About this episode

Nicole Kalil interviews historian Helen Zoe Veit about the surprising history of picky eating and how modern parenting has influenced children's diets.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Nicole Kalil

Guest: Helen Zoe Veit

Topics covered

• picky eating
• children's eating habits
• parenting
• nutrition
• food curiosity
• family mealtimes

Keywords

• picky eating
• adventurous eaters
• nutrition science
• food neophobia
• family meals
• children's diets
• food curiosity

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History

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