Picky Eating: Why It’s Normal
Almost half of parents admitted they feel anxious or worried when their child refuses food, while only 15% said they’re unfazed. That’s a lot of emotional energy tied up in what’s on the plate.
Paediatric dietitian Lucy Upton, founder of The Children’s Dietitian, explains:
“Weaning is rarely smooth sailing. Refusing food is normal — babies are learning new tastes and skills, and sometimes teething or illness gets in the way. Keep offering variety, model eating the foods yourself, and try not to let mealtimes turn into a battle.”
What’s Really in Baby Food?
Parents want reassurance about the food they’re buying:
- 88% of parents worry about the contents of manufactured baby food
- 35% worry about unhealthy ingredients
- 31% are concerned about how processed it is
- 22% aren’t sure what’s actually inside
This reflects a broader trend: families want transparency in baby nutrition.
The Cost of Feeding a Family
Healthy eating often feels expensive. Almost half of parents (44%) believe feeding their baby a healthier diet costs more, while 14% admitted they’ve had to compromise on food quality because of budget.
Yet, parenthood is shifting priorities: 84% said becoming a parent made the nutritional value of food more important to them.
Lucy’s simple tip:
“When you plan meals for your baby, try to cover three bases — an iron-rich food, a vitamin C-rich food, and an energy source like carbs or healthy fats. It doesn’t need to be complicated.”
Looking for practical inspiration? Try our budget-friendly family meal ideas.
Information Overload
61% of parents said they feel overwhelmed by the amount of advice on what’s “good” or “bad” food. The truth? There’s more your baby can eat than they can’t.
Lucy adds:
“Variety helps babies develop healthy eating habits and ensures they get all the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.”
Feeling stuck? Our beginner’s guide to weaning is full of no-nonsense advice to make things easier.
Support for Parents
Through its One Family campaign, Graco is championing real families, shining a light on everyday struggles, and sharing expert advice. Together with Lucy and parenting duo Fab and Ell, they’re helping parents navigate the messy, magical reality of family mealtimes.
👉 Head to Graco UK to explore more advice, insight, and family support.
Want to know more?
- Explore the full Graco baby product range.
- For ongoing tips, advice, and inspiration, follow @GracoUK on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
If you’re trying to conceive (TTC), you probably know that there are certain foods and nutrients that become especially important once you’re pregnant. But nutrition plays a vital role even when trying to conceive, much like laying a strong foundation before constructing a house.
Certain nutrients create that foundation by supporting egg and sperm health (yes, nutrition matters for both partners), hormone balance and creating a hospitable environment for a fertilized egg to implant. In fact, studies show that certain nutrients can help increase fertility and improve success rates for both natural conception and fertility treatments.
In other words, nutrition is a key player in the TTC journey, but getting the right nutrients in the right quantities can be tricky. That’s where supplements come in. Just as you’d take a multivitamin to fill in nutritional gaps for optimal health, fertility supplements can give you that extra nutrient boost.
Choosing supplements for your fertility journey
When choosing a supplement to support your fertility journey, look for science-backed, high-quality ingredients. Our editors are careful to select and partner with brands that use ingredients that have been clinically studied to support fertility. Eu Natural® (pronounced you) covers all those bases and more. We love knowing that Eu Natural® products contain zero artificial additives, binders, or fillers and are lab-tested to ensure purity and potency.
When choosing a supplement to support your fertility journey, look for science-backed, high-quality ingredients. Our editors are careful to select and partner with brands that use ingredients that have been clinically studied to support fertility. Eu Natural® (pronounced you) covers all those bases and more. We love knowing that Eu Natural® products contain zero artificial additives, binders, or fillers and are lab-tested to ensure purity and potency.
Graco have been supporting growing families for nearly 70 years. Through their trusted, and innovative products with safety and durability at their core, they aim to make the parenting journey from the big milestones to the everyday experiences just that bit better.
