Food preferences start forming earlier than you might think – and they’re not just about “picky eating.” In this episode of The Nourished Child® podcast, I talk with John Hayes, PhD, a food scientist and director of the Sensory Evaluation Center at Penn State, to uncover the fascinating blend of biology, environment, and experience that shapes what kids like to eat.

Whether your child turns their nose up at broccoli, asks for hot sauce, or avoids “wet” fruit, there’s a reason behind it – and understanding those reasons can make mealtimes easier and healthier.

Nature and Nurture: The Roots of Food Preferences

Food preferences are influenced by both biology and environment:

• Biology (Nature): We’re born liking sweet flavors and often disliking bitterness. Genetics can affect how strongly we taste certain flavors – some people can’t taste specific bitter compounds at all.
  
• Environment (Nurture): Exposure, role modeling, and culture matter. If kids never see or taste a food, they won’t have a chance to learn to like it.

“You can’t learn to like a food that’s never offered,” Hayes explains. “Repeated exposure – without pressure – is key.”

Taste Buds, Textures, and the Senses

Children are more sensitive to tastes and textures than adults. Beyond taste buds, aroma, appearance, and mouthfeel all influence acceptance.

• Texture often drives rejection – slimy, gritty, or “too wet” foods can be off-putting.
• Smell can be a deal-breaker for some kids (think eggs or broccoli for certain people).
• Appearance shapes expectations – if a food looks unappealing, kids are less likely to try it.

This “sensory integration” means kids evaluate food with their eyes, nose, and hands long before it touches their tongues.

Culture and Personality Play a Role

Culture shapes what’s considered “normal” to eat. For example, chili peppers may be introduced to children at age 4 or 5 in some countries, while in others, spicy food is rare.

Personality traits also predict openness to certain foods. Adventurous, risk-taking children may be more willing to try spicy or novel flavors, while more cautious kids may need more time and exposure.

How Parents Can Support Healthy Food Preferences

You can’t change your child’s genes, but you can shape their food environment:

1. Model the behavior: Eat a variety of foods yourself.
2. Offer without pressure: Keep mealtimes relaxed to avoid negative associations.
3. Repeat exposures: It can take many tries before a child accepts a new food.
4. Play with texture: If a child rejects a food, try preparing it differently—roasting vs. steaming, pureeing vs. slicing.

Why This Matters for Healthy Eating

Food preferences influence dietary patterns for life. By understanding the “why” behind your child’s likes and dislikes, you can:

• Support better nutrition now and in the future
• Reduce mealtime battles
• Expand their variety of healthy foods

Listen to the full episode to hear more from Dr. John Hayes about the science of taste, how personality and culture affect eating habits, and what you can do to help your child develop a healthy, varied palate.

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Resources & Links

• Learn more about John Hayes, PhD
• Listen to Flavor Training with Julie Menella
• How to Prevent Picky Eating