• Replies 3 replies
  • Subscribers 4 subscribers
  • Views 48 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

autistic daughters limiting diet impacting health

Rachyred

My autistic teenage daughter (not officially diagnosed) has a very limited diet, and this has recently impacted her health significantly. she has been advised to eat more healthy and do exercise. she also has demand avoidence which is making it so diffucult to help her. 

As she has grown up we have tried everything to help in lots of different ways, gentle food introduction, talking about how to be healthy, gentle encouragment to get out for a walk, and she still digs her heels in more.

I feel so exhausted with this. does anyone have any ideas on how to help her? 

  • Hi and welcome to the community.

    Rachyred said:
    she has been advised to eat more healthy

    The problem is, a lot of people don't really know what a healthy diet is, apart from a vague idea they should eat fruit & veg. Has she seen an NHS dietician? If not, I would suggest you ask your family doctor for a referral - a qualified dietician will be able to assess her current diet and help with improving it.

    We're not allowed to give medical advice here, but I just wanted to share a couple of ideas - I was  wondering if she will drink milk or milky drinks such as shakes or hot chocolate? Milk is one of the most complete foods, containing protein, essential fatty acids, lactose (a natural form of sugar, providing energy) plus a lot of vitamins and minerals:

    https://milk.co.uk/nutritional-composition-of-dairy/milk/

    So if I was you I would try to get her drinking milk or milky drinks regularly plus take a multivitamin and mineral supplement to cover anything that is missed in her diet (ask a pharmacist for advice on this) while you wait for a dietician appointment (which can take some time)

    I hope things improve soon.

  • Lots of autistic people prefer whats known as a "beige diet", nothing to contrasting flavourwise, or visually, textures are also important to many.

  • Hi and welcome to the community.

    You might find the advice here helpful - it also includes suggestions for specialist sources of support that you could consider exploring via her GP:

    NAS - Eating

    The suggested support strategies in this article might also be helpful. It also contains lived experience insights, including from parents: 

    NAS - Demand avoidance