Autism and Picky Eaters

Many parents struggle trying to get their children to eat healthy foods. It’s certainly not an uncommon parenting challenge, but it’s more typical with parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Children who have autism are quite often picky eaters. They may prefer to eat only the same foods over and over again, refuse to try new foods and only consistently consume foods that aren’t packed with nutrition.

There are many contributing factors to a child with autism being a picky eater, but there are ways in which they can be supported to learn how to like new foods and eat a healthy diet that’s good for them.

Below, we’ll analyze the link between autism and picky eaters, as well as provide some ways in which parents can help support their picky eater.

Table Of Contents

Why Are Children with Autism Picky Eaters?

There’s no one reason why children with ASD are picky eaters. Instead, there are multiple factors that could play a part in why they only eat certain foods.

One common factor is sensory sensitivity.

Many children on the autism spectrum struggle with strong odors, certain tastes and textures, and all of these things could affect the way they eat. For instance, a child may only want to eat foods that are soft or foods that are crunchy, and they may have an aversion to foods with strong flavors or odors.

Another common characteristic of ASD is a preference for strict routines, which goes hand-in-hand with restrictive interests and repetitive behaviors. Eating is a type of routine, so children who struggle adjusting may become stressed, anxious or easily overwhelmed if they are presented with new or varied foods.

Sitting still for an extended period of time may also be a challenge, which could make eating certain foods more difficult.

All of this, of course, can cause many headaches for parents who are trying to get their child to eat healthy. In the long run, it can also lead to serious health issues if it gets too bad, including obesity, diabetes and hypertension.

How Can Children with Autism Learn to Not Be Picky Eaters?

There are some strategies that parents can follow to help their child with autism not be a picky eater. This will be a trial-and-error process, of course, since you won’t know what works and what doesn’t.

No matter what strategy you try, it’s important to remain calm and as patient as possible. Don’t try to pressure your child to eat healthier, as that could lead to bigger behavior problems.

Realize that eating anything is better than eating nothing. So, take baby steps as you try to help your child overcome whatever obstacles they may be facing.

One important aspect parents should pay attention to is their child’s preferences for, or aversions to, certain textures. Your child may experience an aversion to a certain texture that makes them not want to eat a certain food, even if they like the taste of it.

A squishy fresh tomato, for example, might just be too much for them to handle. If this is the case, you can try chopping the tomato into smaller pieces or blending it to make it more smooth. This might help in getting them to eat new foods.

Another suggestion is to allow your child to fully experience the food. This could involve playing with it, in a way. Allow them to explore the new food by looking at it, smelling it, touching it and manipulating it — before they ever try a bite of it.

This could help them become more familiar with the food, which could decrease their anxiety in trying to eat it.

It’s also a good idea to provide your child with a lot of options. The more options they have, the better the chance that they’ll eat something healthy.

Along these lines, you could offer your child multiple choices for what they want to eat. Offer them five different items and tell them they have to choose two. Ensure that four of the five items you present are healthy, and the fifth option can be something not as healthy that you know they like.

Blue Gems ABA Helps Children Overcome Food Aversions

It’s common for children with autism to be picky eaters, but this can become a serious issue that results in major health problems. That’s why it’s important for parents to follow some of the strategies above to try to get their child to eat healthier foods.

At Blue Gems ABA, we have a team of professionals that administers applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy) to children on the autism spectrum. This science-based approach to learning and behavior helps children with ASD build social and communication skills, while also modifying certain behaviors.

Since all our treatment plans are customized to each individual child’s unique strengths and challenges, we can target some of the factors that affect your child being a picky eater, helping them to live a healthier life.

To learn more, please contact us today.