What is a "whiteatarian" and is my kid one?
Until I was interviewed by a HuffPost journalist, I hadn’t heard the name “whiteartarian” but I have met my fair share of white food-loving kids.
Chances are you’ve met a child that loves plain pasta and white bread just buttered. I’ve come across this both in clinical practice and in the clinic many times. Parents are frustrated and rightly concerned that their child’s plate consists of nothing by beige foods.
Depending on the child’s age and the duration of this behaviour, a child might just be coined a “fussy eater” or an “extreme fussy eater”. But it wasn’t until writer Julie Kendrick mentioned the term “whiteatarian” that I thought how appropriate!
What is a "Whiteatarian"?
A “Whiteatarian” has been used by HuffPost as a term to describe children who eat only white foods. Think plain white pasta, noodles, white bread, potato chips, pastry, yoghurt, milk and biscuits. They may even consume some foods in the beige family such as frozen chicken nuggets or fish fingers. Put a piece of chicken or white fish in front of them though, and that can be a different story!
I hadn’t heard of this term before, but I did think it was fitting. However, full disclaimer here. Giving labels like this to children, even saying “oh they won’t eat that, they’re a picky eater”, can perpetuate the problem. So let’s keep these terms between you and me!
Children, in general, have natural gravitation to these refined carbohydrate foods. From birth, their taste palettes are tuned into sweet. Breast milk, for example, is naturally sweet. Those lovely green vegetables we want our children so desperately to eat, taste bitter and unappealing.
Of the children I see demonstrating fussy eating behaviours, I would estimate about 80% of them consume a diet where these carbohydrates make up a large proportion. However, only about 5% eat just white foods. It’s pretty extreme but seems to be becoming more of an issue.
You never know, this number may even be greater as there are many parents who don’t have the knowledge or awareness of the potential health implications associated with a “whiteatarian” diet. Or they are happy to ride it out, hoping it’s just an incredibly frustrating phase that they will grow out of.
Should I be worried if my child is a “whiteatarian”?
A lot of white and beige foods, besides some common veg like potatoes and parsnips, are the ultra-processed foods that kids love. Bread, crackers, chips, chicken nuggets, cheese sticks, cereals are all white. They’re non-threatening and tantalise the taste buds with the added addition of sugar, salt and flavours.
Nutrient deficiencies, in particular zinc and iron, can be caused by such a restrictive diet. They can also perpetuate the problem by exacerbating the extreme picky eating behaviour and this preference for white foods. I also see a lot of children with restrictive eating not consuming enough protein, one of the most important macronutrients for growth and development.
Fibre is another nutrient children with fussy eating behaviour and a diet of mainly refined carbohydrates miss out on. This not only can cause issues such as constipation and poor appetite regulation, but it starves the beneficial bacteria in their guts.
Gut microbiota issues where is an imbalance in the bacteria species can be affected by this white food or processed food diet. If we don’t have fibre and a variety of plant foods, we aren’t providing the fuel for these bacteria to provide and maintain the right balance. Certain bacteria, particularly pathogenic bacteria, can thrive as they feed off refined carbohydrates. This can also influence our child’s taste preferences - hello sugar!
Co-existing conditions such as autism and ADHD can lead to food sensitivities or sensory issues such as sensitivities around the flavour, texture, smell or appearance of foods. Developmental delays or physical impairments can also lead to limited food selectivity.
There is also a growing number of children who have anxiety disorders or anxiety as part of their health issues. Extreme fussy eating behaviour is often a component of their anxiety picture.
As you can see, there are many this to consider when your child continually rejects food offered, especially if they’re missing out on entire foods groups. I would encourage you to start questioning things around this behaviour. Does my child always complain of being tired, do they have a dull complexion, are they struggling to stay focused on one task? Does my child complain of tummy aches, is there sleep poor, do they show signs of separation anxiety?
If you’re seeing signs of behaviour issues outside of mealtimes or you’re questioning some of their physical development, it may be worth consulting with a health practitioner.
Will my child “grow out of it”?
Fussy eating behaviour can start as early as 18 mths as children being to exert their independence and undergo a lot of developmental changes. We’ve also got the natural tastebuds to consider. Extreme eating behaviours or disorders are most commonly seen in children around 10-12 years old but this largely depends on what else is going on with the individual child.
Many children will naturally grow out of fussy eating as they gain more skills and confidence around food. However, children with extremely limited diets will likely need some form of treatment due to the potential of malnourishment. There is some research to suggest between 20-40% of pickiness will continue into adolescence and some adults still display fussy eating behaviour.
What can I do now to help my “whiteatarian”?
Regardless of whether the child is showing slight signs of pickiness or have extreme restrictive eating behaviours, we know that food exposure and family dynamics play a major role in its development and perpetuation.
Pressure, both positive and negative, exacerbates fussy eating behaviour. Changing up the language and the eating environment to create a more relaxing atmosphere is one of the first steps I take with families to help overcome restrictive eating. Replacing bribery and shaming with enjoyable conversation can have a big impact.
You can also look at ways you can support your child nutritionally while staying within their food preferences. Take a look at this article here for some tips.
If you are concerned about any signs and symptoms your child may be experiencing thanks to their restricted eating behaviour, see a health practitioner for advice. This may be a phase that they grow out of, but at least you can support them along the way.
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