Some people have the “I’ll try anything once” attitude, while others are complete opposites. For one reason or another, they’re very particular about their food choices and tend to be really picky about their meals.
Do you have the stomach of a goat, or are you somewhat of a fussy eater? Our picky eater test will reveal the truth in just a few minutes. Answer a bunch of simple questions and learn about your relationship with food!
A picky eater is someone who is selective about the things they eat, dislikes many foods, and only seems to eat a few food items. We all know that person who survives on Mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, and jelly cups. More often than not, the term refers to children, but some adults are picky eaters too.
It’s normal for young children between the age of 2 to 11 to be picky eaters. The reasons could be genetics – some kids might inherit the fear of trying new foods from their ancestors. We also know humans have an innate taste for sweet and salty foods. Children might prefer this kind of food over bland, bitter, or sour flavors.
Often picky eating is the result of home habits. Children get used to the meals their caretakers frequently serve them. These meals become comfort foods, and it’s challenging to try anything else. They also pick up on what the adults around them do. If at home every meal ends with dessert, a child gets used to it and will expect something sweet every time.
A lot of the time, the mealtime environment isn’t ideal. A child can get distracted or upset because of things like their position at the table, what kind of chair they’re sitting in, or the utensils used. A lot of noise, a TV being on, parents moving about instead of sitting down to eat, and raised voices are also things that could create a nervous or distracted eater.
What are some classic picky eater behaviors? Take a look at this list. If you still aren’t confident, try our picky eater test!
Do you have a favorite food that you could eat every day? You are very serious about it. You could actually eat your Mac and cheese, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every single day for the rest of your life and not get sick of it.
You can take one look at a new food and know immediately you’re not going to eat it. No amount of persuasion, begging, or bribes will change that.
You’re the type of person to order the same thing in restaurants. The staff at your favorite place automatically puts in your order the second they see you walk in. At least you don’t waste time thinking about what to get!
You like your food a certain way. Maybe you don’t want items of food touching, or you need a specific amount of sauce. It’s your special way, and you wouldn’t change it for the world.
Discover how sensitive you are to certain foods.
Picky eating alone is not a reason to diagnose someone with a disorder. Some people are just fussier with their food than others. That changes when your picky eating habits start affecting your daily life negatively.
Simple preferences for food might turn into a diagnosable disorder like ARFID. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder involves eating only a limited type or amount of food to the point of substantial weight loss and nutritional deficiency. Sometimes picky eating might lead to another eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia.
Being a picky eater is not an officially recognized symptom of ADHD, but there is a connection between the two. Children and adults with ADHD often exhibit selective eating habits. They might be more sensitive to smells or textures of food.
An ADHD brain tends to produce low levels of dopamine. People who have it might ignore nutritious food in favor of sugary food because it will give them a dopamine surge.
Picky eating is sometimes connected to other psychological disorders like anxiety or depression.
It’s time for your picky eater test! Do you think your eating habits classify you as a picky eater? Find out with our quiz!
