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Food issues

LornaHSamsmum

Hi guys I am new here! I am a mum of four and my third child is undergoing Austism diagonises. 

I am having issues with him eating food. Some days he will eat certain foods and the next time I put them in front of him he wont touch them??

He mainly wants to eat junk food but I try to give all my children the same foods, and a balanced diet which does occasionally include junk foods. We eat together as a family. He can sometimes go for days without eating a lot then gorges himself. 

He will only eat carrots (when inclined to do so) and bananas. I can't get him to eat any other fruit or veg no matter what tricks I try. He sometimes eats chicken or beef but other times wont. I always put the same foods on all my children's plates to try and encourage him to eat other things. 

Is anyone else having food problems?

The other problem I have is standards at the table. I never force my kids to finish their plates but eat enough to fill them up. However the others have to eat a certain amount before I will allow pudding, fruit, ice cream, yogurt etc.. But on the days my son wont eat do I say he can't have pudding until he's eaten some food? The others are starting to think its unfair they have to eat something when my son doesn't. I hope that makes sense.

I guess my real question is how do I not set double standards but still allow for my sons indivdual needs?

Parents

  • My son is 17 and we have only recently found out that he has Aspergers.

    To cut a very long story short I would like to say that some of his difficulties around food gave him fairly extreme anxiety.  Anxiety can affect anyone's appetite and ability to even swallow food.  If anyone has worries about their child's diet and they seem extremely stressed, from my hard won experience, I would suggest that they talk to their GP and ask if their dietary needs are being met with what they are currently eating and leave it at that. If changes are needed then, in my opinion, it should be done as gradually as possible and with as little fuss and stress as possible.

    My son for example couldn't eat anything savoury unless it was smothered with tomato ketchup!  Have recently been told by him that it was because he was obsessed by the colour and felt he couldn't eat anything unless it was red!

    It can be really hard for any other children in the family to understand why their brother or sister is being allowed to "get away" with something that they are not.  I can understand that but my other two children have witnessed my son's anxiety and stress and seem to realise that he is different and that seems to be okay with them, thank goodness.  I'm probably just lucky but children do seem to be adaptable to difference when they know it makes no difference if you see what I mean.

    I do hope things get a little easier for you soon.

Reply

  • My son is 17 and we have only recently found out that he has Aspergers.

    To cut a very long story short I would like to say that some of his difficulties around food gave him fairly extreme anxiety.  Anxiety can affect anyone's appetite and ability to even swallow food.  If anyone has worries about their child's diet and they seem extremely stressed, from my hard won experience, I would suggest that they talk to their GP and ask if their dietary needs are being met with what they are currently eating and leave it at that. If changes are needed then, in my opinion, it should be done as gradually as possible and with as little fuss and stress as possible.

    My son for example couldn't eat anything savoury unless it was smothered with tomato ketchup!  Have recently been told by him that it was because he was obsessed by the colour and felt he couldn't eat anything unless it was red!

    It can be really hard for any other children in the family to understand why their brother or sister is being allowed to "get away" with something that they are not.  I can understand that but my other two children have witnessed my son's anxiety and stress and seem to realise that he is different and that seems to be okay with them, thank goodness.  I'm probably just lucky but children do seem to be adaptable to difference when they know it makes no difference if you see what I mean.

    I do hope things get a little easier for you soon.

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