Nutrition in Autism (2210)

Key points below


Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) only eat a few different foods. This is known as a limited diet. There are many reasons why this happens.  

Where to start?

Set a mealtime schedule and routine.   

Choose a goal

What about feeding would you like to focus on first?

General tips for feeding 

The tips below can be done in any order. If you are doing some of these things add in more as you can. 

Start small 

Avoid all day eating or grazing 

Tips for mealtime 

Ways to support positive behavior 

Reward positive behaviors. Offer praise when your child shows interest or tries something new. Examples include:

Ignore negative behaviors. This may include spitting, throwing, or refusing food. Your child may stop these behaviors if you ignore them.

Keep a food journal

Keep track of your child’s interest and reactions they had to the new food. This way you can track any positive trends. This can help to find similar foods that your child could try. 

ALERT

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has special health care needs that were not covered by this information.