Research: parenting interventions reduce fussy eating.

It can often feel as though we simply have to endure our child’s fussy eating, with nothing we try making a difference. However, research shows that parenting interventions do work. This study focused on key strategies that we at Raising Adventurous Eaters advocate for—educating parents about fussy eating, reducing pressure around food, engaging children in the kitchen, using foodie games, encouraging repeated exposure, considering sensory sensitivities, and discussing food in a neutral way.

The results of the study showed a significant reduction in fussy eating following the intervention.

This is a summary of the study and the intervention that was carried out.

The Taste Education Parenting-Education Sessions aimed to support parents in encouraging children's food acceptance through sensory-based education. The program included:

1. Parenting-Education Sessions (Pre-Kitchen Sessions)

   • Two sessions (2 hours each) to educate parents.

   • Topics covered: behaviour modification techniques, nutrition education, fussy eating (with and without neurodevelopmental disorders), and avoiding food as a reward.

   • Parents were instructed to be supportive, avoid pressuring children to taste foods, and model neutral or positive reactions to food experiences.

   • A relaxation space was provided for children sensitive to stimuli.

   2. Taste Education Kitchen Sessions (Hands-On Learning)

   • Six sessions (90 minutes each) for parent-child pairs, focusing on food preparation, sensory exploration, and games.

   • Initial sessions emphasised familiarisation with kitchen smells, textures, and sounds before progressing to simple cooking and baking activities.

   • Foods were reintroduced across sessions to promote repeated exposure.

   • Parents had two opportunities to discuss their child’s progress with educators.

   3. Trainer Instructions & Support

   • Assistants were instructed to model appropriate responses, ensuring parents avoided pressuring children.

   • Children received simple at-home assignments to reinforce learning and encourage discussions around food.

The overall goal of the training was to create a positive, pressure-free food environment to help children with fussy eating habits, develop greater food acceptance through repeated exposure and sensory engagement. The researchers used a questionnaire pre and post-intervention to measure the structure of family meals, problematic child mealtime behaviours (frequency and severity), use of food as a reward and parental concern about child diet.

The intervention group showed better results across all domains for children with and without neurodiversity. Aside from some regression in using food as a reward, all improvements were maintained at the six-month follow up.

This research reinforces our belief in the power of parents!

Our Raising Adventurous Eaters audio course is a research-backed intervention designed to support families dealing with fussy eating.

We’re confident it works—so much so that we offer a money-back guarantee.

You can find out more HERE.

REFERENCES

Thorsteinsdottir, S., Njardvik, U., Bjarnason, R., & Olafsdottir, A. S. (2022). Changes in eating behaviors following taste education intervention: focusing on children with and without neurodevelopmental disorders and their families: a randomized controlled trial. Nutrients, 14(19), 4000.