Mealtimes can be tough when your child is autistic or has ADHD. Here are 5 tips to try

Mealtimes Can Be Tough When Your Child is Autistic or Has ADHD. Here are 5 Tips to Try.

Gathering as a family for a meal can serve several purposes, from social connection to nutrition. However, this can also make eating and mealtimes tricky to manage when someone in the family is neurodivergent.

Common Behaviors

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Many autistic children and children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) display what has been called "abnormal feeding behaviors." Children may develop these behaviors as a way to cope with the complex task of mealtimes. The skills involved in mealtimes, such as recognizing feelings of hunger and thirst, completing tasks in a set order, processing all kinds of sensory input, using fine motor skills, and interacting socially, can be challenging.

Getting Enough Fuel

While some children can meet their nutrition requirements despite these challenges, others face more serious consequences. Sometimes these difficulties can impact their growth, lead to vitamin or mineral deficiencies, cause stomach or gut issues, and even increase the risk of developing chronic diseases later in life.

5 Ways to Support Children with Different Mealtime Needs

Identify Safe Foods – If your child prefers a particular food or type of food (such as salty, crunchy, sour), try to find "safe foods" within each core food group (grains, meats and fish, fruit, vegetables, and dairy). Offering these foods may help increase your child’s intake of key nutrients from each food group in a way that suits their sensory preferences.
A Special Plate, Spoon or Set – If your child prefers specific tableware, allow them to use it in and out of the home. This will mean taking items with you when dining out. Introduce new types of tableware outside of mealtimes and use them in play (such as a pretend cafe or shop) or other activities to build familiarity before using them at mealtimes.
Offer Regular Meals and Snacks – Differences in interoception, or how we feel bodily sensations, can mean neurodivergent children do not interpret feelings of hunger and thirst as neurotypical people do. So, your child might not be able to tell if they are hungry or full easily. Offer food on a predicable schedule (roughly every two to three hours). Some children will also get a sense of safety from regular routines.
Keep Offering a Mix of Foods – Children may go through phases of wanting only one type of food. This can be due to sensory-seeking behaviors, a need for sameness, or fixations on topics or items. A supportive approach is to offer familiar, safe foods with other foods from the core food groups or the family meal. It is important to continue providing opportunities every day for your child to try a range of foods. This might look like offering them some of your dinner on a side plate, or allowing them to serve themselves from a selection of preferred and non-preferred foods.
Manage Sensory Input – Some children find mealtimes overwhelming due to the sensory input from smells, tastes, textures, sounds, and even the sight of food and eating. To help your child manage sensory input, consider using headphones to reduce noise, using a fan to divert strong smells, or offering cold foods. Your child might need distractions like watching TV, using fidget toys, or listening to music. Always set them a place at the family table and encourage them to eat with the family, but allow them to move to a separate quiet space if they feel overwhelmed.

Conclusion

Taking a neuroaffirming approach to eating can significantly reduce the stress experienced by children at mealtimes. Making them feel better understood and more accepted can even lead to a healthier diet over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are abnormal feeding behaviors?
A: Abnormal feeding behaviors refer to behaviors that are not typical or accepted in a neurotypical person. This can include food selectivity, hypersensitivity to textures, overeating or undereating, and avoiding eating with others.

Q: Why do children with autism or ADHD have difficulty with mealtime routines?
A: Children with autism or ADHD may have difficulty with mealtime routines due to differences in interoception, sensory processing, and attention regulation.

Q: How can I help my child with mealtime challenges?
A: You can help your child with mealtime challenges by identifying safe foods, using special plates and utensils, offering regular meals and snacks, keeping a variety of foods available, and managing sensory input.

Q: Are there any resources available to help with mealtime challenges?
A: Yes, there are many resources available to help with mealtime challenges, including the Autism CRC, the Grow&Go Toolbox, and online support groups.