Kids learn to accept foods in a social and cultural context. Impacting that acceptance are some inherent characteristics of toddlers. Research has shown that a couple of factors are primary determinants of a child's preference for food. Not surprisingly, one is an unlearned liking for sweet taste. The second determinant is familiarity .
Familiarity is unrelated to any characteristic about that food, such as smell or taste or texture.
This characteristic has earned themselves the label neophobic. Neophobia is the fear of the new and unknown. For toddlers, that's a reluctance to try new foods. Neophobia makes sense when viewed as a normal, adaptive response. Rather than reflecting a lack of cooperation, it may be a young organism's mechanism for avoiding unfamiliar, potentially toxic foods.