Everyone knows at least one child who has been labeled as a "picky eater." Their parents complain and constantly apologize for their "behavior" at social events where food is involved. However, it seems crazy that people make young children feel embarrassed and bad simply because they genuinely do not like the way some foods taste. Disliking a food is not a choice. Plain and simple.

I was-- and still kind of am-- a picky eater myself, and it was never fun as a child. I hated how people would get upset with me because I did not eat something when I did not like it, as if I had a choice. Children should not ever have to feel humiliated because they are not eating something that everyone else is because they just do not like it. Everyone has different palettes and preferences that they have no control over. Criticizing a child's food choices is destructive to their confidence and is simply unfair. If someone does not want to eat something, for whatever reason, then they should not have to eat it-- especially if they really do not like it. Life it too short to be forced or pressured to eat food that you find absolutely awful.

Different people like various kinds of foods and this is one of the things that make people unique. After all, having different tastes and preferences is something that should be celebrated, not criticized.