Picky eating starts in the womb – a nutritional neuroscientist explains how to expand your child’s palate

While genes do influence some food preferences, positive experiences can help make new tastes easier to swallow.

By: Kathleen Keller, Penn State, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 23, 2026

Words: 1,082

Last Updated: 10 hours, 3 minutes ago

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By Kathleen Keller, Penn State

It’s 5:45 p.m. and you’ve just arrived home after a long day at work. You’d like nothing more than a glass of pinot and to binge old episodes of your favorite show. Into the kitchen comes young Sally, your food-adventurous 8-year-old. “I’m hungry, what’s for dinner?”

Sally has never met a food she’s afraid to try. Visions of her savoring the tangy brine of an oyster and joyously slurping spicy …

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