The researchers reviewed 80 health industry studies identifying picky eating in children under 10, mostly based on parental reports and recall. .

They found a more relaxed parenting style, eating together as a family and involving a child in the preparation of food all reduced the likelihood of fussy eating.

Conversely, pressuring a child to eat, very strict parenting and offering rewards for eating, such as being able to watch TV, all made children fussier eaters.  .

New research is providing a better understanding of what influences fussy eaters, and what is more likely to increase or decrease picky eating in children under 10.

They've provided some of their top tips for parents of fussy eaters, including scheduling regular mealtimes, getting children involved with food preparation and removing rewards, bribes or punishments. 

'For parents with a fussy eater, mealtimes can be especially stressful – juggling the family meal and a picky eater is no small feat,' said lead researcher and USC PhD student Laine Chilman

'Eating together as a family, with siblings, and having a single meal at a regular time all helped reduce food fussiness, as did getting the fussy child involved in the meal, either by helping to choose the menu, or helping to prepare the meal. 

'Yet if fussy eaters were allowed to eat in front of the TV, or if they were rewarded for eating certain foods, these behaviours negatively influenced picky children.' 

In their study, the authors identify several features of the typical fussy eater, including reduced food intake, reduced preference for vegetables, rejecting new foods, preferring a limited variety of foods and refusing food based on texture. 

Typical behaviours of children who were identified as picky eaters included slower to eat or longer feeding time, avoiding mealtimes and 'inspecting foods'. 

As well as the individual personality of each child, stress – often caused by actions from the parent such as shouting – is another factor that can explain why children are fussy eaters

'When you have a child who is a picky eater, it's very stressful for a parent or carer – they're forever questioning whether their child is getting enough nutrients, enough food, and often enough weight gain,' said co-author Dr Ann Kennedy-Behr at University of South Australia. 

Earlier in 2021, scientists at Penn State University reported that doubling the amount of vegetables on a dinner plate resulted in children eating 68 per cent more greens.  

Nutritionist Bridget Benelam said: 'The early years are a golden opportunity for encouraging healthy eating habits in children but we know that many parents find it hard to get children to eat plenty of vegetables

'This study may show us another way to make these challenges a bit easier for parents and ultimately to encourage children to establish healthy eating habits for life.'