Food Neophobia
Although you may not be familiar with its name, surely all parents know about food neophobia. It is nothing more and nothing less than the refusal of children to try new foods. In these lines, we tell you everything about this phenomenon and how to act to overcome it.
Food neophobia is very common in many children around the world. Although it is not included in the category of psychiatric disorders established by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), it is an extremely common behavior.
Possible causes of food neophobia
Curiously, this behavior has to do with a primitive human defense mechanism. In ages past, man fed on plants; many of them were life-threatening, so they needed to be extremely cautious when testing them.
Often, this denial is due to factors that differ from the mere taste of the little ones. On many occasions, especially after two years of age, this manifestation —which does not only occur in relation to food— is an externalization of the desire for ‘independence’ of their parents that is born in them. Of course, this is not actually the case; at that age, children have very deep dependency bonds with their parents.
In addition to this, childhood is a stage in which children get to know new tastes, smells and textures. It is entirely logical that many of them are ‘strange’ or unappetizing. However, over time this view may change.
Finally, negative experiences in the past can also be the trigger for food neophobia. It will be the case of those foods that caused poisoning, for example. It can also occur in more extreme cases, such as a choking or suffocation situation.
What risks can it cause?
Food neophobia can focus on entire food groups, such as fruits or vegetables. Therefore, certain nutritional deficiencies may occur that will need to be addressed.
In this sense, a consultation with the nutritionist is essential to consider the special needs of each child and find a solution for them. In any case, it should be noted that it is a transitory condition. Although it is not a condition on which there are determining studies, it is estimated that in most cases this rejection disappears after 6 or 7 years.
If this is not the case, it can become a serious problem when the child enters school age, since many times he will not have the opportunity to choose meals as if he were at home.
What to do about food neophobia?
As we pointed out before, it is totally understandable that there is a specific food that the child does not like. However, this does not mean that you have to discard everyone in your group. In other words: you may not like apples, but that does not mean that it is accepted that you do not eat fruits. Rather, the best practices for these occasions are as follows:
1. Lead by example
Example is always the best option. If we want our little one to eat broccoli, we must be the first to do so. Otherwise, it would be totally unfair to ask you something that we ourselves are not willing to do. Children see their parents as a role model. It will be easier to instill healthy habits in them if they see that we apply them too.
2. Be creative and patient
We cannot pretend to offer a child a plate full of something they never ate and tell them to finish it. Ideally, start small, with small portions of that new food.
In fact, you can also change their presentation form so that they do not perceive their presence. For example: incorporate them in a cake, in a soup or cream or in a hamburger, in the case of tomato or egg. With these small steps, you will move towards the goal.
Likewise, weaning with solid foods is effective for its prevention. The earlier a child gets used to new foods, the less it will cost to incorporate them.
3. Don’t force them
When we force children to do something, all we do is multiply their aversion to it. In the case of meals, we can encourage a true rejection of a food that you may not like today. It is best to let the time pass and give it a new try in the future.
However, it is not ideal to change the food for one that you like more. This could create an association of bad behavior with a positive reward that would only reinforce it.
Finally, it is also advisable to involve the little ones in the shopping and the preparation process itself. This, coupled with an eye-pleasing presentation, will help overcome food neophobia and encourage you to experiment with new flavors.
