors involving food and the person. This include the sensory aspect of the food, the organism’s physical state and the person’s own cognitive and motivation state.
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Sensory specific satiation is also a commonly encountered problem when eating a new type of food or even the sense of smell.
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Monotony when facing consumption of a same limited food products which reduces the willingness to try new foods.
The social and environmental aspects are important when it comes to food consumption.
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Weaning period, is the stage of food introduction. which requires as much variation as well as repetition of the food given. The experience in which it is introduced is important for the later acceptance of food. The parental eating approach is also influential and is the model by which the child lives.
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Prenatal life pre-exposure via the diet of the mother has been shown to be crucial for later life food inclination. (embryonic, foetal stages)
Why book a fussy eating consultation?
Do you dread mealtimes?
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Do your little ones only want to eat certains foods?
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Do mealtimes end up in tears?
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Do you have to negotiate for them to eat their veggies?
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Do you worry your little ones aren't getting enough vital nutrients for their health because of their restrictive diet/ food preferances?
Picture this
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Having a nice conversation during dinner time which does not involve having to negotiate what they should eat.
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Going out to restaurants with the whole family just for fun.
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Feeling confident they are eating nutritious food that helps them grow.
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Seeing them being more adventurous when it comes to food.
What will you get from a fussy eating consultation with me?
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Better understanding of what fussy eating is all about and what may be going for your child at this time.
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What key nutrients and specific food your little ones need to grow healthily.
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Tips on how to handle food fussiness.
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Tips on how to create a stress free mealtime.
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Meal planning tips
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Snacks and school lunches suggestions.