Being a parent of an autistic child can come with a number of challenges, but why are autistic children often fussy eaters?

In the below article we explain this tendency and give you some tips on how to deal with it.

Autism and fussy eating

There are several reasons why a child with autism may be a picky eater or may have difficulty with feeding.

Some possible reasons include;

Sensory factors

Children with autism may be oversensitive to certain textures, smells, or tastes.

These sensitivities can make them reluctant to try new foods or cause them to reject certain foods.

Naturally it will vary from child to child but common sensitivities include a dislike for mushy food or foods which are too crunchy.

An autistic child may also have difficulty with the sensory input associated with eating.

Things such as the sound of utensils on a plate or the feeling of food in their mouth may put them off.

Communication problems

Children with autism often have difficulty expressing their needs or preferences, which can make it difficult for parents to know what they want or need.

This can lead to mealtime challenges, as the child may not be able to communicate that they are hungry or full.

It also may mean that they are unable to articulate what it is about a particular food that they dislike.

This ultimately leaves parents playing a bit of a guessing game trying to understand a particular repulsion.

Fondness for routine

Children with autism may be more comfortable with structured routines and may become distressed when their routine is disrupted.

This can make it difficult to introduce new foods or change mealtime routines.

Putting this into a practical sense, if a child has established they like a particular meal, they may struggle to accept anything else.

Rigid preferences

Leading on from a fondness for routine, children with autism may have very specific food preferences.

This can make it incredibly challenging for parents to introduce new foods into their diet.

It is not uncommon for autistic children to develop a focus on a particular colour or type of food.

What can parents do?

Although it will vary for child to child, here are some tactics to consider;

Involve them in the process

Parents may well find success in involving their child in the food process.

This can include shopping together and letting them choose (within reason!), different meals.

Then parents can involve their child in the actual meal preparation, even if it is as simple as pressing a button on the microwave.

Autistic children often crave some form of control, so if they are presented something they chose, or prepared then they are more likely to eat it.

Trial and error

Parents would be well advised to operate with a method of trial and error.

This can include the different food types themselves or crucially how they are cooked.

If for example the child likes only excessively crunchy foods, parents could gradually cook them less and less.

Clearly not to the point of them being undercooked but just trying to ease the child to the point where they have a wider texture tolerance.

Use a food schedule board

Children with autism regularly desire a sense of order and routine.

Using this desire, parents could use a food schedule board to highlight when each food type will be presented.

Moulding this tactic with the child helping with the shopping can be a really good way of preparing your child for new foods.

Once home from a store, parents could sit with their child and map out the week ahead, keeping that food schedule visible at all times.

Summary – Why are autistic children often fussy eaters?

Firstly it’s important to note that every child is unique and may have different challenges or preferences when it comes to eating.

If your child with autism is having difficulty with feeding, it can be helpful to work with a feeding specialist or a speech-language expert.

They can help to address any underlying issues and develop strategies to support your child’s eating habits.

Parents would be well advised to also be patient and try a gradual campaign of trial and error.

Any tips or ideas?

We would love to hear from you if you have got any techniques or ideas for our readers to try.

Be sure to leave a comment if any of the above has helped or if you have any ideas we can add to this article.

Also be sure to search for any other articles you might find helpful.

Try for example searching below for topics like ‘meltdown’ or ‘communication’.