There are many reasons why children with special needs may be picky eaters. Sensory Integration Disorder, which accompanies a wide spectrum of disabilities, may cause hypersensitivity to taste, textures, temperatures, and smell. Or, conversely, it may cause the lack of sensitivity to texture, taste, and smell, which can make eating a mundane, tedious task. Motor difficulties can prevent problems with chewing and swallowing. Or children with attention deficits can become too distracted to stay seated and finish eating.
With my son Kyle, I encountered a strange issue with his eating habits. He absolutely loved apples, to the point that I could almost not keep enough of them in the house. If I had enough of them, he would eat apples all day long. He would eat the entire apple, seeds and all, leaving only the tiny stem behind. (Sure, apples are healthy, but Kyle wasn’t getting a variety of fruits and vegetables in his diet.) He also refused to eat breakfast. He didn’t seem to care for cereals, eggs, toast, or just about any standard breakfast foods. There was nothing I could interest him in eating in the mornings. So I often had to send him to school without eating, which made me feel terribly guilty. How could my son do well in school without food in his system?
Here are some tips to help you address any problems with eating or nutrition that your child may have:
1. Observe and write down what and when your child eats. What does she like to eat? At what times during the day is she typically hungry? Are there any healthy foods she enjoys eating? What are your major dietary concerns? Pay attention, and you might be surprised at what you learn.
2. You want your child to arrive at the table hungry. Therefore, don’t give frequent snacks or provide access to candy and junk food throughout the day. If your child needs snack time, schedule it in, leaving plenty of time before meals for her to get hungry again.
3. Taking into account when your child is usually hungry, create a regular meal routine. Try to be consistent, with meals being eaten at the table.
4. Serve your child small portions, so he will be more likely to finish and ask for more.
5. If your child has a problem with leaving the table, remove his food once he’s left. If he wants more, he must sit down at the table for several minutes before bringing his food back.
6. Don’t allow your child to eat in front of the T.V., or while playing video games, etc.
7. If your child is sensitive to temperature, start by preparing food at the temperature he likes, then slowly, over many days, change the temperature to one that is more appropriate.
8. If your child is sensitive to texture, try chopping into smaller portions, blending, or cooking to soften.
9. Try to provide several choices of fruits and vegetables, different kinds of sandwiches, cheeses, crackers, finger foods, etc. Let him choose which foods he wants and add some new foods gradually.
10. Take your child on a food field trip. Spend time in the produce section of the supermarket talking about fruits and vegetables, holding them, discussing their colors and shapes. Have the child choose which ones are his “favorite,” (even if it’s based on color) and put them in the cart.
11. Purchase plastic toy dinnerware and plastic foods (found at most toy stores). Have pretend “meals” with stuffed animals, allowing your child to “prepare” the pretend meal. Be sure to direct her, “Teddy needs some vegetables!”
12. Allow your child to participate with food preparation to get him more interested in the meal.
13. Ask your child’s pediatrician, physical therapist, or even speech and language pathologist for tips on helping your child to chew and swallow properly.
14. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a good multi-vitamin for your child.
Kyle still goes through a large bag of apples a week, which is certainly not a bad thing. And I finally found something he will have before school… an “instant breakfast” drink, chocolate flavored, mixed in milk. I’m sure it’s not the best option, but at least he’s going to school with some nutrients in his system.
As he has become a teenager, Kyle’s eating problems have shifted from not eating enough, to overeating. Occasionally, he even tries to graze off other people’s leftovers. I’ve had to learn to clear the dinner table quickly and engage him in other activities to ward off his food hunting after meals. I think the key in solving your child’s eating problems is to be patient, and be ready to adapt to new issues as they arise. Use creativity and do what works best for your child to promote healthy eating habits.
The marvelous book, “The Child With Special Needs,” by Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D. and Serena Wieder, PH.D., was a resource for this blog.