Picky Eater Test: Food Selectivity Issues
If your child constantly refuses certain foods, avoids new foods or has a very limited diet, perform the Picky Eater Test. Identifying this behavior early allows you to apply appropriate strategies to improve their relationship with food.
What is the Picky Eater Test?
It’s a tool based on the Selective Eating Questionnaire (SEQ), which assesses food selectivity in children. Through a series of statements, parents can determine if their child shows signs of picky eating and to what degree.
Selective Eating Questionnaire (SEQ Adaptation)
Then rate each statement by selecting the option that best describes your child’s behavior:
Score: Never = 1, Rarely = 2, Sometimes = 3, Often = 4, Always = 5
| Scoring criteria | Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Refuses to try new foods. | |||||
| Eat a very limited variety of foods. | |||||
| Shows aversion to certain food textures or colors. | |||||
| Becomes distressed when presented with unfamiliar foods. | |||||
| Prefers the same foods and rejects others. | |||||
| Avoid unfamiliar foods. | |||||
| He has difficulty accepting changes in his usual meals. |
Interpretation of results:
- 7 – 14 points: Normal eating behavior. Selectivity does not appear to be a problem.
- 15 – 24 points: Possible tendency toward selective eating. Observe eating habits and encourage variety.
- 25 – 35 points: Indicative of selective eating. It is recommended to seek professional advice to guide the process.
Health Problems Associated with Selective Eating Disorder
According to Nemours KidsHealth, a selective eating disorder (Picky Eaters) can cause a deficit in the intake of calories, proteins, carbohydrates, etc. Related to malnutrition problems, leading to:
- Needing tube feeding and nutritional supplements.
- Problems of low weight and in severe cases of height.
- Delayed puberty.
What to do if your child is a picky eater?
If the results of the Picky Eater Test indicate picky eating, it is important to adopt appropriate strategies.
For which, I recommend reading this publication: Picky eater: What to do when a child won’t eat?
Factors Contributing to Selective Feeding
Several factors may influence the development of picky eating in children:
- Some children may have increased sensitivity to tastes, smells, or textures of foods.
- Early exposure to a variety of foods during complementary feeding is crucial for developing healthy food acceptance.
- Parents’ eating habits influence children’s preferences and behaviors.
- A relaxed and positive environment facilitates acceptance of new foods, while pressures and punishments can lead to rejection.
Parental Influence on Picky Eater
In my experience as a nutritionist, I have observed that many eating habits associated with picky eating originate from parental practices.
During the introduction of complementary feeding, some parents limit the variety of foods offered, do not set specific times and places for meals, or create a negative experience around feeding.
This can contribute to children developing rejection of certain foods.
Therefore, it is essential to educate parents and caregivers to promote a healthy relationship with food from infancy, rather than blaming children for their food preferences.
Written by: Nutritionist Andrés Izurieta
Bibliographic citations:
Fernandez C, DeJesus JM, Miller AL, Appugliese DP, Rosenblum KL, Lumeng JC, et al. Selective eating behaviors in children: An observational validation of parental report measures. Appetite. 2018.
NemoursKidsHealth. Trastorno de alimentación restrictivo o selectivo.
Venkatesh S, DeJesus JM. Can children report on their own picky eating? Similarities and differences with parent report. Appetite. 2022.
