By: Ben Sarcia
Mealtime can be tricky, especially when children on the autism spectrum face feeding challenges. While picky eating is common among all children, it can be even more pronounced in children with autism, leading to difficulties around food and nutrition. In this blog, we’ll explore what drives these mealtime challenges, focusing on food selectivity and refusal, and offer strategies to make mealtimes smoother and more enjoyable.
What Are Food Selectivity and Refusal?
Food selectivity refers to when a child strongly prefers certain foods while rejecting others. This could look like only eating specific brands, colors, or textures—like a child who will only eat one type of chicken nugget and refuses everything else. These habits can lead to a limited diet and make it difficult to ensure they’re getting the nutrients they need.
Food refusal is a more severe form of selective eating, where children avoid entire food groups, which can lead to malnutrition and other health issues. For children with autism, sensory sensitivities, anxiety around new foods, or a strong need for routine often drive these behaviors, making it difficult for them to accept changes in their diet.
How Autism Affects Feeding
Children with autism are five times more likely to experience feeding challenges than their neurotypical peers. Sensory sensitivities play a huge role in these mealtime struggles. Certain textures, smells, or even the appearance of foods can cause discomfort or anxiety, making the child reject those foods outright. For example, a child might avoid a food just because it looks different from what they’re used to, or the texture feels overwhelming.
Communication challenges can add another layer of complexity. Many children with autism may not have the words to explain what they’re feeling, which can lead to frustration during mealtimes.
The Power of Routine During Mealtimes
Creating a predictable routine around meals can be incredibly beneficial for children with autism. Children thrive on structure, and having set times for meals can reduce anxiety and make mealtime a more positive experience. When children know what to expect, they’re more likely to feel comfortable during meals.
Getting them involved in meal prep can also make a big difference. When children help prepare meals, it gives them a sense of ownership and curiosity about what’s on their plate, which may make them more willing to try new foods.
Strategies to Overcome Feeding Challenges
Tackling feeding challenges requires creativity and patience. Here are some tips that can help:
- Gradual Exposure: Introduce new foods slowly. Pair new items with familiar ones to help children adjust to different tastes and textures over time.
- Model Positive Behavior: Children often learn by observing. Sit down and eat together to show that trying new foods can be a positive experience.
- Use Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate small victories, like tasting something new, with praise or a small reward. This can motivate kids to keep trying.
- Minimize Distractions: Reduce distractions like TV or electronics during meals to help children focus on eating.
- Make Mealtime Fun: Use playful tools like cookie cutters to create fun shapes or encourage them to explore food textures without pressure to eat.
Explore Healthy Beginnings: Our Feeding Therapy Program
If mealtime struggles continue to be a challenge, it might be time to consider professional support. At Verbal Beginnings, our Healthy Beginnings Feeding Therapy Program is designed specifically to help children with autism who experience feeding difficulties. Through individualized strategies, we focus on reducing anxiety around food, improving eating habits, and helping children develop a positive relationship with mealtime.
Our team of feeding therapists is here to work with you and your child to create a plan that fits their unique needs. Whether you’re dealing with food selectivity, refusal, or sensory sensitivities, we’re ready to help.
Ready to get started? Contact us today to learn more about Healthy Beginnings and how we can support your child in overcoming feeding challenges. Let’s work together to make mealtime a more enjoyable experience for everyone!
This blog was originally an Autism Exploration Webinar that was hosted by Ben Sarcia, Clinical Director of Healthy Beginnings. Watch the full Webinar here.
Prefer to watch the Webinar? Click the image above!
