Picky Eater Discussion

Recently, a study came out that is making a lot of news, which supposedly shows that picky eating in children (and presumably some adults) is genetically inherited and there’s not much parents can do about it, so they might as well give in and make chicken fingers and mac ‘n’ cheese for the little tyrants. This refutation over at Tigers & Strawberries is worthwhile reading because it a) picks apart the study’s logic, b) points out that this is a uniquely American problem, with our cultural tendency to separate “adult” food from “kids’ food”, and c) wonders why children are genetically disposed to prefer frozen, processed chicken fingers over, say, broccoli. Could it be because that’s what they’re being fed? Hmmm.

Go read it — great article.

Here’s the New York Times article about the study.

And if you are in the unfortunate position of being a picky eater, Jeffrey Steingarten has some good (and amusing) advice for how to get over yourself.