Pigging Out
How can we help our friends with autism who are compulsive eaters? Some individuals eat entire containers of foods such as peanut butter or ice cream without realizing the potential harm of eating such a large quantity of that food. Other people with autism are obsessed with two or three foods, eating only those foods, without exception, for breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks.
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COLD TURKEY. A family came up with a quick fix to a problem that was causing serious health problems for a sweet ten-year-old with autism who compulsively ate all the sugar-laden snacks she could find in the house. Her parents and brothers realized that her health was adversely affected by her eating ice cream, cookies, candy, donuts, and other snacks. They tried locking everything away, but that just lead to more stealthy behavior. The family’s creative solution to this problem was actually beneficial to every member of the family. The quick fix? Simply remove all sweets from the house. Do this without fanfare, and without announcing boldly, “Sugar isn’t good for you, so we are not going to eat sweets any more.” Just quit buying sugar-laden snacks, removing the temptation completely. Interestingly, the youngster rummaged through the cabinets and drawers a few times, then seemed to just accept the fact that the sweets were no longer available.
WHO CARES? Although we don’t want to eat the same food morning, noon, and night, many of our friends with autism will only eat two or three select foods. In some cases, we need to allow our friends to select their own foods, even if they focus on a miniscule menu. If we keep other foods available and avoid nagging individuals about their food choices, our friends usually add a few items to their daily choices over time.
In some cases, the two or three foods individuals with autism crave are especially unhealthy or potentially harmful. For example, if your friend will eat nothing except chocolate bars, soda, and gum, you might want to institute the “cold turkey” approach. Although your friend may be agitated or angry for several days, he will finally get hungry and eat something in the house. He will eventually take a bite or sip of something if you keep providing healthy, hearty meals and snacks.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
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