Written by Judith Lynn - Paediatric Nutritionist - Little Monkey Nutrition

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Understanding the intricacies of the senses and food preferences offers invaluable insights into the world of fussy eaters. The journey of how young children decide if they like a food—through sight, touch, hearing, smell, and finally taste—sheds light on the complex sensory processing that influences their eating habits. This sensory journey is crucial in understanding the fussy eater, a term often used to describe individuals, particularly children, who exhibit a selective approach to food consumption. For parents and caregivers navigating the challenges of fussy eating, recognising the role of these sensory experiences can be a game-changer in promoting healthier, more varied diets. A systematic review suggests that fussy eating is not just a phase but a behaviour influenced by a myriad of factors, including sensory processing¹. Sensory processing difficulties, particularly oral sensory challenges, have been linked to food refusal and problematic eating behaviours². This is further supported by evidence indicating that children with sensory sensitivity are often described as picky eaters³.

Sight and the Appeal of Familiarity

Visual cues are often the first hurdle in introducing new foods to fussy eaters. Brightly coloured and neatly presented foods can attract interest, but so can the familiar sight of preferred foods. Fussy eaters may rely heavily on visual familiarity, leading to a reluctance to try new or different-looking foods. You may notice your fussy eater preferring premade food rather than homemade. This is most likely because the premade food, is always the same colour and shape every time it is presented so they have build up trust with that food.  Encouragingly, research suggests that repeated exposure and creative presentation can gradually desensitise this visual caution, making new foods more visually appealing over time.

Texture: A Tactile Challenge

For many fussy eaters, texture can be a significant barrier. The sensory processing of the feel of food—whether it's too slimy, gritty, or crunchy—can lead to rejection. The feel of food inside the mouth too is important to consider. It may feel different on the hand than inside the mouth.  This heightened sensitivity to texture underscores the importance of introducing a variety of textures in a non-pressurised way, allowing children to explore foods at their own pace. Blending, chopping, or preparing foods in different ways can help find the textures that are most acceptable to the child, gradually expanding their texture tolerance.

The Power of Scent

The sense of smell plays a pivotal role in pre-tasting assessments. Fussy eaters might be particularly sensitive to the aromas of foods, with unfamiliar or strong smells being off-putting. You may have noticed that you child lifts a food and smells it first before making up their mind if they are going to put it in their mouth. They may lift it smell it and put it down or even throw it. This is an important part of desensitising then to the smell. By incorporating familiar scents or gradually introducing new ones alongside preferred smells can help in making new foods more acceptable. Cooking with herbs and spices can also alter food aromas, potentially making them more appealing to sensitive noses. Or potentially starting off with plainer foods may be less overwhelming for your child. Trial and error is important to understand your child's individual sensory experience. 

Hearing and Eating Experience

The sound of food, though often overlooked, contributes to the eating experience. The crunch of a vegetable or the sizzle of cooking can either entice or deter a fussy eater. For some children, the sound reinforces the food's freshness and quality, while for others, it might be a source of sensory discomfort. It's also important to consider the sound the food makes inside the mouth whilst chewing. Understanding an individual child's response to the sound of food can offer another avenue for making eating a more positive experience.

Taste Preferences and Repeated Exposure

Finally, taste preferences are not set in stone. While fussy eaters may show a strong preference for certain tastes, repeated exposure to a variety of flavours can gradually expand their palate. Sweet tastes are generally preferred, but introducing different tastes in small, manageable amounts can foster a greater acceptance over time.

A Sensory Strategy for Fussy Eating

Linking the sensory processing of food to fussy eating behaviours offers a pathway to understanding and addressing selective eating habits. By acknowledging the multisensory nature of food acceptance, caregivers can adopt strategies that cater to individual sensory sensitivities. This might include:

- Gradually introducing new foods alongside familiar favourites.
- Experimenting with different food presentations to make them visually appealing eg simile faces on the plate, using different shaped cutters to cut out fruits and veg, separating food using a portion plate
- Offering a variety of textures and finding creative ways to modify the textures to something more acceptable or familiar. I go into a lot of detail about this in my 'Overcoming Fussy Eating Masterclass'
- Introducing new smells gradually and blending them with familiar ones eg getting the children in the kitchen with you and helping you whilst you make food.
- Paying attention to the sounds associated with foods and how they impact the child's eating experience.

By embracing a sensory-informed approach, we aim to support caregivers in navigating the complexities of fussy eating. Understanding the sensory journey that influences food choices can empower parents and caregivers to create positive and nurturing eating environments, paving the way for healthier and more varied dietary habits in fussy eaters. For information on how to gradually introduce new foods read my blog on 'Food Chaining'.

For specific guidance and support on managing fussy eating I give 60 minutes of strategies that really work in my Overcoming Fussy Eating Masterclass.