From identifying ‘safe foods’ to having a designated plate and cutlery, there are a few practical ways to make mealtimes more manageable
Gathering as a family for a meal can serve several purposes, from social connection to nutrition. But this can also make eating and mealtimes tricky to manage when someone in the family is neurodivergent.
Many autistic children and children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) display what has been called “abnormal feeding behaviours”. Children may develop these behaviours as a way to cope with the complex task of mealtimes.
Food selectivity, where a child has a small range of preferred foods and limited variety. For example, children choosing only grain-based or dairy foods, such as noodles and yoghurt, or toast and cheese.
Strong preferences in how food is prepared and presented, including brands or tableware used – such as only accepting hot chips from one source, or only being able to use one bowl or fork.
Hypersensitivity to textures, such as needing foods to be very crunchy or preferring foods that are smooth like puree.
Overeating or undereating due to differences in how children understand and respond to body signals, a sense known as “interoception”. This can mean they go long periods without eating, or graze throughout the day.
Avoiding eating with others, choosing instead to eat in the lounge room or their bedroom.
Inflexibility around mealtime routines due to a drive for consistency and sameness to feel safe. This means eating in different places, at different times, or having unfamiliar foods becomes challenging.
Difficulty transitioning to mealtimes due to hyperfocus on a preferred task.
Continue reading… From identifying ‘safe foods’ to having a designated plate and cutlery, there are a few practical ways to make mealtimes more manageableGathering as a family for a meal can serve several purposes, from social connection to nutrition. But this can also make eating and mealtimes tricky to manage when someone in the family is neurodivergent.Many autistic children and children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) display what has been called “abnormal feeding behaviours”. Children may develop these behaviours as a way to cope with the complex task of mealtimes.Food selectivity, where a child has a small range of preferred foods and limited variety. For example, children choosing only grain-based or dairy foods, such as noodles and yoghurt, or toast and cheese.Strong preferences in how food is prepared and presented, including brands or tableware used – such as only accepting hot chips from one source, or only being able to use one bowl or fork.Hypersensitivity to textures, such as needing foods to be very crunchy or preferring foods that are smooth like puree.Overeating or undereating due to differences in how children understand and respond to body signals, a sense known as “interoception”. This can mean they go long periods without eating, or graze throughout the day.Avoiding eating with others, choosing instead to eat in the lounge room or their bedroom.Inflexibility around mealtime routines due to a drive for consistency and sameness to feel safe. This means eating in different places, at different times, or having unfamiliar foods becomes challenging.Difficulty transitioning to mealtimes due to hyperfocus on a preferred task. Continue reading… Family, Australian lifestyle, Autism, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Neurodiversity, Children, Parents and parenting, Life and style, Diets and dieting
