FAQautism

Some of my friends with autism insist on the same foods in their lunch box at school or work every single day. This intolerance for change can be very difficult to crack. One way of expanding that menu is to work with them to develop daily lunch specials – a standard, predictable menu for each day of the week.

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SAME and DIFFERENT. A strategy that has worked for some of my friend with autism who are very resistant to change is to include one favorite item in the lunch every single day, but to have some variety in the other items. So, for example, if a person insists on a certain brand of chips, include them every single day, but purposefully and systematically change the other foods and drink in the lunch every single day.

WEEKDAY SPECIALS. One of my most stubborn and opinionated friends insisted on peanut butter sandwich, tortilla chips, and a Lorna Doone cookie every single day – whether eating at home, at school, or at his summer job. When he was given the chance during the summer to develop a series of five daily lunch specials, this young adult responded with enthusiasm.

Here is a sample of his menu. Every Monday he packed his traditional favorites of sandwich, chips, and cookie. He picked “Pieces of Pizza” for his Tuesday lunch with cheese sticks, pepperoni slices, tiny sweet tomatoes, crunchy Italian crackers, and some grapes. Every Wednesday was “Finger Food Fiesta” with “sandwiches” of veggie crackers and cheese spread, miniature blueberry muffins, and applesauce. His Thursday tradition was apple slices with peanut butter, cheese crackers, and a container of fruit yogurt that was kept in a the freezer overnight. “Your Choice” was the theme on Friday. He could choose to pack his traditional favorite – sandwich, chips, and cookie – or he could mix and match foods from the week.

BACK AND FORTH. Other people have not been so receptive to five different menus. But most have responded well to packing their traditional favorite on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, then tolerating a change in menu for Tuesday and Thursday.

TIP FOR THE DAY: The key to successfully instilling tolerance for changes in menu is to include some old favorites while at the same time gradually introducing some new foods. It may take many months, or even many years to expand their menu, so avoid nagging and getting angry. Patience pays off in the long run.

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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