FAQautism

It may be the sensory feeling of chewing crunchy foods, or it may be the unique in-the-head sounds, but, for whatever reason, many of my friends with autism love crunchy foods. One youngster summed it up when his eyes widened when he saw some crispy mini-carrots on my kitchen table and exclaimed, “Want some crunchies, please.” Here are some ideas for adding a bit of crunch into each day.

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POPCORN. Popcorn comes in a large variety of flavors and styles to match taste preferences and special dietary needs of nearly everyone. And you can pop it in the microwave, in a popcorn popper, on the stove, or over a campfire. When possible, help your friend with autism learn to prepare their own popcorn snack.

SURVIVAL MIX. Outdoor stores and websites specializing in camping and hiking supplies offer a wide variety of crunchy snacks. You can also mix up your own by visiting a store and picking out favorite roasted unsalted nuts along with dried fruits, dried veggies, sesame sticks, or other crunchy goodies.

CRACKERS AND CHIPS. A number of new crackers and chips provide a tasty crunch without the health-threatening problems of excessive calories, fats, and salt. The key, of course, is to offer a moderate amount of snacks with good taste mixed with a crispy texture. One of my moms lets her teen son with autism cruise the “crackers and chips” aisle at their local grocery store each week, encouraging him to select one box or bag for his new “crunchy treat of the week.”

CRISPY FRUITS AND VEGGIES. In spite of their indicating they don’t like vegetables, most of my friends with autism really like the new mini-carrots. They also clean the plate when I cut pencil-thin celery sticks and thin apple slices with the peel.

DEHYDRATED VEGGIES. Some specialty grocery stores sell crunchy low-salt slices of carrots, potatoes, green beans, and other veggies in the bulk-foods section. Some also have crispy dehydrated fruit slices. Most of my friends with autism seem to enjoy the crispy texture of these crunchy treats.

TIP FOR THE DAY: Take time to notice the food preferences of your friends with autism – texture, taste, color, smell, and crunchiness – so you can provide healthy and tasty foods at meals and snack time.

And speaking of taking time, I hope you will take 60 seconds to recommend FAQautism.com to friends, family, and colleagues who are interested in the well-being of individuals with autism. They can click on http://FAQautism.com – free and no obligation.

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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