You’re in another country and a food that you have NEVER seen or tried before is placed in front of you.<\/p>\n
![\"food](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Century-eggs.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
It looks different, and smells different.\u00a0 Naturally you are nervous.<\/p>\n
How will this thing taste?<\/em><\/p>\n How will it feel in my mouth?<\/em><\/p>\n Will I be able to swallow it?<\/em><\/p>\n Will it make me sick?<\/em><\/p>\n Not only are you expected to eat it, you are kept at the table until you just try it.\u00a0 <\/em>Now, imagine how you might feel.\u00a0 Anxious, nervous\u2026perhaps as though you might want to throw it on the floor and run like heck!\u00a0 This is often the position we put our toddlers and children into, even with the best of intentions.<\/p>\n If you’ve seen the Free Training – 10 proven strategies for helping picky eaters eat better <\/a>you know what I’m talking about.\u00a0 That’s why it’s important to implement the 10 strategies provided in the webinar to help you quickly overcome that free of tryings foods.<\/p>\n Actually we should.<\/p>\n It’s a protective mechanism in humans and even wildlife. It’s called Food Neophobia.<\/em><\/p>\n Neophobia<\/em> <\/strong>is a general term for a fear of new things. When we apply this term to food, Food<\/strong><\/em> Neophobia<\/em><\/strong> is referring to a fear of new and unfamiliar foods. Also knows as \u2018picky eating\u2019… you might be familiar with it (wink, wink).\u00a0 Food Neophobia is a normal part of toddlerhood.<\/p>\n In fact, it is a scientifically-proven fact that we are initially very drawn to sweet foods and repelled by bitter foods<\/strong>. The reasons why children want sweet foods (think carbs) is because they are calorie-dense, and toddlers need calories to grow.\u00a0 And sweet foods are deemed “safe” biologically.<\/p>\n On the other hand, vegetables contain far less calories and are often more bitter – \u201cthis bitter taste is caused by the calcium content, as well as the presence of beneficial compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, isoflavones, terpenes, and glucoronates.\u201d (source<\/a>) . Toddlers and children are averse to many vegetables as their bitterness could be a sign of something poisonous.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As the expression says:<\/p>\n The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n If we understand why our children are fearful of food, we can come up with ways to create a more positive and comfortable environment around new food, which will positively affect their health for the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n According to the National Institute of Health and Welfare, the risk of chronic lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes increases with poor diet.<\/p>\n Of course, Food Neophobia or picky eating is not always to blame for a toddler or child not wanting to eat. Other behavioural issues can contribute, so it is always important to really figure out the root cause.<\/p>\n A study conducted in June 2019 has shown that the impacts of Food Neophobia are seen regardless of:<\/p>\n Thus, anyone can be affected by Food Neophobia.<\/p>\n Have you noticed that allergies in children seem to be more and more prevalent? Could picky eating and allergies be connected? It seems that yes, they can.<\/strong><\/p>\n A study that was done in 2012 looked at 180,000 children in 51 different countries and concluded that eating a low-quality diet that includes lots of processed food \u201cincreased the chances of a child developing a food allergy or asthma by 39%.\u201d On the other hand, \u201ceating a diet containing a larger variety of unprocessed foods reduced this chance by 11%.\u201d (source<\/a>)<\/p>\n This means that there appears to be a relationship between a high-varied diet and less chances of asthma and allergies<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Exposure Exposure Exposure!!!<\/p>\n Or as one of my favourite over-played songs says, “Don’t stop believing”.\u00a0 We’ve got to keep putting the foods in front of them.\u00a0 Even if they resist 15 times or 150 times.\u00a0 The more they see and interact with these foods the more familiar (and less fearful) they become.<\/p>\n Here’s some scientific proof:<\/p>\n In June 2019, a controlled trial was tested out in 23 childcare centres. Twenty-two children were included and on average they were 3.6 years old. The trial was set up to promote healthy habits in their diets. They first conducted a food tasting assessment which included 9 foods: grapes, cheese, crackers, chickpeas, edamame, water chestnut, kidney beans, papaya, and olives. The least known foods were papaya, edamame and horse chestnut and the most known foods were whole wheat crackers, grapes and string cheese… and were not surprisingly the most tried foods at 73-79%.<\/p>\n In summary, when children are familiar with foods, they are more likely to try them!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Early and frequent exposure to novel foods may increase children\u2019s familiarity and willingness to try foods. (Study<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Back to our example above…<\/p>\n If you could touch these century eggs, poke at them, get comfortable with the smell, and see others eat them regularly (while not being pushed to just try it), you might become more curious too.\u00a0 And eventually be brave enough to put it in your mouth.<\/p>\n So the next time you put a piece of asparagus in front of your child, put yourself in their shoes.\u00a0 Remember, they are just afraid – because they should be.\u00a0 Our job is to help remove that fear in a fun way.<\/p>\n Here’s one way to do that, with the Superpower Foods Placemat.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"picky](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FREE-WEBINAR-FB-Ads-1-1024x536.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
But we shouldn’t be afraid of food!<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/kids-eating.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
It’s important to understand Food Neophobia<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/food-neophobia.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
Are there risks?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
![\"kids](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/HypeFoodCo134-1024x684.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
What to do about it<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"picky](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/RREORDER-TODAY-SAVE-10.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n