Parents in our position are often left scratching our heads thinking of food ideas for a picky autistic child.

In this article we give you some options and ideas to try.

Child with autism being picky

Having a child who is picky with their food is stressful enough for parents of the neuro-typical let alone for us.

Sometimes an autistic child’s aversion to a particular food can seem so irrational. There are however some common themes which may lead to this behaviour.

Sensory issues

Sensory factors are probably the number one issue which is impacting your child’s diet.

An autistic child can have any number of sensory issues causing them to turn away certain foodstuffs.

The issues may include any or all of the below;

• The texture
• The temperature
• The colour
• The taste
• The smell

It is important to note that your child is not being deliberately difficult. It is more that their experiences of food are completely different to yours or mine.

Routine

Most autistic children are creatures of habit and eating is no exception.

If your child has gotten used to a particular type of food which does not repulse them then they are likely to want this extremely regularly.

For a second if we place ourselves in our child’s mind you can almost understand it. Say for example 80% of foods caused some sort of a sensory repulsion but you found something which didn’t.

It makes sense that they would want to stick to what they know.

A lack of a general routine at mealtimes could also be causing problems. For example if you try to seat your child in a different area of the house for different meals you may already be on the back foot.

How to improve a picky autistic eater

Firstly it is important to note that every child is different, what works for one may not work for another.

But with that said here are some things you can try;

Trial and error

We would recommend you embark on a period of trial and error with food.

It is really important for you to get to the bottom of what sensory issues are the root of the problem.

Starting with common meal you could experiment with cooking it longer or shorter to change the texture.

If say your child likes the meal ‘well done’ then great, you’ve established that they prefer crispy textures.

Likewise if they prefer it softer you can replicate this with other dishes.

Similarly with colours you can experiment with different options to see which they prefer.

Only liking white or beige foods is common but you could try and ease your child away from them by changing the colour incrementally.

In terms of taste you can experiment with adding things like herbs to see if that helps or hinders.

Ultimately what you are trying to do is find ways in which you can expand their dietary preferences.

By operating a period of trial and error you may be able to do so.

Match preferences

Once you have worked out for example that your child prefers crunchy textures you can set about filling the cupboards accordingly.

Some good crunchy options are foods such as the following;

• Apples
• Raw vegetables (carrots)
• Celery
• Crackers
• Dry cereal (popular in our house)
• Overdone food
• Well done potato skins

Make eating more comfortable for them

Sensory factors may be in play in other respects. It could be that your child feels uncomfortable in bright lights or noisy areas.

This could lead them to become anxious when it came to mealtimes and therefore less likely to try new foods.

You could try changing their eating environment by dimming lights and providing headphones to see if that makes them more relaxed.

Stick to a routine where possible

If you can, try to feed your child in the same place at roughly the same time.

Similarly to their eating environment this is in an attempt to make them feel as comfortable as possible. If they are comfortable they will be more relaxed.

If they are more relaxed they will hopefully be willing to try new foods.

Involve them in the process

Some parents have found success with including their child in both the purchasing of food and the preparation.

If your child feels involved and that they have some control over what they will be presented it could lead to progress.

Summary – Food ideas for a picky autistic child

Dealing with a picky autistic child can be both frustrating and challenging.

We would recommend you firstly really try to get to grips with your child’s preferences.

Once you are armed with that information you can set about expanding their range of meals.

As difficult as it may be, always remember that the way your child experiences food is different to the neuro-typical.

With patience, time and understanding you will be able to make progress and mealtimes can be a more varied experience.