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Autism: Eating The Same Food Everyday

Autism: Eating The Same Food Everyday

Name: Missy
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Comments: Getting autistic kids to eat is a real challenge. What kinds of things can I do to get my child to eat something new instead of the same thing everyday, he likes cereal and milk with juice and nothing else much except maybe some toast.

Everyday Food The Eating Autism

My Daughter is the same. She won't eat anything that she classes as 'dark food'. Ie: dark meat, anything in gravy etc.

We have the same thing with her school lunch bag. She has eaten the identical lunch for the last four years, and if you try to change the routine and put something else in it... Well let's just say it's not worth trying for the end result of tears and tantrums.

So we just try to go for the lighter colored foods such as pasta in white sauce, chicken etc. At least we have more of a chance of her eating it that way.

Autism: Eating The Same Food Everyday Health & Special Psychology

Is it possible to add thing into their food to balance the nutrition? My son is brutal when it comes to veggies and fruit. So I will often puree then and add it to things like oatmeal where he does not notice and slowly increase the amount so he gets used to the taste. Would any thing similar to this help? My son is very visual and texture based in all he eats though now at 10 he is starting to get a bit more tolerant.

Everyday Food The Eating Autism

You're right Krakyn, it does work well with some kids. I do this for my youngest Son, who won't eat veggies... Let's just say that he has 7-8 of his 5 a day portions blended into gravy and eats the lot without realizing .

It doesn't work for my Daughter though, and although I send her in with fruit (which she loves) it has to be perfect. If the apple gets bruised, she comes back home with it.

Now I know that to a lot of people this sounds ridiculously fussy, but to an Autistic person it's all about the smallest detail, or change in routine.

Everyday Food The Eating Autism

I have never had to deal with that level of detail in food with my son but yes I can understand your frustration. I made sweet and sour chicken and missed some orange rind and my son seen it and put on the fuss. Be nice to find ways around it but magic still is not real.

Autism: Eating The Same Food Everyday

Felipe use to be fussy to eat and although he still is guarded about his meals he can eat most things. He is very sensitive to anything with oil or grease in it which is good because it keeps him off junk foods. Our other two children are more of a challenge, even things that they seem to like are not eaten in big quantities so we have to keep a rotation of certain food types to keep their appetite up. The only sure thing you know they will not refuse is chocolate milk and juice but since they are only liquids getting them to eat solids is worrisome.

Autism Eating The Food Everyday

I am not sure if it is OK to reply on this topic but I want to know why Autistic people (especially the toddlers or a bit older than that) like to eat the same everyday. Because as an Autistic person, I have went thorough that cycle of eating the same food everyday already.

Edited: Felipe on 10th May, 2013 - 7:13pm

Autism Eating The Food Everyday Psychology Special & Health

Our middle son is willing to at least try some new foods and he tends to stay with them. Over the last year he is developed a love for curry and tuna.

Our last son will not even look at a new food, he will immediately say "No thanks" Before he will even try it. Therefore his diet is sadly limited to flour based foods.