Let's Talk Foods: Picky Eaters

Kids with Autism and Kids with Down Syndrome Struggle with there food preferences.

So What are they and how can we help them?

Every child can be a picky eater at times. Certain foods look weird or smell funny. It's new and there apprehensive. Texture can also come into play when it comes to food. So for kids with special needs this can cause issues. For instance eating the same type of foods over and over again.

Madeline has her favorite foods for sure. She on a daily will ask for cheese dip and chips, and she will ask for it two to three times a day. Refusing to eat anything else. It's stressful knowing as a parent that it is probably not good for her to be eating the same thing over and over. A balanced and nutritious diet is what you want for your kids to be healthy. But that doesn't usually occur. So I'm going to let you in on one of my tricks that worked for Madeline. Keep in mind every child is different and you maybe able to try this or come up with a solution similar but different for your child.

I noticed with Madeline that she liked to dip things. So Ketchup, Ranch, Cheese dip. Or any sauce for that matter was a smooth nice consistency for her to tolerate. She would obsess over yogurt for a long time. Anything to thick or chewy was not in the cards. So my husband and I tried letting her dip anything she wanted. Suddenly She was dipping green beans, Steak and chicken into Ketchup and Ranch. Now I personally don't like either of those much, so I had not thought of it before. But now all the sudden she was eating things I had never seen her eat before.

I was able to teach myself how to modify her plate according to what we were eating and how she would need to eat it. For example, She can't eat pasta (texture). We all love pasta, So I thought.. how can she eat what we are eating and dip her foods? So I replaced the pasta noodles with bread (toast) then placed whatever sauce we were having just on the side. She would dip her toast in the sauce and love it. That became her Spaghetti and Alfredo. Mac and cheese is a no go, so she wants a grilled cheese sandwich.

Finding ways to get your child to eat can be a challenge.

Here are a couple of food modifications I have made for Madeline that have helped.

- Try cutting or break the food up into smaller pieces. (corn dogs, hot dogs, sandwiches, pizza.)

- Blending or pureeing certain foods for a more smooth consistency.

- Let them use multiple dipping sauces for different flavors or to thin the food out like mashed potato's, but with gravy. Or biscuits with gravy.

- Replace pasta noodles with toast, bread or rolls.

- Instead of giving them a plate with three or four different foods, keep it simple. Having to many choices can be overwhelming. Just one or two things at a time. Sometimes I let her finish one thing then I add another thing.

No matter what you try or choose to do, remember there is nothing wrong with accommodations. There not giving you a hard time, there having a hard time. And some days nothing will work, and that's okay. Eating something, is better than nothing.