Food neophobia
Encyclopedia
Food neophobia is an eating disorder sometimes referred to as the "fussy eating" disorder. As the word 'neo', means 'new', and the word 'phobia' means fear, it quite literally means a fear of trying new things. (See also Neophobia
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Food neophobia is particularly common in toddlers and young children. However, as they grow up through adolescence and teenage years, most children generally grow out of it. Very few children continue to have food neophobia as they become adults. Those that do can live with the phobia throughout their adult lives.
Other possible contributing factors include disruption during the "terrible twos" age of toddlers. During their "terrible twos", children are particularly sensitive to change, and exploring the concept of independence and control in their lives. Disruptions at this age, for example the birth of a new sibling, moving house, or starting at a nursery can often cause children to want to have some control over what they eat. The earlier children are presented with new foods and given some choice and independence, the less they will cause a fuss over what foods they want to eat.
Young children can also associate foods with bad experiences. For example, if a child eats a banana and then is sick afterwards, they might believe that the banana caused them to be ill, so they might dislike bananas. This is a very simplistic example, however if a child or toddler is ill for a long time, and the intake of food continually makes them worse, then the number of foods that the child believes to be bad is likely to be quite high, suggestively a cause of food neophobia.
Neophobia
Neophobia is the fear of new things or experiences. It is also called cainotophobia.In psychology, neophobia is defined as the persistent and abnormal fear of anything new. In its milder form, it can manifest as the unwillingness to try new things or break from routine...
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Food neophobia is particularly common in toddlers and young children. However, as they grow up through adolescence and teenage years, most children generally grow out of it. Very few children continue to have food neophobia as they become adults. Those that do can live with the phobia throughout their adult lives.
Causes
While there is no known cause for food neophobia, there are some contributing psychological factors that can increase a child's chances of developing food neophobia. One probable cause for food neophobia is when babies are not breast-fed by their mothers, but instead use alternative feeding methods, including powdered milk. This concept is also known as formula feeding. There is a common factor with children who were not breast-fed going on to develop food neophobia in childhood.Other possible contributing factors include disruption during the "terrible twos" age of toddlers. During their "terrible twos", children are particularly sensitive to change, and exploring the concept of independence and control in their lives. Disruptions at this age, for example the birth of a new sibling, moving house, or starting at a nursery can often cause children to want to have some control over what they eat. The earlier children are presented with new foods and given some choice and independence, the less they will cause a fuss over what foods they want to eat.
Young children can also associate foods with bad experiences. For example, if a child eats a banana and then is sick afterwards, they might believe that the banana caused them to be ill, so they might dislike bananas. This is a very simplistic example, however if a child or toddler is ill for a long time, and the intake of food continually makes them worse, then the number of foods that the child believes to be bad is likely to be quite high, suggestively a cause of food neophobia.