Parental Management of Picky Eaters: Common Parenting Pitfalls

Purpose: According to the Department of Human Health Services, the majority of American children consume inadequate quantities of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Parents who are aware of their children’s failure to meet federal nutrition recommendations may engage in behaviors such as force-feeding or calorie-compensation to mitigate the perceived nutrition gap. Recent research suggests that these practices can impair children’s healthy eating behaviors, making it more difficult for children to maintain healthy weights. To date, no studies have …