title: What does it mean to be a 'picky eater'? A qualitative study of food related identities and practices.
abstract: Picky eaters are defined as those who consume an inadequate variety of food through rejection of a substantial amount of food stuffs that are both familiar and unfamiliar. Picky eating is a relatively recent theoretical concept and while there is increasing concern within public health over the lack of diversity in some children's diets, adult picky eaters remain an under researched group. This paper reports on the findings of a qualitative study on the routine food choices and practices of 26 families in Sandwell, West Midlands, UK. Photo elicitation and go-along interview data collection methods were used to capture habitual food related behaviours and served to describe the practices of nine individuals who self identified or were described as picky eaters. A thematic analysis revealed that those with the food related identity of picky eater had very restricted diets and experienced strong emotional and physical reactions to certain foods. For some this could be a distressing and alienating experience that hindered their ability to engage in episodes of social eating. Further research is needed to illuminate the specific practices of adult picky eaters, how this impacts on their lives, and how possible interventions might seek to address the challenges they face.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social & Environmental Health Research, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC9H 1SH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: claire.thompson@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Department of Social & Environmental Health Research, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC9H 1SH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.affiliation: School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Sandwell PCT, Kingston House, 438-450 High Street, West Bromwich B70 9LD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kyle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adults; Food practices; Identity; Picky eaters