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Emma is an expert in Child Feeding, Infant Feeding, Childhood Obesity, Children’s Eating, Children and Sedentary Behaviour, Children and Exercise, Parenting and Young Mothers. To view her profile, click here.

Emma has previously offered tips on how to get children to overcome fussy eating, food variation and portion sizes. 

On today's report, Emma commented: "This research from UCL helps caregivers to understand why some children might be fussier eaters than others, as it shows that genetics can play a role.  

"What we know, which applies to all children, is that we're all born with a preference for sweet tastes, like breast milk, but have to learn to like other flavours, like vegetables which can be bitter.  

"This can take time and we know that caregivers need to repeatedly offer an array of foods to their children.  

"Children will often make judgements about a food based on its look or smell, without even tasting it and it can take 10-15 offerings before a child learns to trust and like a food.  

"It's important that caregivers don't give up and continue to gently offer disliked foods to their child, without any force for them to be eaten."