Pickiness/eating difficulty resources | Autism PDD

good stuff, i wish my parents had this back when i needed it, i feel healthy, am never sick, usually have energy, and enjoy being outdoors, but i fear i did not grow up right cause i would not eat, im sooo scrawny, to this day, i eat plenty, never have i eaten as good as i do currently (aside from the gallon of Dr. Pepper I drink daily) but its serious, if your little 1 isnt eating now, when they grow up they could end up a twig like me, im embarressed to go swimming around many ppl cause i dont wanna take my shirt off, heh, i even wear jeans in the summer, never shorts hi- the first and third links are broken. thanks for posting these!

Here are some helpful online resources for eating difficulties.  Most of them are about picky eating. 

http://www.disabilitysolutions.org/newsletters/files/four/4- 3.pdf - Disability Solutions issue on introducing food textures.

http://www.asperger.net/aapc_authors_maureen_flanagan_letter .htm#excerpt - excerpt from Maureen Flanagan's book "Improving Speech and Eating Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders."

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art57942.asp/zzz - Bonnie Sayer's rave review of the book "Improving Speech and Eating Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders."  Bonnie's 12 year old son is nonverbal and still drinking from a bottle, but she hopes this book will help turn things around.

http://www.thetherapyplace.net/feeding/index.htm - a short description of the Sequential Oral Sensory feeding program, and red flags for referral to a feeding program.

http://www.infantandtoddlerforum.org/objects/pdf/fact_sheet2 .3.pdf - "Understanding and Managing Extreme Food Refusal in Toddlers."

http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/Medical/mealtime.html - Here's an article from the Indiana Resource Center for Autism.  It's called "Mealtime and Children on the Autism Spectrum:  Beyond Picky, Fussy and Fads."

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/The_SPD_Companion -picky-eaters-and-resistant-eaters.html - Sensory Professing Disorder Companion, a newsletter issue devoted to picky eating, with info based on the highly-recommended book "Just Take A Bite."

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/picky-eaters.html - more from the people behind the above-mentioned SPD Companion.

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/picky-eater-tips. html - article "10 tips to help your picky eater."

http://www.netnewsdesk.com/SPDFoundation/index.cfm?PID=897 &a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;ID=3557,12725,0 - another article focusing on sensory issues.

http://www.autismsa.org.au/pdf/strategies/IS19_Eating_diffic ulties.pdf - covers the gamut of eating difficulties, including gagging, slow eaters, trouble staying at the table, etc.

http://www.theautismlife.com/what-is-for-dinner/st.johns-fee ding.team.interview/ - Autism Life.com interviews 2 SLPs and an RD who specialize in children's feeding issues, originally posted by beginner

http://www.empoweredparents.com/pickyeating/pickyeating7.htm - "Comprehensive Treatment of Feeding Aversion in Children", originally posted by beginner.  Explains the food chaining method.

http://www.autism-help.org/behavior-fussy-eaters.htm - "Fussy Eaters and Autism"

http://www.autism-help.org/behavior-eating-feeding-issues.ht m - " Eating and Feeding Issues"

http://www.nu-world.com/~jls/index_files/page0004.htm - "childhood food refusal and mealtime behavior problems using the positive behavioral support model."

http://www.autism-india.org/original_articles.html - a 3 part series "Developing Appropriate Eating Habits".  Parts 1 and 2 are more about the picky behaviors, but Part 3 covers overeating, eating too fast, etc.

http://neurodiversity.com/food.html - a collection of links related to food and autism.

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/research/devpsych/actnow/ factsheet17.html - "Dietary Issues and Autism", a fact sheet from an Australian university.

http://www.amazon.com/Cant-Eat-Wont-Difficulties-Disorders/d p/1853029742/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product  - excerpt from the book "Can't Eat, Won't Eat".  The excerpt will help you feel that you're not the only one in the world dealing with these problems.  I've heard the book has lots of practical tips.

http://www.empoweredparents.com/pickyeating/ - Series of articles, see separate post below.

http://www.gerber.com/content/usa/html/pages/pediatricbasics /pdffiles/PedBasics_100.pdf - quarterly journal from Gerber directed to pediatric professionals.  This issue deals with food jags and feeding disorders.  It includes an article by Kay Toomey who founded the SOS (Sensory Oral Sequential) Approach to Feeding.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=12 24412 - journal article about packing (keeping too much food in the mouth), probably an issue of food texture and low oral tone.

