My child is a picky eater and isn't gaining weight. At what point is it "picky eating I should get help for"?

Picky eating itself is common in many children. The line for wanting to consult a professional is if any of these apply: (1) the growth curve has started trending downward or flattening, (2) they can eat only about 20 or fewer foods, (3) they reject an entire food group (all vegetables, all meat, etc.), or (4) every meal has become a battle between parent and child. The basic way to expand the range is to add, one step at a time, foods "similar in shape, taste, or texture" to what they can already eat (food chaining). Suddenly presenting something new and forcing it can actually narrow the range of foods.