While picky eating is an issue for many children, children with autism seem to have exceptionally limited diets. Nutrition is a concern of many parents, since building variation into a child’s diet can be quite challenging.
The five tips below are intended to help you ensure better health and, at the same time, offer the opportunity for you to work on independent living, socialization and organizational skills with your child.
Make a Menu
Once a week I collect all three of my children and we sit down to decide our meals and snacks for the upcoming week. When it comes time to eat, there isn’t any resistance because they have chosen the food themselves (say bye-bye to… “I don’t like that”!).
By sitting down together, I have the opportunity to work on socialization skills and social communication with my children. It also makes my life easier, as I have a clear cut shopping list, know ahead of time what we’re cooking, and no longer do I have to hear, “Mom, what’s for dinner?”… What could be better!
Take advantage of the opportunity to work on asking questions, taking turns, making choices and organizing it into a menu that you can create using picture symbols, pictures of food or simply text – whatever works for your family.
Prepare Meals Together
Similar to preparing the menu, cooking together allows time to work on sequential tasks, some academics (measuring, reading, etc), and children seem more likely to eat something they have helped prepare. If your child has sensory issues this is also a great opportunity to squeeze in some sensory integration.
Have fun with it! Turn your crackers into spiders (pretzel sticks for legs), make your pizza into a silly shape or cut food with different shaped cookie cutters – incorporate your child’s interests into eating anyway you can.
Don’t forget the Secret Ingredient
Fiber – that’s the secret ingredient added to all the food prepared in this house (including beverages). Most children do not consume enough fiber through diet alone, but this is an easy fix. There are many fiber supplements that dissolve completely and have no taste, smell or texture, so they are easy to slip in whatever your child eats. As with anything medical, you should consult your child’s doctor before beginning supplements.
By no means do these tips cure picky eating. However, they lay the groundwork and present opportunity to expand not only your child’s diet, but also their independence and decision making.
Have a great tip to share that has helped you with your picky eater? Share here and help your fellow parents of picky eaters – post your comment below.
