The 3 Hidden Causes of Picky Eating (and What You Can Do About It)

By: Dr. Alyssa McPeak - Roots Wholistic Health

Picky eating is one of the most common concerns we hear from parents—and you’re not alone if you’re struggling with it. What many families don’t realize is that picky eating rarely starts as a “behavioral issue.” It often begins much earlier, rooted in how babies are introduced to food, textures, and digestion.

Today, we’re breaking down the three most overlooked causes of picky eating and how small changes in early feeding habits can support better digestion, nutrient absorption, and long-term health for your child.

1. Purees Don’t Teach Chewing (and Babies Need to Move Food to the Back of Their Mouth)

Purees and traditional baby food may be convenient, but they don’t teach your baby how to chew or move food safely and effectively inside their mouth. Chewing is a developmental skill—and like any skill, it has to be practiced.

When babies only eat smooth purees, they never learn:

• How to move food from the front of their tongue to the back of their mouth

• How to chew and break food down

• How to coordinate tongue, jaw, and swallow patterns

These are foundational oral-motor skills, and when they don’t develop early, kids can become resistant to textures later—leading to food aversions, picky eating, and even nutrient deficiencies.

What to do instead:

Once your baby starts cutting teeth, begin introducing soft, safe textures that require small amounts of chewing. Think:

• Steamed soft vegetables

• Canned vegetables

• Ripe fruits

• Soft scrambled eggs

• Mashed foods with texture

Your goal is not volume—it’s exposure.

2. Introducing Solids Too Early (Before Digestive Enzymes Are Ready)

Just because a baby is "old enough" for solids… doesn’t mean their digestive system is.

Babies produce digestive enzymes in stages. When their teeth begin erupting, it’s a sign their body is developing the enzymes needed to break down those foods. For example:

• Incisors → Vegetables and Fruits

• Canines → Animal Protein

• Molars → Grains and Complex Carbs

When solids are introduced before the body can produce the enzymes to break them down, it can lead to:

• Gas and bloating

• Reflux

• Constipation

• Food sensitivities

• Gut irritation

All of these can create negative associations with eating—which eventually contributes to picky eating.

Our recommendation:

Introduce solids before 9 months, but not before your baby cuts their first teeth. Teeth are nature’s built-in signal that the digestive system is ready for the next step.

3. Lack of Color, Variety, and Real Food Exposure

If your child’s diet is mostly beige—pasta, cereal, crackers, bread—they’re missing the textures, colors, and nutrients their growing brain and gut need.

White, starchy foods are easy to chew and swallow, but they do NOT:

• Develop oral motor strength

• Expand taste preferences

• Provide micronutrients

• Support gut health

• Feed healthy brain development

Early exposure to color and texture is essential. Babies who see, smell, and touch a variety of foods are more likely to eat them later.

Think Rainbow, Not Beige

Offer foods from every color group each day:

• Reds: strawberries, tomatoes, peppers

• Greens: avocado, peas, broccoli

• Orange: sweet potatoes, peaches, carrots

• Purple: blueberries, beets

• Proteins: shredded chicken, grass-fed beef, beans

• Healthy fats: avocado, olive oil, nut butters

Even if they don’t eat it—exposure counts.

Why This Matters: Picky Eating Isn’t “Just a Phase”

When picky eating becomes chronic, it can lead to:

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Autoimmune conditions

• Blood sugar imbalance

• Underdeveloped gut microbiome

• Food sensitivities

• ADHD and Neuro-divergent Behaviors

• Mood disorders later in life (anxiety, depression)

• Hormone imbalance & fertility challenges in adulthood

Food is foundational—and the early years set the stage for lifelong health.

If Your Child Is Already a Picky Eater… There Is Hope

Functional medicine testing can uncover:

• Hidden nutrient deficiencies

• Gut imbalances

• Food intolerances

• Mineral depletion

• Inflammation

• Digestive enzyme insufficiency

• Blood sugar instability

Once we know why your child is picky, we can create a personalized plan that supports their gut, brain, immune system, and long-term relationship with food.

We Can Help

At Roots Wholistic Health, we specialize in digging deeper to support children’s health from the inside out.

If your child struggles with picky eating, digestion, behavior, or food sensitivities, we can help uncover the root cause and guide you step-by-step.

👉 Ready to get answers? Schedule a Functional Medicine Consultation for your child today.