Autism and Food Aversion

"She'll eat if she's hungry enough."

"Give her to me for a week. I'll get her to eat."

"She doesn't have a problem eating when it's French fries."

"She's so thin. You should give her <em>Ensure</em>."

"I totally get it. My son won't eat broccoli."

"What if you made her a sticker chart?"

I've heard them all before. Some good-natured and some not so much. The advice regarding my daughter's food aversion has been many things but it has never been helpful. I can't blame folks for their futile attempts. The fact is, they know little about autism and food aversion and if I want to stop hearing the above comments everywhere I go, I better do something about that.

Firstly, as you may already know, autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning each person affected is affected in their own way. My daughter's version of food aversion may differ from another child's but it's what I know, so here goes.

Everything you need to know to stop giving me advice on feeding my child:

Eating is a Sensory Experience

This is one of the reason's we love it so much. The smells, the textures and the tastes are enjoyable to most. For a child on the spectrum such as Kate, these things can be an overwhelming nightmare. Think that's too dramatic? A clever clinician once told me that expecting Kate to eat a new food is akin to expecting anyone to eat a plate of pine cones. Sit on that for a moment, won't you?

Beige is Safe

Colors are also a sensory experience; some soothe us while others invigorate. For a sensory-sensitive kid, some can be downright offensive. Beige is safe because beige is plain. Things like chips, popcorn and French fries &amp; chicken nuggets are beige. These things are easy and the least overwhelming of the foods. They are a staple in many autism and non-autism households alike. So, take your judgment and go bake some quinoa pie with it.

Change is Bad

Very bad, indeed. Change is not safe. Changing the make-up of foods or even food labeling can have a profound impact on the diet of a child with food aversion. Predictability is a necessary part of daily life for many individuals with autism. My daughter will eat the exact same things for lunch everyday. She will not deviate nor will she consider similar alternatives. There have been times when she has added a food to her list. More often, though, she has dropped foods from her list because of small changes in size, color or packaging.

The Child Will Win

This is for all those, "she'll eat when she's hungry people." She will NOT eat a food that is not on her current food list. There are feeding expansion programs that can be delivered by professionals wherein the first step to adding a food might be to allow that food to be near to her plate. Letting the poor child go hungry because you can't understand why she refuses to eat carrots is cruel. She won't eat cupcakes or cookies either because they are NOT on her list.

Bribes are Futile

Sticker charts work for many things. If the child is developmentally ready they can help with potty-training, or staying in their own bed, for example. They do not work for food expansion because of the sensory-nature of food and eating. Believe me, I have tried.

Food Aversion is an Eating Disorder

Like any other disorder, food aversion, especially when it is severe, should be treated by medical professionals and not someone who 'knows their stuff because they've raised six kids'. Instead of offering advice to a parent or an individual struggling with food aversion try asking what you can do to help, instead.