My 12 year old son has Autism. We have great difficulty getting him to eat anything , due to flavours, texture etc.He takes a vitamin supplement. The lunch box police have now told him his lunch is unhealty, he is coming home from school at 3 pm not having eaten anything. Please I really need help here
2007-11-28 07:40:26 · 38 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Adolescent
Lunch Box police?
What is this world coming to?
You need to talk to the lunch box police, and tell them to shut their traps..
2007-11-28 07:43:21 · answer #1 · answered by ツ Connors Mommy ツ 6 · 37⤊ 2⤋
Getting picky kids to eat novel foods is always tough - doubly so if you're dealing with Autism issues. But if you're dealing with Autism all the more important that your child's lunch is healthy! I've seen lots of studies and tons of anecdotes about how improving diet can reduce symptoms of Autism. It'll probably take a some time, and frustration, to work out new foods that are acceptable AND healthy for your son - but if he's not eating because he believes whoever told him his lunch is unhealthy, maybe he's ready to try something different (now, if he's not eating due to harassment, take it up with the principal/ school board/ police!). Check out the books 'The Sneaky Chef' and 'Deceptively Delicious' for tips on getting picky kids to eat healthy foods, and www.SmartFoodsHealthyKids.com for articles about nutrition and recipes that seem decadent, but are really healthy. And good luck!
2007-11-28 08:05:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yikes. This is a matter not to be taken lightly. Someone at the school needs to be alerted as to his condition, and the Lunchbox Police definitely need to lay off him! Try finding other things he likes to eat and packing those, since he will most likely remember that the mean lunch people think his previous lunch wasn't healthy! I'm so sorry that you have to go through this.
2007-11-29 00:53:29 · answer #3 · answered by The Mrs. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Contact the SENCO at his school and request that she sort it out - this week!
In the meantime, take a cold hard look at the usual contents of said lunch box and come up with some healthier compromises. Discuss it with your son - ask him what they've said he shouldn't bring. He's autistic, not stupid. at a rough guess they're objecting to too much sweet stuff and too many crisps. Their must be something healthy he'll eat in a sandwich or a salad, and some variety of fruit or raw veg snack he'll accept.
2007-11-28 07:52:31 · answer #4 · answered by who me? 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That is absolutely ridiculous. Autism or no autism so called lunch box police should deffinetely not being telling kids they can't eat the things their mother gives them for lunch. That's messed up. Call the school immediately.
If they are going to do that, at least provide the kids with a replacement lunch or something or call the parents to send a new one.
2007-11-28 08:43:48 · answer #5 · answered by dαncєr<3 [єrín] 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The school involves itself in his eating habits because they are instructed to identify kids that may be eating unhealthy diets or eating diets that may malnourish them.
To forestall further ignorance and confusion on their part, explain to them what you have explained to us: That autistics have problems with certain tastes, smells, textures and whatnot.
You might also explain how decidely lopsided an autistic's eating habits are. They may eat nothing but fruits and vegetables in one meal and nothing but meat and potatos in another.
Explain to them that what you can provide him with in his lunchboxis limited due to spoilage potential and whatnot, and so his meals as they are will at least ensure that he eats.
At home, where you are able to prepare meals that are more balanced, you do so.
This should go long way toward alaying any fears they may have about the issue.
2007-11-30 09:18:22 · answer #6 · answered by environmental1st2003 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is terrible Hun.. i myself have this problem too my twin son Thomas is nine and has severe autism and a very rigid diet, the school told me about his lunch box too, i said if there is a problem with him having this i will take this up with the LEA and sure enough i called the education department who were totally understanding and called his school...i wouldn't mind my son has been at this school since he was 4 they knew what he was like ...stand up to them don't let you son be hungry we noticed Thomas's behaviour increased because he wasn't left hungry in school
best of luck
2007-11-28 21:29:18 · answer #7 · answered by Autism's Beautiful Face 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Who are the "lunch box police" and since when can people tell you what to feed your child...
ALSO, I'm sure if you included a note from the doctor and called and verbally reamed the office for such interference with your son...you may reduce the meddling.
If your son has special needs, and a medical issue...they have ZERO right to interfere with your methods/treatments, especially if they don't pose a risk to any other students.
I would already be on the phone with the office of the "lunch box police" ...and they'd be really sorry I was calling.
Stand up for him! If you don't ...who will?
2007-11-28 07:46:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 1⤋
I dont see how they can do this. I used to help with kids with disabilities at my school and I'd eat lunch with them, they are picky eaters, but they still need to eat! They have no right to tell your son what he can and can't eat, thats your job as a parent and just another prime example of how schools think that its their job to raise children! Talk to the school ASAP. Who the heck are the lunch box police anyway? Its worse for him to not eat anything all day long. This is totally ridiculous!
This one little boy I helped he would eat lunch meat, fruit role ups, 2 jello cups, a pudding cup, and chocolate milk everyday. Not the healthiest I'll admit but he had to eat!
2007-11-28 07:51:00 · answer #9 · answered by Small♥Town♥Girl 6 · 7⤊ 1⤋
School officials should not be monitoring what students are eating. Pull him out of this school if you cannot reason with principal/teachers/"lunchbox police" because nutrition is extremely important and no child should have to skip lunch!
2007-11-28 10:58:33 · answer #10 · answered by Squeegee Beckingheim :-) 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A definate meeting with the school is in order. While your teachers and administrators may understand autism, I highly doubt the lunch ladies/moniters have been trained in the effects of comments like these on autistic children. Most likely they have no insight or training to it at all unless from personal experience. Contact the school princpal and work it out from there. Good luck!
2007-11-28 07:44:46 · answer #11 · answered by Tim 2 · 15⤊ 0⤋