Picky Eaters - Genes or Environment?

Eating plenty of nutrient-rich fruits and veggies is a key to good health. However, developing a taste for them is quite another matter, particularly in children. When kids turn up their noses at veggies, is it nature that’s to blame or nurture? Researchers looked at data from the Gemini twin cohort study to find the answers.

The study looked at 1,330 pairs of 3-year-old twins born in England and Wales in 2007. Thirty-four percent of the children were monozygotic (identical twins sharing 100 percent of their DNA with their twin), while 66 percent were dizygotic (sharing about 50 percent of their DNA). Parents filled out questionnaires detailing the children’s food preferences for 19 different vegetables and 16 different fruits. There were also questions related to eating behaviors such as willingness to try new foods.

The results showed that genetics plays a huge role in both food preferences and food pickiness. Pickiness was shown to be 78 percent due to genetics, while vegetable preferences were 70 percent heritable and fruit preferences were calculated at 66 percent. Environment was found to have a moderate role (21 percent for vegetable and 24 percent for fruit preferences). There are other factors that influence eating behavior as well, such as the personalities of the children—whether or not they are adventurous, open or eager to please. All these traits come into play when determining whether or not a child will accept a fruit or vegetable.

Bottom Line:  While genetics may play a big role in determining whether or not someone will like a food, genes don’t have the final say. It is possible to acquire a taste for a food with repeated exposure, even if you don’t naturally prefer it. Research shows it can take up to ten exposures to a fruit or vegetable before a child is willing to even try it; the key is to offer fruits and veggies as often as possible and to lead by example.

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