How to Get Children with Autism to Eat their Greens
Guest Post by: Katie Pierce
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For many parents, getting their children to eat vegetables can be a challenging task. But for the millions of parents raising children with autism, the challenge can be significantly harder due to sensory and health issues associated with the disorder. Eating nutritious meals is key for proper growth development, but experts say that it can take children on the spectrum longer to learn how to accept new foods and flavors. Read on for some tips and suggestions on how to encourage better nutrition in these young ones despite the difficulty they may face when it comes to mealtime.
Include familiar faves
Ensuring children with autism are comfortable when trying to introduce new fruits and vegetables can be the key to success. A great tip is to make sure that their favorite foods are surrounded by the new items on their plate. This will create a sense of familiarity, which can help ease any anxiety they may feel about trying something new. Additionally, make sure that the flavors are kept mild as children can sometimes struggle with textures more than taste. Taking some extra steps upfront to ensure that your child is comfy helps increase his or her chances of enjoying the meal!
Sit with them during meals
Sitting down with kids during mealtime can help them to eat better. Taking the time out of a busy day to have that special moment makes all the difference. Many tools are available–such as online grocery shopping and a laundry delivery app–so caregivers won't have to worry about their chores while helping young ones over meals. Mealtime becomes more calm and enjoyable when everybody has a seat at the table and can communicate freely—giving children on the spectrum this special attention is invaluable.
Make mealtime fun
One general piece of advice for parents of children with autism is to let them explore and get messy when they eat. It's a great way to sneak some nutrition - like kale! - into their food without it resulting in a battle of wills at the kitchen table. Letting them have meals without fear of judgment or reprimand helps build trust between parent and child, creates positive eating experiences for them, and may help increase the variety of foods they're willing to try. As a bonus, you'll probably also enjoy watching your kid enjoy their mealtime!
Focus on the food
If your child is on the spectrum, then you know how difficult it can be to get them to eat their vegetables. A key lesson that many parents have learned is not to focus on behavior but rather on the food being served. Sounds simple enough, yet it can often be hard in practice. Keeping the approach positive and centered around vegetables as a yummy and nutritious food source works much better than trying to make eating vegetables about what kind of behavior is expected or should be avoided. Trying this new approach will hopefully bring more veggies into your life with less struggle and stress!
Stick to a schedule
Eating nutrient-rich vegetables can be a challenge for all kids, but having a schedule can help. Planning regular mealtimes when their favorite foods are served along with some new dishes that involve vegetables is one strategy that parents could try. Incorporating fun incentives like reward charts or allowing the child to pick the vegetable from the store can make it easier for them to accept new tastes. Consistency is key - when sticking to a schedule, as this will create a familiar routine and give children a sense of control which can be comforting for those who may have difficulty coping with dietary changes.
Think “out of the box”
What an incredible way to get kids to finally start eating their veggies - by removing boxes! That's what some parents of children on the spectrum have been doing in order to encourage them to try new foods. It can be difficult for children with autism to transition away from the familiarity of boxed foods, like mac and cheese, but once the boxes go away, a whole world of flavors becomes available. Many parents have seen success in this method as it gives their children the opportunity to explore different tastes without pressure or expectations. What a clever way to help out picky eaters!
As parents of children with autism, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to know how to make mealtime easier for our kids. Between sensory overloads and other physical or mental challenges, deciding what to serve and how to create a pleasant environment can be tricky. But we don’t have to do this alone; there are many resources available for us when it comes to making mealtime easier for our kids with autism. With the right strategies and techniques in place, we can give our kids the best chance at success come dinnertime! There’s a wide range of approaches we can use to make mealtime an enjoyable experience for all parties involved. All that being said, there is so much potential at our disposal to make mealtime stress-free and fun!