They aren't going to "grow" out of it on their own. It is a long and painful process to change their diet but worth it if you can. I have found it best to do it slowly in a "shaping" type process. I am sure Paula can bump up the picky eaters thread and there is a link to all her tips as well, I just gotta find it.
What I have found works best is a combination. He is old enough now to do some cognitive behavioral stuff with him on this. Make him part of it as well and add an incentive program into it.
First, write down all the foods he will eat and try to discover exactly what it is and why it is that he eats those. You mention all white but also McD's. There is nothing truly "white" at McD's unless you count milk. Does he do salty, sweet, sour or tart foods? I am guessing salty with the McD's and knowing our kids. I am also guessing chick nuggets, chips, fries, and maybe a cereal for his 4 foods? All of which are also chrunchy.
next think of a list of foods very close to those on his ok list but very slightly different. Choose ONE and ONLY ONE to try first.
Write a social story about trying new foods. Add an incentive in there. Some sort of chart, sticker program, or other reinforcer. Maybe add in some lessons about healthy choices and nutrition if he is one of the rule bound aspie types. Make sure to write into the story that trying new foods is ok, it is not going to hurt him, he only needs to try one bite (the first time, we can add more later), you will be SOOOO proud of him if he tries it and he will be so proud of himself, etc.
Then pick a low stress time to try the new food. When he is hungry enough that it is tempting but not so hungry he is crabby. make it a snack kind of thing. Have one small bite of the new food and then the preferred foods there. Once he tries one bite he gets the chosen reward, LOADS AND LOADS of praise from mom (often our guys LIVE for postive praise cause it can come so rarely) and then the usual foods for snack.
Once he gets good with the one new food you can start to add on other things as well or having him have more. when he adds more ok foods to his repetoire you can add them too meals. Make sure to constantly praise him for trying new things.
There may be certain foods he will just never tolerate and that is ok, but it is important for his health and well being that he at least have a healthy varied diet if you can manage it.
It is NOT easy with ASD kids. I admit that, but unfortunately they are often more affected by a poor diet than kids who are not ASD. Often ASD kids just cannot process foods well and it can affect their moods, behaviors, symptoms, etc. So if you can make the change it would be really good for him. Also making sure to teach him how to make healthy choices and how it helps him, etc.
My son is the same way although he is getting a little better. He used to not eat any fruits or veggies and now I can get him to eat a little if I cover it with home made tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese! My son's problem seems to stem from oral sensitivity. Praise and rewards have not really helped because he has a hair trigger gag reflex. He will come in the kitchen and comment on how delicious the beef stew I'm making smells but he can't get it down.I feel bad for him because he really has tried to eat some of these things but he often vomits. We even grow a veggie garden together in the summer which he loves but he can't manage to eat any of his crops:( His O.T. suggested using an electric toothbrush and really going all over his mouth with it to desensitize it. We have been using one for a while but I really don't know if it is helping. There may be other O.T. strategies available to help picky eaters that you can try.
Oh my goodness, yes!! Haley is very picky. I can't, for the life of me, get her to try anything new. Even spaghetti is a problem. She won't try any spaghetti sauces. Has to be ketchup on the spaghetti. Pizza has to be pepperoni. She won't eat anything that has veggies or other things mixed in it. Won't eat corn. Lunches are almost always pizza rolls or chicken flavored Ramen. Vegetables won't get eaten unless they are plain green beans.
I'm very frustrated because I can't get her to eat anything that is healthy. She will eat grapes occasionally and even little cherry tomatoes but that's about it. She won't even eat turkey on Thanksgiving. LOL
I'm always looking for suggestions on how to get her to eat new things. Anything other than Pizza Rolls would be nice!
Thank you so much for this advice. We're definitely going to try this. Haley's social worker was suggesting writing a social story about our upcoming (and very stressful) move. I never thought about doing one for trying new foods. Thanks again!!
I'm in the same boat.
It's actually my nt child who is pickiest.
They aren't going to "grow" out of it on their own. It is a long and painful process to change their diet but worth it if you can. I have found it best to do it slowly in a "shaping" type process. I am sure Paula can bump up the picky eaters thread and there is a link to all her tips as well, I just gotta find it.
What I have found works best is a combination. He is old enough now to do some cognitive behavioral stuff with him on this. Make him part of it as well and add an incentive program into it.
First, write down all the foods he will eat and try to discover exactly what it is and why it is that he eats those. You mention all white but also McD's. There is nothing truly "white" at McD's unless you count milk. Does he do salty, sweet, sour or tart foods? I am guessing salty with the McD's and knowing our kids. I am also guessing chick nuggets, chips, fries, and maybe a cereal for his 4 foods? All of which are also chrunchy.
next think of a list of foods very close to those on his ok list but very slightly different. Choose ONE and ONLY ONE to try first.
Write a social story about trying new foods. Add an incentive in there. Some sort of chart, sticker program, or other reinforcer. Maybe add in some lessons about healthy choices and nutrition if he is one of the rule bound aspie types. Make sure to write into the story that trying new foods is ok, it is not going to hurt him, he only needs to try one bite (the first time, we can add more later), you will be SOOOO proud of him if he tries it and he will be so proud of himself, etc.
Then pick a low stress time to try the new food. When he is hungry enough that it is tempting but not so hungry he is crabby. make it a snack kind of thing. Have one small bite of the new food and then the preferred foods there. Once he tries one bite he gets the chosen reward, LOADS AND LOADS of praise from mom (often our guys LIVE for postive praise cause it can come so rarely) and then the usual foods for snack.
Once he gets good with the one new food you can start to add on other things as well or having him have more. when he adds more ok foods to his repetoire you can add them too meals. Make sure to constantly praise him for trying new things.
There may be certain foods he will just never tolerate and that is ok, but it is important for his health and well being that he at least have a healthy varied diet if you can manage it.
It is NOT easy with ASD kids. I admit that, but unfortunately they are often more affected by a poor diet than kids who are not ASD. Often ASD kids just cannot process foods well and it can affect their moods, behaviors, symptoms, etc. So if you can make the change it would be really good for him. Also making sure to teach him how to make healthy choices and how it helps him, etc.
Oh my goodness, yes!! Haley is very picky. I can't, for the life of me, get her to try anything new. Even spaghetti is a problem. She won't try any spaghetti sauces. Has to be ketchup on the spaghetti. Pizza has to be pepperoni. She won't eat anything that has veggies or other things mixed in it. Won't eat corn. Lunches are almost always pizza rolls or chicken flavored Ramen. Vegetables won't get eaten unless they are plain green beans.
I'm very frustrated because I can't get her to eat anything that is healthy. She will eat grapes occasionally and even little cherry tomatoes but that's about it. She won't even eat turkey on Thanksgiving. LOL
I'm always looking for suggestions on how to get her to eat new things. Anything other than Pizza Rolls would be nice!
Mom to Erin (19) and Haley (10yo Aspie)
Mom to Erin (19) and Haley (10yo Asp
Mom to Erin (19) and Haley (10yo Aspie)
Mom to Erin (19) and Haley (10yo Asp
We have a picky eater too.
Hi Mary,
Here's a link to Paula's "Tips for Picky Eaters:"
http://asdrendrewolf.org/apovonautism/picky_eaters.php
As you see, you are not alone.
***Waving hand wildly in the air here***
Yep both my kids are picky eaters.