Is picky eating nature or nurture? Turns out it’s a little of both. Some research indicates that picky eating may be genetic and that genes play a larger role than environment when it comes to a kid’s fussiness with foods. (In other words, if your mom hates broccoli, you might also.) Other studies show that picky eating is a learned behavior from parents and siblings, and yet another study found that parents who label their child as picky may actually cause the child to assume that position.
It’s not uncommon for toddlers to be picky eaters, but this behavior can be worrisome when it continues into adolescence and adulthood and can develop into a disordered eating habit called avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.