Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio Picky Eaters: Extended Cut
Apr 14, 2026
Helen Zoe Veit, historian and author of Picky who studies food and childhood, explores how American children became so fussy. She traces 19th-century diets, shifting ideas about childhood, the rise of bland “kid” foods and marketing. She also discusses changing parental norms, nutrition science, and why pickiness might not be permanent.
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Episode notes
Pickiness Is Learned Not Innate
- Pickiness is not inevitable or purely evolutionary neophobia; children can acquire tastes early under the right conditions.
- Veit notes neophobia in animals lasts minutes, while historical evidence shows children overcame wariness quickly when exposed repeatedly.
Hunger Shaped Willingness To Try Foods
- Hunger and physical activity made past children more receptive to family foods.
- Veit links outdoor play, chores, and lack of snacking to larger appetites at mealtime, increasing curiosity and acceptance of varied flavors.
Food Safety Fears Drove Bland Children's Diets
- Early 20th-century reformers blamed food poisoning for child deaths and promoted bland diets to protect children.
- With little germ knowledge, advocates insisted on plain, 'digestible' foods to reduce perceived risks.
