In some cases, the peculiar food preferences can compromise health or well-being. What are some strategies for helping picky eaters with autism change harmful habits?
Listen Now: Standard Podcast [5:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download or continue reading1. MONITOR DIET. If a youngster with autism has significant allergies to wheat products or dairy products, we simply do not offer those foods for meals or snacks. If a person with autism is diagnosed with Type I Diabetes, we carefully monitor carbohydrates and do not make forbidden food available.2. LIMIT ACCESSIBILITY. One of my teenage friends with autism would sneak into the kitchen every night and eat an entire carton of ice cream. Her dad was irritated that she ate all his ice cream every day, then he realized that it was HIS responsibility to stop buying ice cream and to keep health-endangering temptation out of the house.3. SNEAK IN NUTRITION. Sometimes it takes very creative thinking, but we can usually figure out a way to insert a bit of nutrition in the daily diet of picky eaters. For example, we can blend healthy veggies into a very fine puree and stir a bit into catsup, spaghetti sa
