FAQautism

For a variety of reasons, some individuals with autism have issues with food. To begin this discussion about food and autism, we will look at some of the challenges that arise in the lives of individuals who have difficulty with their eating habits.

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1. Too much food. Some individuals with autism are obsessed with eating, and may even sneak into the kitchen at night and eat any food in sight. Others have significant food allergies or sensitivities, but seem obsessed with eating foods that are off limits.

2. Too little food. In contrast to people who eat compulsively are those who resist eating. For example, sensory issues and resistance to change cause some youngsters to protest the transition from a baby bottle to solid foods or from blended baby foods to foods that require chewing.

3. The same food. An extraordinary obsession with a certain food can cause a person with autism to refuse any other choices. One youngster will only eat a certain brand and flavor of chips. Nothing else. Another friend refuses to eat anything except macaroni and cheese, and another insists on having peanut butter at every single meal. A therapist sent a message last week about a youngster who insists on eating spaghetti from a certain restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and supper.

4. The same routine. A teen with autism insists on using the same lunch box he has used to pack school lunches for the past five years. Another will not eat unless he is sitting next to his brother, whether at home or at school. The spaghetti-lover described above will only eat if his spaghetti is picked up in the drive-through window and if he is allowed to eat in the car.

5. The same texture or taste. Some individuals with autism refuse to eat a food if it has a slightly different texture or if a new ingredient or spice is added. For example, one friend will only eat bananas of a very specific level of ripeness and another can detect very minor adjustments in the ingredients and consistency in his favorite food – his grandmother’s soup. His reaction to changes in the soup range from refusing to eat to a full-blown temper tantrum.

What causes these unreasonable and impractical obsessions with certain foods or routines? What are our choices when we encounter these challenges? Tune into the second part of this discussion about food for some thoughts about eating habits.

And, after you eat lunch today, take a minute to tell people about http://FAQautism.com. We depend on you to share this resource with parents, teachers, therapists, medical professionals, and others interested in the well-being of individuals with autism.

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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