Are food issues more common with boys?

august06mom

Seems like the majority of posts I read about food issues and picky eaters are about boys. This is also true for me in real life.

ExpatFamily06

Knock on wood, I haven't had any issues with my ds.  That kid has always been a good eater and will pretty much eat anything now except asparagus and saurkraut.

shouldbworkin

It kind of runs in my family.  My uncle is picky, but so is his daughter.  My sister was very picky too.  I have heard that it can often be associated with kids who have food allergies, reflux and who had a lot of ear infections as babies.  If they associated pain with food, chances are they aren't going to enjoy it as much as other people do.   

ali-1411

I don't know statistics but DS is my good eater.  He'll try anything and likes most things.  DD is the picky eater, who cries if she doesn't recognize something on her plate.

DevonPow

I think it is just a personality thing...DS has my personality 100% (not necessarily a good thing!) and I was insanely picky as a child. According to my mom I once only ate frozen peas (while still frozen) for a week (she may be exaggerating slightly). Anyway, I am now a foodie and will eat almost anything, so there is hope for my insanely picky child.

AggieCouple

If you looked at our family, then yes.  H and TB are definitely palate-challenged.  I really thought H is the way he is because his mom catered to him, but I swear, TB came out picky.  I can't get him to eat any other vegetable (unless hidden in sauce) besides peas, corn and carrots.

ML, on the other hand, has always been an adventurous eater.  She'll try anything at least once and will eat pretty much any vegetable or fruit.  She's the only person I know who would eat plain lettuce, as early as when she was 3.  Even I don't do that at my age.  But I have a much more diverse palate than H.

We used to laugh a little at how MIL always always has peas for dinner.  Then one day, we came over by surprise and they had different vegetables, not a single pea in sight.  THEN I realized,  she was doing it for H, because that was pretty much the only vegetable he would eat.  And now I realize, one day, my DIL will wonder, "why does she always have to peas, corn or carrots?"

Cbidt's girl

I dont know about young children, but certainly not once you hit late childhood and adolescence. Girls and women overwhelming struggle with eating disorders more than our male counterparts. Thinking about eating disorders puts childhood preferences in perspective for me.