• Annatjie M Smith, Saartjie Roux, N T Raj Naidoo, and Daniel J L Venter.
• University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• Nutrition. 2005 Jan 1; 21 (1): 14-9.

ObjectiveWe explored whether tactile defensive children have picky eating habits because fussy or picky eaters are a general problem to parents and different health professionals.MethodsChildren (n = 62) of both sexes, ages 3 to 10 y, were assigned to an experimental tactile defensive (TD) group (n = 29) or a control non-TD group (n = 33). A questionnaire on eating habits was compiled and given to parents for completion during personal interviews (children were screened with a checklist and evaluated for tactile defensiveness with the Winnie Dunn Caregiver profile questionnaire).ResultsThis research confirmed that the eating habits and food choices of TD and non-TD children differ significantly. TD children had a fair to poor appetite. They hesitated to eat unfamiliar foods, did not eat other people's houses, and refused certain foods because of the smell and temperature. They also had a problem eating vegetables. They often gagged and/or bit their inner lips and cheeks. The results showed a definite difference in the limited selection of foods that TD children chose and a pronounced aversion toward textures or consistencies, smells, and temperatures of food as compared with integrated children.ConclusionsFussy or picky eaters should evaluated more widely than to treat only the feeding problem. Tactile or oral defensiveness can be treated. This report underlines the team approach of health professionals.

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