If you have an autistic child who won’t eat vegetables then you are not alone, it’s extremely common.

In the below article we will explore why this may be the case and what you can do about it.

Autism and vegetables

Food can often be a complex area for kids with ASD. Most parents who contribute to the site or comment have experienced some sort of difficulty.

The struggles can range from the child only wanting to eat one foodstuff, eating too much or not eating enough.

One overlap however with parents of neuro-typical children is that vegetables can often result in a flat refusal.

Here are some reasons why that may be the case;

Sensory factors

Children with autism are more likely to be sensitive to the sights, smells, tastes, textures, and sounds of food.

This can make vegetables particularly unappealing, as they may have strong odors, unfamiliar textures, or bitter flavours.

Limited interests

Some children with autism may have very limited interests and may be reluctant to try new foods.

This can be especially true for vegetables, which are often seen as being outside of their comfort zone.

Autistic children can very quickly build up a rigid preference for a particular type of food. This makes anything outside of this interest very unappealing.

Food neophobia

If you haven’t heard of food neophobia it is a fear of new foods and is common in children with autism.

They may be afraid of the taste, texture, or even the appearance of new foods.

This can make it difficult to introduce them to vegetables, as they may be hesitant to even touch them.

Previous experience

If a child has had negative experiences with vegetables in the past, they may be more likely to avoid them in the future.

This could be due to a choking incident, a bad tasting experience, or even simply being forced to eat vegetables when they were not hungry.

They can also end up tarring all vegetables with the same brush, linking different types to these negative experiences.

What can parents do with an autistic child who doesn’t eat vegetables

If you manage to get your autistic child to eat vegetables on demand then you could probably write a global bestselling book.

The fact is in reality this will be a difficult endeavour, as it is with neuro-typical children.

With that said however it is not impossible, here are some suggestions to try.

Slowly slowly

Introduce vegetables gradually, one at a time. Don’t force a child to eat a vegetable they don’t like. You can opt for just leaving vegetables on a tray or plate to start with.

Experiment with the vegetables

Try different ways of preparing vegetables, such as roasting, grilling, or pureeing them. As mentioned above, your child’s sensory needs may be playing a part so knowing that change the way you serve the vegetables.

One thing that worked in our house was to cook the vegetables for longer. This made them soggy which to a lot of people would be a negative.

Not for our daughter however, she liked them a softer texture.

Your child may be different but after some trial and error you may find a texture which is more appealing to them.

Add to them

Try serving vegetables with a child’s favourite foods. This can help them to be more accepting of new tastes and textures.

Adding things like gravy or cheese sauce to vegetables can also be a good way of getting them past your child.

Involve your child

A bit of autonomy goes a long way for autistic children so consider including them in the processes.

This could involve you selecting the vegetables together when out shopping or them helping with the preparation.

Reward and positivity

Find a way of rewarding your child if they try vegetables. Naturally you won’t want to commit to say some chocolate for a bite of broccoli but reassure them you are happy with their progress.

A hug, a smile and positive praise may help your child make progress with different foods.

Summary – Autistic child who won’t eat vegetables

There are many reasons why an autistic child may refuse to eat vegetables.

These include sensory sensitivities, restricted interests and learned behaviours.

To help an autistic child eat vegetables, start slowly and be patient.

Consider making them appealing by pairing with familiar foods. Also consider involving the child in the process, and remember to be positive.

Good luck

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’.