http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/204_spoonful-of-sugar-rea lly-might-help-medicine-go-down_10218605.pc  - news on genetics of rejecting bitter foods (like vegetables) and bitter medicines.  We're hardwired to dislike bitter tastes in childhood (some more than others).  This is self-protection -- most toxic substances are bitter.

http://www.mypyramid.gov/preschoolers/index.html - My Pyramid Plan for Preschoolers.  The website has a section on picky eating (not specifically for autism) and it can also be used to develop a nutrition plan.

http://www.centerforautism.com/Resources/Autism_Presentation s.asp - info on eating issues from the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)

Online videos:

http://www.autismspot.com/videos/Introducing-New-Foods-Tips- Parents - introducing new foods

http://www.autismspot.com/videos/Eating-Therapy-Tips-Parents - eating therapy tips

http://autism.com/pro_videoflv.asp?flv=baltimore_2010_12_dor fman&h=480&w=640&VID=74  - "Special diets and the picky eater". 

If any of these links are broken, let me know.

NorwayMom40385.9907986111

Thanks for letting me know about the broken links.  They're fixed now. 

For some reason, the forum's computers often add a blank space into html addresses.  Broken links can usually be fixed by removing blank spaces (especially ones that show up in the address field as %20).

I'm bumping this old topic since picky eating has been mentioned frequently on Stickboy's sensory topic.

The Obscure “Eating” Disorders
An Eight Part Series

Steps to Eating Hierarchy*

1. Visually tolerating the food

2. Interacting with the food without actually touching it (vestibular; kinesthetic and proprioceptive systems)

3. Smelling

4. Touching

5. Tasting and then, finally

6. Eating

* In order of most basic to most difficult.

Source:  http://www.gerber.com/content/usa/html/pages/pediatricbasics /pdffiles/PedBasics_100.pdf

I ran across this blog today, and thought I'd use it to bump this old topic.

It's a short, funny blog about a kid with autim's answer to "If I ruled the world, there would be no...":

http://aroomofmamasown.com/2009/05/if-my-son-ruled-the-world /

It must be so frustrating when your kid won't eat!  I don't knwo if any of you have thought about this analogy before, but maybe keeping it in mind will help.  When I am expected to eating something that i "don't like," it is essentially like eating a non-food.  Take your shoe off and put it on your plate.  Ready?  That'd dinner.  Go.  What, not interested?  Too bad, that's your only option. 

My parents realized at some point that I wasn't just stubborn, and that I really COULDN'T eat the foods.  I've been seeing a nutritionist for the past year or so, and that has really helped because she makes sure that I get what I need with the foods I am able to eat. 

And in case anyone is wondering, it has gotten better very slowly over the years.  At the worst, I would only eat six things (including drinks).  Now, I still would prefer to live off those few things, but I can tolerate more foods.  Nowhere near what most people eat, but better.

Im a bit different in this situation. I have never been a picky eater. I try all kinda fo new food. Even stuff like sushi.

This article lists some early oral motor skills that the majority of NT kids can do at the listed ages, but not the majority of ASD kids.  Without good oral motor skills, it's obviously harder to eat a variety of foods.

blowing a raspberry (6 months)

animal sounds (18 months) 

blowing bubbles through a straw or wand, sticking out tongue, puffing cheeks, blowing nose (24 months)

http://psych.wisc.edu/lang/pdf/Gernsbacher_EarlyOral-Manual. pdf

[QUOTE=BubbleGirl]

I must be the only Mum that would be singing and dancing if their child said they wanted to go to a fast food drive thru or restaurant.

[/QUOTE]

Far from it.  I was glad when my boys started drinking pop.  Yes, it's unhealthy, but if you don't drink it it's a big nuisance at birthday parties, etc. 

