Melanie Smith, manager of Portland Kindergarten, highlights a troubling trend among toddlers refusing diverse foods. These picky eaters, particularly those born post-2020, mainly consume processed baby food and snacks, which could lead to health issues like tooth decay. Smith observes that this rise in neophobia, or fear of new foods, is notable compared to previous years where a degree of fussy eating was common. Additionally, she connects these dietary habits to an increase in nonverbal children, suggesting that poor chewing skills may hinder speech development due to limited exposure to varied textures in food.
Melanie Smith, nursery manager, notes an alarming trend of children refusing healthy meals, with a significant rise in picky eaters exhibiting neophobia towards new foods.
Smith emphasizes the connection between chewing skills and speech development, linking the increase in nonverbal three-year-olds to a diet reliant on commercial baby food and snacks.
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