Does autism affect picky eating?
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have issues when adapting and processing stimuli or incorporating new actions and behaviors into their routine. These behaviors can complicate the daily experiences of neurodivergent individuals, including mealtime. Picky eaters with autism may experience discomfort when trying foods, leading them to reject meals based on color, texture, and other elements like food presentation or reactions to someone touching their food. This condition is known as extreme food refusal and selective eating on the milder end.
Good nutrition is crucial for the health of any individual, and autism and fussy eating are often concerns for many parents who wonder: Does autism affect picky eating? Research from the National Library of Medicine indicates that 46% and 89% of neurodivergent children are picky eaters. Although studies are limited, there are some correlations between obesity, malnutrition, and picky eaters with autism. Additionally, when a child refuses to eat, it can add stress and anxiety for caregivers, complicating situations such as family gatherings, restaurant visits, and holidays.
Fortunately, as children age and by implementing autism-picking eating strategies to introduce various foods into their diet, selective eating tendencies can decrease. We have compiled a list of helpful and practical options at ABA Centers of Georgia to ensure your child receives the nutrients necessary for healthy development.
7 Strategies for Picky Eaters with Autism
- Rule Out Any Health Issues: Before addressing autism and fussy eating, ensuring that your child’s aversion to certain foods is not rooted in a health problem is crucial. Consider factors such as intolerances, allergies, dental issues, and acid reflux, among other conditions, which can often trigger negative associations in picky eaters with autism towards foods causing discomfort or pain. Ensure that mealtime stress does not result from a physiological reaction before addressing their behavior.
- Keep a Record of Your Child’s Food Intake: The initial step in identifying “problem foods” and taking action to address them is gathering data. While being a picky eater is a behavior you can easily quantify, there is no fixed way to measure pickiness accurately. One approach is to maintain a list over several weeks, noting all the foods your child has tried and marking those they have rejected. Over time, you’ll observe patterns in the foods they enjoy, allowing you to track your child’s progress.
- Patience is Key: Patience is crucial when dealing with picky eaters with autism during mealtime. These individuals often face heightened anxiety in such situations, and introducing an atmosphere of pressure and expectation may exacerbate their negative associations. Once you’ve placed the food on the table for your child, allow them to play or snack on the food at their own pace. During this time, infuse the atmosphere with humor by sharing a few jokes to lighten the mood. Spend time discussing the food without using labels or passing judgment. The key is transforming dinnertime into enjoyable occasions with no unnecessary fuss.
Incorporating a lighthearted activity just before eating can also contribute to a relaxed atmosphere at the table. Cultivating good humor can make individuals, including picky eaters with autism, more receptive to new culinary experiences.
- Take It Step by Step: To introduce a new food to picky eaters with autism, start with something small. Portion size is vital, for instance. Offering your child small, intermittent bites of the food for weeks or months can help ease the process. You can also opt for baby versions of the food – instead of providing a whole apple, try small slices and apply this approach to all the foods you wish to introduce. Cutting the food into fun shapes that encourage your child to try it can also be beneficial. Dealing with autism and fussy eating may be a lengthy journey, but these autism-picky eating strategies can facilitate the process and serve as a guide for you.
- Try Flavor Combinations: Food flavors often taste better when combined with others. For example, boiled broccoli may never be as appealing as sautéed or in a creamy soup. Flavor combinations also apply to neurodivergent children, even if their palates are limited. One way to familiarize a child with an unfamiliar food is by pairing it with something they already enjoy. You can combine highly versatile foods like fruits, carrots, and pasta with other items like hummus, butter, tomatoes, or meatballs.
- Consider Food Textures: Researchers link many issues related to autism and fussy eating to the textures of foods. One way to introduce new foods to picky eaters with autism is by preparing meals in ways they already know and like. For instance, many children with aggressive food aversions prefer fried foods. Therefore, you can bread vegetables like cauliflower and offer dips or vegetable-based sauces. Over time, your child will get used to the taste of cauliflower, allowing you to introduce it into other dishes without any issues. Additionally, if texture issues are severe, you can offer mashed vegetables combined with familiar meals.
If your child enjoys fruit drinks, consider buying fresh fruits at the store and making smoothies at home. You can incorporate small amounts of kale or carrots to supplement their diet, and you’ll find that the taste goes unnoticed. It may sound small, but you’ll add more variety to their nutrition in the long run.
- Involve Your Child in the Kitchen: With time and patience, children on the spectrum can learn exceptional skills and surprise you with their talents. Engaging them in food preparation can be a fun activity where they can nurture their creativity and abilities. If your child is a picky eater with autism, involve them in cooking. Teach them how to chop, cook a simple dish, handle temperatures, and stir. You might be helping them cultivate a talent or a passion for cooking while enhancing their curiosity to try new flavors.
ABA Centers of Georgia Helps Picky Eaters with Autism and More
At ABA Centers of Georgia, we understand that navigating neurodiversity comes with complexities but can also be a gratifying experience. With the proper support and resources specializing in the needs of neurodivergent individuals, we can achieve incredible changes and progress. Through our ABA therapy services for children and adolescents in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Buckhead, and Marietta, we assist in developing essential life skills that help children with autism overcome obstacles and lead the brightest possible life. With these autism-picky eating strategies and ABA therapy, many parents can witness the improvement in their children and achieve the developmental goals they set, enhancing their quality of life.
For more information about our autism services in Georgia, call (855) 929-5058 or contact us online. Let us support you on the neurodiversity journey!
