how do you get a child with autism to eat different foods?

Answer 1

My 10 yr old daughter is autistic and definitely has a limited dietary intake. We offer her all that her siblings eat but she usually declines. Very infrequently will she try something new.
I decided to take notes on what she was eating and not eating for about a week. I discovered that it seems to be a textural thing with my daughter. She really likes things that crunch (i.e., fried chicken, french fries, toasted breads, cookies, crackers) and of course, vegetables are just NOWHERE on her agenda. She also likes meats and fish and cheese pizza. I've managed to sneak her vegetables by making homemade hamburgers. Since she does not like her food to touch, she eats the meat separate from the bread, but I guess ketchup is above the 'no touching' rule.
Anyway, I grate the onions on a cheese grater to make them less noticeable to her and I also add one bunch of fresh minced parsley to the mix. It gives the burgers a wonderful flavor and gives her some semblance of vegetable in her diet.
I make homemade carrot cake in an effort to get carrots into her.
She's also not a fruit eater, although she does like apple juice.
We just buy the 100% juice apple juice to ensure she's not getting extra sugars.
Sometimes with autistic kids, the textures and smells of foods are more than they can tolerate. Find the things your child likes and find some creative solutions to getting the vitamins and
minerals he needs into him. But keep offering the foods you and your other children eat, too. You never know when these kids are going to surprise you and grab that apple slice! ;)
Good luck.

Answer 2

Parents of one autistic child at a local support group mentioned that their child only seemed to like pickles. My autistic friend (high functioning) told me that her senses are so acute, she has triggers for post traumatic stress from overstimulation.

I suggested to the parents that if their child similarly has very acute senses, he may be trying to overwhelm them when eating, so that he is not triggered to some stressful event by another flavor. It may not be that he likes pickles so much but that they are one of the few foods he is able to tolerate. (Different flavors may seems so strong to him that they are painful.)

I suggested that they stop giving him so many pickles, but cover other foods with pickle juice. The idea is not to deny him something he likes, but to make sure he gets proper nutrients.

Depending on how communicative your child is, try to ask (or categorize) which foods are overwhelming. Or a dentist or doctor might be able to suggest a mild oral anesthetic which would temporarily disable the sense of taste. Good luck!

Answer 3

merely save attempting... it does take as a lot as twenty trials in the previous a baby will attempt a sparkling nutrition, really if there are sensory subject matters appropriate. you may also attempt "playing" with the nutrition (at the same time as it really is not a time for dinner). positioned out the recent nutrition you elect him to style in a bowl. merely go away it on the table and spot if he notices. He would p.c.. it up and verify it out no matter if it really is not in an intimidating placing (as nutrients now and again are). tender such issues as pudding and mashed potatoes will be utilized as "fingerpaint" of kinds. now and again merely having the unusual nutrition in a diverse placing to detect can help, as well as transforming into conscious of the feel. that's complicated... little ones with autism are very proof against modify of any variety, and they choose what they choose, at the same time as they choose it. i understand it type of feels unfair to the different little ones, and to some volume, that's... although the base line is that you elect your baby to rejoice with their time with the relations eating mutually (and also you elect them to eat). In our preschool (we serve little ones with particular needs as 60% of our inhabitants) we use a "commerce" approach. We ask them to eat one chew of a sparkling nutrition, and then provide them one chew of a nutrition all of us understand they prefer. at the same time as they get into that mode, and they understand the commerce-off, new ingredients frequently are not any more a situation. they might no longer like the recent nutrition in any respect- it really is okay. If we are able to ascertain (expression on their face) that the recent nutrition isn't pleasureable in any respect, the single chew is the in reality one they ought to take. we are able to then attempt again with the recent nutrition in some weeks to ascertain if the tolerance has replaced. it ought to get discouraging, yet you want to save providing the recent ingredients. ultimately you'd be in a position to expand his tastes.

Answer 4

don't try to make that poor kid eat veggies and no meat! if that's what your tryin to do then your sick. if he/she is with it enough to know they want meat then give it to theme