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No, Thank You—The Science of Picky Eating
Dec 12, 2025
In the October–December 2023 issue of Kids Answers, we talked about terrific tongues. Did you know the average person has around 2,000 to 10,000 taste buds on their tongue? Whenever you eat or drink, your taste buds send messages to your brain through your nervous system. When you chew, chemicals are released in your throat, and these chemicals travel to your nose. The messages from your tongue and nose combine, explaining to your brain how something tastes.
But why do some foods taste good to some people while others don’t like them?
Scientists have found that our genes (the information that determines our traits) play a role in the foods we like. Some people have a variation in a gene that can cause the herb cilantro to taste like soap. Another gene determines how strongly someone tastes bitter flavors. In one study, scientists found that the kids who were more sensitive to bitter flavors preferred sugary foods and drinks.1
Another reason people might be picky eaters is if they are more afraid of trying new things. Some people are naturally less adventurous, so they are less likely to try a new food.2
Finally, some people are considered supertasters, which means that their taste buds send stronger signals about taste to their brains, making them more sensitive to flavors.3
When God made Adam and Eve on day six of creation week about 6,000 years ago, they were vegetarians (they only ate plants). They got all the nutrients they needed from the fruits and vegetables that God created. After the flood, God gave humans permission to start eating meat. Today, it is important for us to eat a diverse diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and protein to get the vitamins and minerals we need to keep our bodies healthy.
If you’re a picky eater, challenge yourself to try new things, or to keep trying foods you might not like. Your taste preferences can change, but it won’t happen overnight! Keep working on expanding your list of favorite foods.
Footnotes
- Brian Handwerk, “Why Are You a Picky Eater? Blame Genes, Brains and Breast Milk,” Smithsonian Magazine, November 25, 2014, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-are-you-picky-eater-blame-genes-brains-and-breast-milk-180953456/.
- Amy Maturana Winderl, “The Scientific Reason You’re a Picky Eater,” Self, March 1, 2017, https://www.self.com/story/the-scientific-reason-you-are-a-picky-eater/.
- Handwerk, “Picky Eater.”
