Picky Eaters with Autism: Understanding Sensory Sensitivities and Food Preferences

Picky eating in children with autism often experiences sensory processing differences. For many children with ASD, everyday sensations like sound, temperature, and even touch can be overwhelming. This sensibility extends to food—textures, smells, and tastes that might be unnoticeable or enjoyable to some can feel unbearable to a child with heightened sensory awareness.

A crunchy vegetable might feel too rough, while a soft food could seem slimy and unpleasant. These sensory challenges make certain foods difficult to tolerate, leading to limited food choices. For many children with autism, mealtime can become stressful, as the act of eating itself is uncomfortable to tue their sensory response.

But sensory sensitivities aren’t the only factor. Some children with autism also develop strict routines and rituals around mealtimes. For example, they might insist on eating the same food in the same way every day, or they may refuse to eat if their food isn’t in a particular order. This expectation is part of the larger pattern of repetitive behaviors that many individuals with autism display, and it can contribute to a narrow range of accepted foods.

Does Autism Cause Picky Eating?

While autism itself doesn’t directly cause picky eating, it certainly contributes to behaviors and traits that make selective eating more likely. Kids on the spectrum often face difficulties with sensory processing, and these challenges can manifest in food preferences and aversions. Additionally, individuals with ASD can also experience anxiety, which makes them resistant to trying new foods, further narrowing their diet.

Picky eating can also be related to gastrointestinal issues, which are common in children with autism. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews indicate that many children with autism experience gastrointestinal (GI) issues like stomach pain, constipation, and diarrhea. Recent studies suggest that differences in gut bacteria and their byproducts may play a role in these GI symptoms.

Strategies to Support Picky Eaters with Autism

As a parent or caregiver, it’s essential to approach feeding challenges with patience and understanding. While you want to ensure your child gets the nutrients they need, pressuring or forcing them to eat foods they’re uncomfortable with can worsen the problem. Here are some strategies to help:

Respect Sensory Preferences: Start by recognizing which textures, smells, and tastes your child prefers. If they tend to avoid certain textures, focus on offering foods that match their preferences while gradually introducing new ones.

Make Small Changes: For children who rely on routine, small changes over time are more manageable than sudden, drastic shifts. For example, if your child only eats one brand of crackers, try introducing a similar type from a different brand to expand their comfort zone slowly.

Use Positive Reinforcement: Rewarding your child when they try new foods, even if it’s just a tiny bite, can help encourage exploration. Praise and positive reinforcement help create a less stressful mealtime environment.

Model Healthy Eating Habits: Show your child that trying new foods can be fun. Eating with your child and demonstrating enjoyment of different foods may encourage them to be more adventurous with their eating habits.

Offer Nutrient-Rich Alternatives: If your child refuses certain food groups, like vegetables, look for ways to incorporate nutrients from other sources. Smoothies, for example, are a great way to sneak in fruits and vegetables without overwhelming your child’s sensory preferences.

Work with a Therapist: Professional assistance can help you develop individualized strategies to address feeding issues. These professionals often use play-based techniques to desensitize children to certain textures and help expand their diet.

ABA Therapy to Promote Positive Behaviors

There are many cases where knowing our children’s preferences and needs is not enough. When it comes to autism, children can benefit from a therapeutic and behavioral approach, such as applied behavior analysis, to address challenging behaviors and teach coping mechanisms.

In the case of picky eaters with autism, ABA therapy gradually reduces the child’s food selectivity through positive reinforcement. For example, a therapist may begin by introducing a new food along with the preferred food, rewarding the child for even small steps such as touching or smelling the new food. Over time, this can help broaden his diet without overwhelming him.