Handling a Picky Eater
One of the many challenges that often come with parenting is what to do with a picky eater. A child with autism may be even more prone to picky eating than their typical peers due to sensory sensitivities and other issues. With a little bit of patience, there are ways to slowly but deliberately add more foods to your child’s accepted menu.
As you begin, first rule out any possible medical concerns. Allergies, constipation, or sickness may be in play, so always check in with a medical professional. Your next steps may be to reflect on your child’s eating habits; log the foods your child currently does eat. Do you see any patterns? Are all the foods the same color, texture, or food group? Prioritize and plan—what foods are the most important to you to begin introducing?
When you do have your child start tackling new foods, keep in mind this logical sequence: look, touch, hold, smell, bring close to mouth, taste/lick, take a small bite, keep in mouth for a certain number of seconds (increasing in length as new benchmarks are achieved), chew a small piece, swallow, and then work on larger pieces. Baby step it! Be prepared with incentives like preferred foods or favorite toys to reinforce each new accomplishment.
As always, be patient in the long term and the short term. It may take as many as 10 or more exposures to a new food before any interest is shown. At each meal, offer the new food, but feel free—if no interest is shown after 20 minutes or so—to remove the food. You can then choose to offer a preferred food so your child does not go hungry for the meal. Some children are able to try again after a short break, but if not, present the food again at the next meal or the next day.
Again, the most important tools you have at your disposal in this process will be your patience and consistency. Take it slow. Don’t give up. You can do it, and so can your child!
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