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Picky eaters ,because of their low variety in healthy foods, usually suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Being a picky eater is something that is most often associated with childhood, especially during the toddler years. The majority of children who are picky eaters early on and only eat a few types of food will go on to develop normal eating habits as they get older.

This is not the case for everyone, though. Some individuals will continue to be picky about the foods they eat well into their adulthood. Adults who are picky eaters generally have several health related issues to deal with as a result of their poor food choices that lack any nutritional value.
What about your social life?
While picky eaters main concern may be their health and nutrition, being a picky eater can be extremely hard on your social life too. Attending parties and receptions can be very difficult for picky eaters, as there may not be any foods available that appeal to them in the slightest, meaning they'll eat nothing. This is especially true for banquets and receptions that have only a fixed menu with a few select items to choose from. Even something like eating at a restaurant with a full menu can be pretty difficult for picky eaters who eat less common foods, or foods that may be frowned upon by other people. If all of the guests at your table are ordering healthy cuts of meat with a side of sautéed vegetables while you order nothing but simply a large plate of French fries, you are very likely to get more than a few odd glances and questioning looks.
Picky eaters may have a long list of health conditions
Many picky eaters also suffer from poor nutrition levels and may even have a long list of other health conditions as a result of this. They are often deficient in the essential vitamins and minerals to keep your body running properly, and may have one or maybe even more diseases and/or health conditions that result from their improper nutrition. Most adults who are picky eaters are well aware of the dangers of not eating the foods that are rewired for a healthy diet, however, their aversion to certain foods and tastes can make it extremely difficult to incorporate those healthier foods into their diets.
How to incorporate healthier foods into the diet habits of a picky eater
Picky eaters who would like to make an attempt to incorporate some healthier foods into their lives and diets should start by dong an overall analysis of all the foods and their nutritional levels that they are currently eating. First, make a list of the foods that you eat on a daily basis for one week. Starting your own food journal is a good way to keep track of everything that you consume in a day. After a full week of logging everything that you consume every day, take an in-depth look at the foods that are included in your list. How do you do this? Create 2 separate columns for healthy and unhealthy foods, and place all of the foods that you have eaten into the appropriate category. This will give you a clear visual of what your eating habits are, and will help you realize the steps you need to take to make dietary changes.
Although it may seem obvious to eliminate the unhealthy foods first, a more practical approach is to focus on the healthy foods you are eating and try to incorporate more of those into your diet each day. Start by replacing one unhealthy snack or meal with one of the ones form the healthy category. Focus on fruits and vegetables first, and increase your servings of each daily. Experiment with different ways to prepare the healthy foods you enjoy, and focus on incorporating more of them into your diet. As you increase your servings of healthy foods, you are also dropping your servings of unhealthy foods as well.
- Photo courtesy of tjstaab on Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/tjstaab/6190376599
- Photo courtesy of roswellsgirl on Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/roswellsgirl/6087193494
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