Why Are American Kids Such Picky Eaters?

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KQED

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.2 • 726 Ratings

🗓️ 3 March 2026

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Is your kid a fussy eater? A lot of us have come to accept that there’s a period where children can only stomach dino nuggets, buttered noodles and PB&J’s. But American kids used to be “fabulous” eaters, writes historian Helen Zoe Veit. They ate “spicy relishes, vinegary pickles… raw oysters and looked forward to their daily coffee.” We talk to Veit about what happened, and what we can learn from the past to expand kids’ palates — and help parents feel less overwhelmed at dinner time. Veit’s new book is “Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History.” Guests: Helen Zoe Veit, associate professor of history, Michigan State University; author, "Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History" Dr. Erik Fernandez y Garcia, pediatrician and professor of pediatrics, UC Davis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:51.6	There's a reason American kids are such picky eaters, and it doesn't have to do with
0:56.2	biology or an innate preference for bland foods like buttered noodles and cheese pizza, says social
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