Fussy eating -- and parents' stress -- remedied by online guide

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/au-fe-062920.php


News Release 1-Jul-2020
Aston University


Parents battling their children's fussy eating have been given fresh hope thanks to an online resource proven to relieve the problem.

With around half of toddlers and young children turning their noses up at certain foods - often healthy fruit and vegetables - many families face stressful mealtimes. And parents' reactions, often using unhealthy foods as a 'reward' or limiting access to them, can be counter-productive and lead to bad habits that last into adulthood.

But a new study has shown that the Child Feeding Guide, a free online resource developed by experts at Aston University and Loughborough University, not only helped mums who took part to change their approach to feeding but also reduced their own self-reported anxiety by nearly 20% in just four weeks.

In the UK, less than one in five children eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Studies show that unhealthy eating habits can persist into later life and are associated with a higher risk of health conditions such as diabetes.

From the age of about 18 months, between a third and half of children go through a period known as 'neophobia' - a fear of new things - in relation to food. This is thought to be an evolutionary development that stopped children from eating potentially poisonous food.

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