Your kids’ fussy eating habits ARE your fault – but ‘genetics are to blame NOT your parenting’

KIDS are born with fussy eating habits, a new study has revealed.

Scientists at University College London say genetics - rather than parenting style - dictate how youngsters interact with food, although these can be overcome.

Published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, the research analysed 1,921 families with 16 month-old twins.

They found that inherited genes play the biggest role in fussy-eating, or neophobia - a fear of new foods - which they assure is a 'normal development stage' for kids.

Study co-author Andrea Smith said: "Establishing a genetic influence might be quite a relief to parents as they often feel judged or feel guilty for their children's fussy eating.

"Understanding that these traits are largely innate might help to deflect this blame."

However, they stressed that parents can actively change their kids' eating habits.

Senior researcher Dr Clare Llewellyn added: "Genes are not our destiny. We know of many traits with genetic basis that can be changed, such as weight."

The researchers also found that mothers of twins whose levels of food fussiness varied greatly, responded by feeding their children differently.

Mothers often reacted to a fussier twin by pressurising their child to eat and used favourite foods as a reward for disliked foods.

This may suggest that parents are responding to their child's innate eating behaviours, rather than causing fussiness through their choice of feeding policy.