Here's another website on feeding issues and autism.

http://www.chicagofeedingtherapy.com/2011/02/chicago-feeding -therapy-ideas-and-resources-for-children-on-the-spectrum/

And here's a book:  "Improving speech and eating skills in children with autism spectrum disorders - an oral motor program for home and school."  Five reviewers give it an average of 5 out of 5 stars.

http://www.amazon.com/Improving-Speech-Children-Spectrum-Dis orders/dp/1934575232 

 

NorwayMom40604.3257407407 [QUOTE=SuperTrouper]

It must be so frustrating when your kid won't eat!  I don't knwo if any of you have thought about this analogy before, but maybe keeping it in mind will help.  When I am expected to eating something that i "don't like," it is essentially like eating a non-food.  Take your shoe off and put it on your plate.  Ready?  That'd dinner.  Go.  What, not interested?  Too bad, that's your only option. 

My parents realized at some point that I wasn't just stubborn, and that I really COULDN'T eat the foods.  I've been seeing a nutritionist for the past year or so, and that has really helped because she makes sure that I get what I need with the foods I am able to eat. 

And in case anyone is wondering, it has gotten better very slowly over the years.  At the worst, I would only eat six things (including drinks).  Now, I still would prefer to live off those few things, but I can tolerate more foods.  Nowhere near what most people eat, but better.

[/QUOTE]

I think this is a great way to look at it.  My daughter is picky, not so much because she doesn't like foods, but because there are a limited amount of food items she considers edible.

Good blog about choosing a spoon and sippy cup for a child with feeding sensitivities: 

http://www.spdbloggernetwork.com/2011/04/20/feeding-sensitiv ities-part-3/

Part 1 and 2 in the same series:

http://www.spdbloggernetwork.com/2011/04/06/feeding-sensitiv ities-part-1/

http://www.spdbloggernetwork.com/2011/04/13/feeding-sensitiv ities-part-2/

We have been dealing with my daughter not eating well
since she was a baby. it's so difficult and you just feel
like you aren't a good mother if you can't even get your
daughter to eat!


I recently found this website
http://childrenandbabiesnoteating.com/ , which has so
much information about kids who won't eat, why they won't
eat (including testing to figure out if there is a
medical cause), and some of the treatment options. Plus
it has links to other really informative sites. It was
really helpful for me and I hope it's helpful for others.

Thank you for posting these, am going to read through them once the boys go to sleep. I have been so desperate recently over my eldest eating issues. I am in tears most days not knowing whether he will eat or not. We are down to fruit, crackers and cereal. And these are only grazed on.

He is started speech therapy next week soley to concentrate on oral motor issues, he is seeing a GI specialist in April. He is on miralax for severe constipation, and is also seeing a developmental ped dr in March. I am hoping they will help us.  I have run out of ideas, and worrying constantly how to get him to eat. I dread food shopping, and mealtimes.

I must be the only Mum that would be singing and dancing if their child said they wanted to go to a fast food drive thru or restaurant.

 

im a still a member of the picky eater clubDon't know if I've posted this one before.  I haven't watched it (it lasts over an hour), but someone I know recommended it:

http://autism.com/pro_videoflv.asp?flv=baltimore_2010_12_dor fman&h=480&w=640&VID=74
"Living on thin air:  How to get your Aspergers Kids to eat a healthy diet."

http://www.sensorystreet.com/uploads/Nancy_Mucklow_-_How_to_ get_your_Aspergers_Kids_to_eat_a_healthy_diet.pdf

This is an excellent introduction to picky/resistant eating.  Easy to skim, since it has clear headings and lots of information in list-form.

 

http://thinkingautismguide.blogspot.com/2010/07/autism-feedi ng-issues-and-picky-eaters.html

Thought-provoking piece about learning to eat what the other kids are eating.

http://www.nancymucklow.com/2009/08/aspergers-eating-and-sel f-esteem/

This video is called "Special diets and the picky eater".  I'm told that at the 40 minute point, the speaker lists five causes of pickiness and then discusses each one:

Oral motor function
Sensory integration issues
Nutritional deficiencies
Food reaction/allergies
Poor digestion/yeast issues

http://autism.com/pro_videoflv.asp?flv=baltimore_2010_12_dor fman&h=480&w=640&VID=74

Pediatrics (a medical journal) is publishing a study on the nutritional status of kids with autism.  I couldn't quite make sense of the results as summarized in this article:

http://www.theautismnews.com/2010/07/19/picky-eating-by-auti stic-kids-wont-affect-growth/

Hopefully the original article will make more sense, but it isn't available online yet.  It should appear here soon:

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/current.dtl

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