Many children with autism are picky eaters, which can make mealtime a challenge. Sensory issues, food textures, and strong preferences can affect what they are willing to eat. However, it’s important for kids to have a balanced diet to stay healthy. If your child is a picky eater, here are some helpful nutrition tips to try.
Introduce New Foods Slowly
Kids with autism may be sensitive to new foods. To help them try new things, introduce new foods one at a time and in small amounts. Start by placing a tiny piece of the new food on their plate alongside their favorite foods. Over time, you can slowly increase the amount of the new food.
Tip: Let them explore the new food first. They might want to touch or smell it before deciding if they’ll try it.
Make Mealtime Predictable
Kids with autism often do better when they know what to expect. Creating a regular mealtime routine can help reduce stress and make them more comfortable eating. Try to serve meals at the same time every day and use familiar plates, utensils, and settings.
Tip: A visual schedule of the day’s meals can help prepare your child for what’s coming next.
Offer Foods in Different Forms
Sometimes kids with autism may dislike a certain food because of its texture. If this happens, try serving the food in different forms. For example, if they don’t like raw carrots, try cooking them so they’re soft, or puree them into a soup.
Tip: Try to change only one thing at a time. If they like mashed potatoes, try mashing other vegetables like sweet potatoes or cauliflower.
Use Fun Shapes and Colors
Making food fun can sometimes encourage picky eaters to try it. You can use cookie cutters to make fruits, vegetables, or sandwiches into fun shapes. Choosing colorful fruits and veggies can also make meals more visually appealing.
Tip: Try creating a rainbow plate by serving foods of different colors, like carrots, broccoli, blueberries, and strawberries.
Keep Portions Small
Large portions can feel overwhelming for picky eaters. Start with small amounts of food on their plate. If they like it, they can always ask for more. This can help prevent them from feeling anxious about trying new foods.
Tip: Even one bite of a new food is a win! Celebrate small successes without pressuring them to eat more.
Be Patient and Stay Positive
Getting picky eaters to try new foods takes time, so be patient. If your child refuses a food, avoid showing frustration or forcing them to eat it. Instead, stay calm and offer it again at another time. With patience, they may eventually try it.
Tip: Praise them for trying new foods, even if they only take a small bite.
Involve Your Child in Meal Prep
Letting your child help in the kitchen can make them more interested in trying new foods. They can help wash fruits and veggies, stir ingredients, or even pick out recipes. When kids feel involved, they may be more willing to eat what they helped make.
Tip: Start with simple tasks, like stirring or pouring ingredients, and give lots of encouragement.
Stick to Healthy Favorites
If your child has a few favorite foods, try to make them as healthy as possible. For example, if they love chicken nuggets, try making homemade ones with baked chicken and whole wheat breadcrumbs. If they love pasta, try adding in a healthy sauce with veggies blended in.
Tip: You don’t have to hide healthy ingredients, but blending them into familiar foods can help picky eaters accept them.
Offer Choices
Giving your child choices can help them feel in control of what they eat. Instead of saying, “Do you want broccoli?” you can say, “Would you like broccoli or carrots?” Offering two healthy options lets them pick something they’re more likely to eat.
Tip: Keep the options simple and avoid too many choices, which can be overwhelming.
Conclusion
Helping a picky eater with autism try new foods can be challenging, but with patience and creativity, you can make progress. Start slow, make mealtimes fun, and celebrate small victories. Over time, your child may become more open to trying a variety of foods, helping them get the nutrition they need to grow strong and healthy.