The Surprising History of Picky Eating & Raising Adventurous Eaters with Helen Zoe Veit | 423

For generations, parents have been told that picky eating is normal, inevitable, and just part of raising kids. But what if that's not true? What if picky eating is actually a modern phenomenon—and one we've unintentionally created? In this episode, Nicole sits down with historian, professor, and author Helen Zoe Veit to explore the surprising history behind children's eating habits. Drawing from her book Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History, Helen reveals how kids once ate everything from bitter greens to spicy foods and why modern parenting, nutrition advice, convenience foods, and fear-based messaging may have changed that. Together, they unpack what parents can learn from history, how to build curiosity around food, and why confidence—not control—may be the missing ingredient at the dinner table. In This Episode We Discuss: Why picky eating is a relatively recent phenomenon in American history How children in the 19th century developed adventurous palates The role of nutrition science in changing children's diets Why modern parents feel so much pressure around food and feeding The difference between food neophobia and true picky eating How repeated exposure helps children learn to enjoy new foods Why separate "kids' meals" may be contributing to the problem The impact of snacks, convenience foods, and ultra-processed foods How confidence and consistency can transform family mealtimes The connection between food, curiosity, joy, and lifelong health This conversation is a powerful reminder that children may be capable of far more than we give them credit for—and that curiosity, resilience, and openness can all be nurtured one bite at a time. Thank you to our sponsors! Elevate your summer wardrobe: Go to Quince.com/tiww for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns! Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/TIWW. Don't wait to teach your kids real-world money skills! Go to https://CovePure.com/tiww to get $250 off. Thanks to CovePure for sponsoring this episode! Connect with Helen: Book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250402509/picky/  Website: http://www.helenveit.com/  Related Podcast Episodes: The Good Mother Myth with Nancy Reddy | 274 FACTS About Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids with Alyssa Blask Campbell M.Ed | 345 How To Build Girls’ Confidence with Cyndi Roy Gonzalez | 308  Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices