(TMX) – New research shows the average American parents spends around 67 hours per year “in negotiation” with their child, with the top battle being mealtime meltdowns over eating their vegetables.
The survey of 2,000 American parents with school-aged children was conducted by Talker Research on behalf of SeaPak. The study found that 44% of parents are concerned their child’s pickiness is affecting their overall nutrition.
The average parent strikes five bargains with their child per week, and dinner is the most common meal for kids to push back on, with kids around age 5 being the pickiest.
Complaints about not wanting to eat veggies (37%) were the number one reason for dinnertime strife, followed by disliking the smell of the meal (33%) and “not liking the way it looks” (32%).
Fourteen percent of parents said food fights stem from their children not wanting to try something new.
“It’s such a common problem,” said Meaghan Murphy, lifestyle expert and spokesperson for SeaPak. “We hear from parents all the time who want to make sure their children are getting a balanced diet but who also are hesitant to eat anything they’ve never had before. The good news is that with a little creativity, introducing new foods and flavors into familiar dishes can help children expand their palates and enjoy a more varied, nutritious diet without the stress.”
Other kid complaints about food had to do with texture and temperature rather than flavor, including “it’s too mushy” (18%), “it’s too chewy” (9%), “it’s too hot” (temperature) (9%), “it’s too cold” (7%), and “it’s too crunchy” (6%).
The most popular foods parents said their kids almost never turn down were pizza (76%), chicken nuggets (73%), fries (72%), macaroni and cheese (66%) and hamburgers (58%). About a third of parents say seafood is a reliable go-to, because their kids never say no to shrimp (32%) or fish sticks (31%).
While 56% of parents said they see the most refusals from their kids about eating vegetables, only 17% of parents said the same about proteins.
Many parents report trying to engage with their children rather than punishing them for pushback. Parents try getting their kids involved in meal preparation (36%) and introducing new foods gradually (34%). They also try teaching children about the benefits of nutrition (28%), creating a positive, pressure-free mealtime environment (26%) and modeling positive behaviors by trying new ingredients for the first time with their kids (26%).
Parents also reported trying repeated exposure (25%), offering rewards or incentives (19%) and preparing food in fun shapes and colorful arrangements (19%).
Among parents, however, a little more than a quarter (26%) said they were a picky eater as a kid and are still a picky eater.
“We know that getting picky eaters to try new foods can be a challenge, but seafood is a great source of protein that offers a quick and easy way to make mealtime both fun and nutritious,” said Ciera Womack, Director of Marketing, Seafood at Rich Products Corporation. “Our goal is to help parents feel confident in serving seafood in ways that are familiar and approachable, whether it’s a twist on a favorite dish or a fun new shape that sparks curiosity. Every small step toward variety can help set the stage for healthier eating habits down the road.”
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