Food selectivity in people with ASD

Some autistic people are known to have difficulty making changes in behavior or routine. And this can affect your diet too. There are cases of people with ASD who, eating in unusual places or with different cutlery, can experience strong stress and refuse to eat. These characteristics, […]

Some autistic people are known to have difficulty making changes in behavior or routine. And this can affect your diet too. There are cases of people with ASD who, eating in unusual places or with different cutlery, can experience strong stress and refuse to eat. These characteristics, together with the difficulty in accepting new foods, are called food selectivity. Tamires Oliveira, nutritionist specializing in food introduction, Autistic Selectivity and TDHA, answers the most common questions on the topic.

What is food selectivity in people with ASD?

It is characterized by a refusal to try new foods. Has a small repertoire of accepted foods (usually between 5 or 10 foods). And he does not eat meals at different times and places and also presents resistance to the presentation of new plates and cutlery.

Why is this characteristic common in autistic people?

Sensory processing problems are common in individuals with autism. Therefore, due to the disorder, autistic individuals experience a negative impact in their daily routine. Because hypersensitivity to textures, odors, temperature, or colors has a large impact on a child’s decision to eat or not, food selectivity or even aversion to food may occur.

How to identify if the child has this characteristic?

Children with ASD generally express a strong food preference from the time food is introduced. Therefore it is important to be followed by a child nutritionist specialized in food selectivity for an early diagnosis and to guarantee the quality of life of the child and his family.

Is there a flavor or food that is specifically affected by food selectivity?

Children with food selectivity generally exclude fruit and vegetables, favoring tastier foods (such as chips, croquettes, pizza).

Why is food selectivity confused with bad behavior?

Besides autism, there may be other medical conditions that affect a person’s eating habits, and as a result, their eating habits also affect their overall health. But you need to understand that the act of eating may not be comfortable for autistic people.

Is it possible to reverse this condition so that it is possible to consume all the foods necessary for health?

Yes, food hypersensitivity, linked to sensory selectivity, affects an individual’s health status within the spectrum. This changes the food choices they make, which can result in low food intake. Food therapy is a technique used as the main tool to solve the problem. It is an approach that aims to give a new meaning to eating, bringing children closer to food, through actions that generate skills and offer sensory stimuli, bringing comfort and familiarity with new flavours.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.