• Aswini Sukumaran
• Febu Elizabeth Joy

Young children are famous for being food neophobics (fear of eating new or unfamiliar foods) and picky eaters (child with many food dislikes) so much that nearly every parent has struggled with their UFC during meal at one time or another. A descriptive study was done to assess FN and PE among UFC as reported by their mothers’. Results revealed that among UFC 37% were food neophobics. Distribution of PE depicted 71% were moderate in pickiness, 16% were low in pickiness while 13% were high in pickiness. There was positive correlation (r =0.357, p<0.001) between FN and PE among UFC. FN and PE had significant association with selected demographic variables. When aiming to influence children's food preferences, the effects of FN and PE and strategies to reduce it should be considered.

FN- Food Neophobia, PE- Picky Eating, UFC- Under-five Children, PU- Paediatric Units.

"Prevalence of Food Neophobia and Picky Eating: A Descriptive study among mothers of under-five children attending selected paediatric units of AIMS, Kochi, Ernakulam, Kerala State, India. new or unfamiliar foods. It differs from selective eating disorder. Food neophobia is particularly comm", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.2, Issue 12, page no.17-23, December-2015, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1512003.pdf

"Prevalence of Food Neophobia and Picky Eating: A Descriptive study among mothers of under-five children attending selected paediatric units of AIMS, Kochi, Ernakulam, Kerala State, India. new or unfamiliar foods. It differs from selective eating disorder. Food neophobia is particularly comm", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.2, Issue 12, page no. pp17-23, December-2015, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1512003.pdf