Inside: Learn what food neophobia is and how to know if it applies to your child.
Picky eating in toddlers is common. Many children grow out of the phase over time. One of the causes of picky eating is the fear of new foods. It may be mild or severe. This is called food neophobia.
In this article, we talk about food neophobia in children and toddlers, how it affects kids, the signs to look out for, and how to help your child overcome it.
What Is Food Neophobia?
Food neophobia is when a child is reluctant to eat or completely avoids new foods. This commonly begins in children between the ages of 2-5 years old. (1)
The term “neophobia” is based on “neo” which means “new” and “phobia” which means “fear.” Together, food neophobia means the fear of something new. (4)
Related: Help your child learn about new foods with this list of food books for kids curated by an childhood education expert.
What Are the Causes of Food Neophobia?
Here are some of the potential causes of food neophobia in children (1):
- A child’s normal preference for sweet or savory flavors
- A sensory aspect of a food (for example, a child may be uncomfortable with a mushy sensation in their mouth)
- A parent pressuring a child to eat
- A parent’s lack of encouragement or affection at mealtime
- Childhood anxiety
- Diet with low variety or low nutritional quality
- A parent’s influence on their child’s eating habits
If your child does have neophobia, we recommend downloading our free picky eater guide. It helps parents begin to overcome food neophobia and reduce their stress.
Food Neophobia Symptoms & Signs
There are several signs of food neophobia and symptoms you can watch out for in your toddler or child.
Symptoms of food neophobia include:
- Reluctance to try new foods
- Anxiety and distress around mealtimes
- Avoidance of social events related to food fears
Related: Tired of trying to get your child to eat? Read about the Division of Responsibility in feeding and see if could help you.
When Is Food Neophobia a Problem?
Food neophobia can be mild or serious. If your child is losing weight or you believe they are malnourished, it is important to contact your child’s qualified health provider right away.
Here are other signs that food neophobia may be a problem for you and your child:
- Your child is eating less than 30 foods
- Your child is not eating an entire group of foods, such as no vegetables
- Your child stops eating foods and never starts eating them again
- Your stress levels around food are very high
If you are concerned about your child’s eating and you would like to explore actions that you can take, you can get on the waitlist for our BetterBites® Picky Eating Program.
This program provides strategies that work and a community of parents with picky eaters.
How Does Food Neophobia Affect Picky Eating?
Picky eating and food neophobia are interrelated. Picky eating is when a child eats a limited variety of foods, while food neophobia is a genuine fear or avoidance of new foods.
If a child exhibits food neophobia, it can lead to picky eating and it can limit the number of foods they are willing to eat. Food neophobia is a component of picky eating that can make mealtimes stressful. (2)
How Does Food Neophobia Affect Nutrition?
If your child is reluctant to eat new foods and has a limited list of items they will eat, this can affect their growth and development.
While any child may develop food fears, children who develop extreme picky eating may end up above or below their growth chart. (2,3)
Please note: It’s important to consult with your child’s medical doctor to address any concerns related to their growth and development.
Most children with food neophobia are able to get the nutrition that they need, but some children have such strong neophobia that they are not able to get enough energy or micronutrients to support their growth and development.
Related: Concerned about iron? Discover tons of iron-rich foods for kids, toddlers and babies.
Is Food Neophobia an Eating Disorder?
In some cases, food neophobia can be one of the symptoms of an eating disorder.
Avoidant Restrictive Feeding Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder. In this disorder, a child often loses weight or becomes malnourished. One of the main reasons they are unable to eat enough is because they are afraid of eating or of certain foods.
Related: Learn about mealtime meltdowns, tantrums and food refusal.
What Is the Treatment for Food Neophobia?
If a child has ARFID, it is likely that a qualified healthcare practitioner will provide services that may include working with a registered dietitian, seeing a food therapist, or providing counseling or psychotherapy.
If a child has other neophobia, a parent may be able to use learn to help a child become more comfortable with foods by:
- Understanding picky eating and food anxiety
- Stopping anything that is enabling picky eating
- Building a foundation to help their child learn to try new foods
- Using advanced techniques to help their child become comfortable with foods again
How Can I Help My Child Overcome Neophobia?
It is important to understand that food neophobia is common among children and can be overcome.
Reducing pressure at mealtimes and following our expert tips for overcoming picky eating is a place to start managing your child’s neophobia.
If you need more than tips, our BetterBites Picky Eating Program can help you get your child on the road to eating new foods. These courses focus on getting to the root of your child’s food neophobia and picky eating and provide you with the tools you need to be successful.
You’re not alone. If you’re dealing with childhood food neophobia, the team at Kids Eat in Color is here to help you help your child get on the road to eating new foods.
Continue Learning
Not sure what to feed your child? See the best fruits and vegetables for kids and toddlers. And check out our bank of kid-friendly recipes for meal ideas.
