Everyone knows that young children don't like eating greens. It is difficult for parents to get their children to eat vegetables like broccoli. A new study explains why this is. The study looked at the eating habits of two- to four-year-olds. The study found that two genes can make children dislike greens. The genes can make some youngsters dislike new food, so they become fussy eaters. It found that not liking greens is because of a child's genes. This means parents do not have to stress if their children do not eat vegetables. Many parents worry because their children do not eat healthily.

The study found that changes in DNA change how small children taste things. Children think many green vegetables taste bitter. Natasha Cole, a member of an obesity prevention program said it was not surprising that some children have a sensitive taste. She said this makes them think things like broccoli are bitter. She said the new research could help to find new ways of fighting obesity in children. Ms Cole says there needs to be more research. She said: "There is a huge gap in the research when children [move] from a milk-based diet to foods that the rest of the family eats."