3 Tips to Get Your Picky Eater to Try New Foods
Picky eating is one of the most common complaints of the parents that I work with daily. In fact, a study showed that 70-90% of parents with a child on the spectrum reported their child to be a picky eater [1]. On top of that, the odds of a child having a feeding problem are five times greater in a child with ASD [2]. We also see that children with ASD are more likely to avoid foods and exhibit neophobia (fear of trying new foods) than their typically developing siblings and other children without ASD [3]. Does this resonate with you? If so, you should also take a look at my blog “The Difference Between Picky Eating & Problem Feeding”.
Since eating is one of the most sensory-rich experiences we have as humans, it can be very overwhelming for a child with autism or Sensory Processing Disorder to try a new food. We have to take into account that a child’s picky eating might not be completely behavioral, but may also be caused by sensory processing issues. While there are many ways to help expand the diet of a kiddo with sensory processing issues, here are 3 of my favorite approaches:
1. Use Manageable Amounts
Start small and work your way up! A full scoop of a new food can be extremely overwhelming for a child with sensory processing issues (or even a child without them!). When I say small, I mean SMALL. For example, start with a kernel of corn, a small slice of a green bean, a quarter of a slice of a banana… think the size of your pinky fingernail. From here, we can begin to increase the amount as tolerated. This helps your child realize that you don’t expect them to eat a large scoop of a new food, but only interact with this small amount.
Credit to @kids.eat.in.color
2. Have No More Than 3 Foods On Your Child’s Plate at a Time
It’s easy to want your child to try a bunch of new foods at once! It feels efficient and exciting as a parent to have so many options that they might like. However, for a child with sensory processing issues, this may feel like a nightmare. We want to start with 2 familiar foods and only ONE new food at mealtime. I love the approach that Veggies & Virtue has - the Love it, Like it, Learning it Method. Her idea is to have 1 food that the child loves, 1 food the child likes, and 1 new food that the child is learning. You can see in the image that each of them have different amounts. The “Love it” food has a large amount, the “Like it” food has a medium amount, and the “Learning it” amount is very small. When doing this, it decreases the child’s fear that they don’t have a preferred food, but also encourages them to try other options in a non-threatening way.
Credit to @veggiesandvirtue
3. Use Positive Reinforcement
Mealtime can feel stressful, especially for families with a picky eater. Finding a way to make mealtime fun and encouraging can feel impossible, but with the right positive reinforcement it can be! Since every child is motivated by different things, I would recommend writing down 3 different non-food reinforcers that your child likes (i.e. Bubbles, Thomas the Train figure, 10 extra minutes on the iPad, choosing a surprise from a treasure box, etc). You can find a positive reinforcement chart online, download mine below, or you can make/design your own! Every time that your child does something new with a food (smell it, touch it, put it on their plate, kiss it, etc.) they get a sticker that they can trade in for a reward of their choice. If your child has a hard time with delayed gratification, you can start with 1 sticker to get the prize. Over time you can begin to increase the amount of stickers needed to get the prize. This way the child feels excited about trying a new food with a non-food reward.
If you try any of these tips, let me know how they worked in the comments below! Cheering for you!
References
[1] Mulle, J.G., W.G. Sharp, and J.F. Cubells, The gut microbiome: a new frontier in autism research. Curr Psychiatry Rep, 2013. 15(2): p. 337.
[2] Sharp, W.G., et al., Feeding problems and nutrient intake in children with autism spectrum disorders: a meta-analysis and comprehensive review of the literature. J Autism Dev Disord, 2013. 43(9): p. 2159-73.
[3] Schreck, K.A., K. Williams, and A.F. Smith, A comparison of eating behaviors between children with and without autism. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 2004. 34(4): p. 433-8.
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