These days, it's not uncommon for children to be a little fussy about what they eat. Estimates vary around the world, but as many as half of kids exhibit signs of picky eating.

But has this always been the case? Food historian Helen Zoe Veit argues the phenomenon of childhood pickiness is a modern problem, driven by changes in eating habits, food production and parenting trends over the last two centuries. 

So what can we learn from the history books about supporting children to try new foods?