High Functioning Asperger's Child

Hi Leska

Don't take this as what will happen to your son, but it is my experience as a faddy eater.

I am now 62 and have been a fussy eater since I was well under two years old.  My mother tried all sorts of methods to try to make me eat 'proper' food, even making me miss meals because I wouldn't eat.  In fact it wasn't just that I wouldn't eat, I would scream.  And trying to starve me into submission didn't work either.  My mother gave up after more than 24 hours as she didn't want to starve me, just wanted to make me hungry so I would eat.  I can say that did not work, in my case I would just go hungry rather than eat something I did not want to eat or which I found repulsive.

There are certain things I do eat, and always have. Breakfast cerieal, milk, Bread (both wholemeal and white) some raw vegetables (carrots, watercress, radish and lettuce), cheddar cheese,  fish and chips (no peas or other green stuff on them and no sauce or gravy), boiled or poached egg, kippers and sardines.  And a lot of fruit (bananas, oranges, apples, grapes, peaches ....). table jellies.   And not a lot else - jam, honey I will put on bread.  I am a little bit overweight now but not by a lot and am not too unhealthy either.

I think the main thing is find out what your youngster will eat and work on that.  Try to find anything that is healthy that he likes, and use these things as a base.  I don't like food that has been 'messed about with' (my words) and although some people think I must be a nightmare to feed, I am actually very easy, I don't want big meals, just something simple with bread and butter.

You can try slowly adding something with what your son likes, so you gradually introduce new food, but it didn't work for me.

Trying to analyse my likes and dislikes does  not really help - there are some quite strong smelling and tasting food I do like.  But anything with onion, I can detect at fifty paces and cannot bear to be near.  I dont like curry, sauces, or meat.  In fact I could not even put them in my mouth let alone swallow them.

But I am still alive ....  so it has not done me too much harm.

Hi Leska

Don't take this as what will happen to your son, but it is my experience as a faddy eater.

I am now 62 and have been a fussy eater since I was well under two years old.  My mother tried all sorts of methods to try to make me eat 'proper' food, even making me miss meals because I wouldn't eat.  In fact it wasn't just that I wouldn't eat, I would scream.  And trying to starve me into submission didn't work either.  My mother gave up after more than 24 hours as she didn't want to starve me, just wanted to make me hungry so I would eat.  I can say that did not work, in my case I would just go hungry rather than eat something I did not want to eat or which I found repulsive.

There are certain things I do eat, and always have. Breakfast cerieal, milk, Bread (both wholemeal and white) some raw vegetables (carrots, watercress, radish and lettuce), cheddar cheese,  fish and chips (no peas or other green stuff on them and no sauce or gravy), boiled or poached egg, kippers and sardines.  And a lot of fruit (bananas, oranges, apples, grapes, peaches ....). table jellies.   And not a lot else - jam, honey I will put on bread.  I am a little bit overweight now but not by a lot and am not too unhealthy either.

I think the main thing is find out what your youngster will eat and work on that.  Try to find anything that is healthy that he likes, and use these things as a base.  I don't like food that has been 'messed about with' (my words) and although some people think I must be a nightmare to feed, I am actually very easy, I don't want big meals, just something simple with bread and butter.

You can try slowly adding something with what your son likes, so you gradually introduce new food, but it didn't work for me.

Trying to analyse my likes and dislikes does  not really help - there are some quite strong smelling and tasting food I do like.  But anything with onion, I can detect at fifty paces and cannot bear to be near.  I dont like curry, sauces, or meat.  In fact I could not even put them in my mouth let alone swallow them.

But I am still alive ....  so it has not done me too much harm.