03. Picky Eating & Autism
Did you know up to 90% of parents with children on the spectrum report picky eating? In this episode, we unpack why picky eating is so common in autism as well as resources to support you as you work to expand your child’s diet.
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IN THIS EPISODE
Why picky eating is so common in autism
Underlying reasons for picky eating you might be missing
Research studies about picky eating and autism
The best kind of feeding therapy for autism & sensory processing difficulties
LINKS
Join the Autism Nutrition Library
Follow @AutismDietitian on Instagram
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to the Nourishing Autism Podcast where you take a deep dive into the research on autism and dietary changes, nutrition supplements, and lifestyle modifications. Every week, we break down nutrition topics and an easy-to-understand way for you to feel less overwhelmed and feel confident on your nutrition journey with autism.
Hello, everyone, and welcome to the next episode of the Nourishing Autism Podcast. I'm your host Brittyn Coleman, the Autism Dietitian. And I'm excited to dive into this week's topic, picky eating. So if you join me in the last episode, I talked about a few reasons why picky eating is so common autism. And just to recap, this is typically because of sensory overwhelm. A lot of kids with autism may also have sensory processing difficulties, which can make eating really overwhelming when different senses already are overwhelming. So eating is one of the most sensory-rich experiences that we have as humans. And so when we touch, smell, taste, you know, look at a food all at the same time. It sets a child up who's already in sensory overwhelm for even further sensory overwhelm. And so eating can be a really difficult topic.
Then I also see a lot of kids who are really selective eaters with autism, also eat the same foods over and over again, a very limited number of foods due to the predictability of that food. So it might be all the same color all of the same texture, something the same brand is a great example to that the child knows to expect it's something that's comforting. And in a world where they feel extremely overwhelmed by their senses. Having something that's predictable for them to eat and comforting is really helpful for them. And so it comes down to more than just picky eater eating.
There's more than that. There's sensory processing intertwined here. There are also hidden reasons are not hidden reasons, but reasons that are commonly not thought of for picky eating with autism. And that can be underlying gut issues where they're uncomfortable. They have chronic constipation, which is a side effect of picky eating too. But it can cause them to even be a picky eater if they're uncomfortable. Then there are also nutrient deficiencies that can pull in here different medications, issues with chewing and swallowing, or low muscle tone. There are all these reasons and I'll have to create an episode in itself talking about the root causes of picky eating too because there are things that we definitely want to look into further and we need to rule out for picky eaters. And using the appropriate approach for picky eating for kids with autism is also really key here. And I'll talk a little bit more on that today.
So as you know, I love research. And so I want to share some research studies with you about picky eating and autism. And if you want the sources for these, you can find them in the show notes. So, first children with autism are commonly picky eaters. In fact, One study showed:
Children with autism are commonly picky eaters. In fact, one study showed that 70-90% of parents who have a child on the spectrum reported their child to be a selective eater [1].
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 [2].
On average, children with ASD consume fewer foods (33.5 vs 54.5 foods) than the typically developing child [3].
The odds of a child having a feeding problem are five times greater in a child with ASD [4].
Children who are more sensory sensitive are at higher risk for consistent pickiness as they age. And I have a ton of other studies about how kids with autism also commonly have a lower average intake of certain nutrients like calcium and vitamin D is often low omega is I mean, there's so many pieces here. And I have all that research linked in my membership, the Autism Nutrition Library, and they're due to be future episodes about this too. So children with autism are commonly referred to as just picky eaters. But there's actually more to it than that. picky eating, I don't feel that accurately describes what some kids are going through. There are actually underlying feeding problems or calling them problem feeders that more accurately describe this extreme picky eating that can better define kids who eat just a few different foods and some foods that have very low nutritional value. And so just using the term picky eating sometimes doesn't do if you're given enough information or explain to a healthcare provider, the severity of the issue.
So there's this type of feeding therapy that I absolutely love I've gotten training through. And it's called the SOS approach to feeding. And SOS stands for sequential oral sensory. And it is developed by this psychologist named Dr. Kay Toomey, who's just brilliant. And they have a feeding clinic. And I believe it's Centennial, Colorado, and it's called the start Institute for sensory processing. And it's an incredible feeding therapy clinic, but they trained therapists all across the world on their method to feed picky eating, and teach therapists how to recognize the difference between a picky eater and a problem feeder and how to walk through all these different steps to eating to help children grow comfortable, gain confidence, and learn to like new foods definitely takes time and integrates all these different approaches that they teach you. And I have used it very successfully with my clients have taught families how to implement this. And I fully recommend trying to find a feeding therapist who also has this kind of credential to help you go further, because for autism, like I said, a lot of this is rooted in some sensory processing difficulties. It's not something that is just going to cure itself with hunger. And so a lot of the typical picky eating suggestions that come from pediatricians are not a good recommendation for kids with autism. So having a feeding therapist who understands the sensory processing side who's familiar with autism, and the steps that are successful, is going to be a game-changer. And so the SOS approach to feeding website does have a therapist finder, and you can go in and type in your zip code and find a feeding therapist and put your name likely on a waitlist, because that's how the autism world goes. So many waitlist and I could talk about that forever. And I don't need to tell you all this, but you know, to see if a therapist you ask your current therapist about it, they're likely going to be an occupational therapist or speech pathologist as well. Like I said, I do teach my clients about implementing these specific approaches. But for kids who are very, very selective, I absolutely recommend working one on one with a speech therapist or occupational therapist who uses this type of feeding therapy.
So an important reason for us are an important thing for us to consider for kids who are extremely picky eaters are just the problem feeders. Like I said, we're just picky eaters in general, is that this selective eating over months and years can cause higher risk for nutrient deficiency, gi issues, gut issues, and other health concerns if it's not addressed. So this is definitely something that we want to address as soon as possible and start implementing strategies to help them get the nutrients they need. Sometimes this means in the very beginning, finding the right supplements to fill in the gaps of what they're missing as we're working on expanding their diet. That's what I do with a lot of the families in my group program called the nourishing autism method. And if you want more information about that, you can find that on my website, AutismDietitian.com.
So some other symptoms that you can see, like I mentioned some gut issues. The most common symptom that I see of picky eating is chronic constipation. And I've worked with families who have struggled with this for years with no relief. And the only suggestion is to use miracle x. And unfortunately, mural x doesn't fix the root problem, it just covers up the issue and causes us to have runny stool or be able to pass that, and sometimes that's the only option that families are given. But the great news is, is that diet change can help with that can prevent and treat constipation. And I help families do this all the time. In fact, I've had families who have been on Miralax for years and years with a very extremely picky eater, get off me relax and be able to maintain healthy bowel movements without having to rely on a laxative and I want that for you too. And so again, we have another episode all about gut issues, constipation, and what to do next. And so absolutely, stay tuned and subscribe to this podcast so you can be alerted when those episodes come out. So if any of this sounds like your child, please subscribe. Stay tuned on more steps for picky eating and autism. These hidden reasons why they might be picky eater next step And if you want a resource now definitely check out my membership called the Autism Nutrition Library which can guide you on the next steps from here and help you take those steps today tomorrow. And until then, I'm just grateful that you've joined me for today's episode, and can't wait to help you dig deeper into picky eating and next steps that we can help your child feel their best. Thanks for joining me as we take the guesswork out of a nursing office in this week. I look forward to seeing you next week.
This podcast is brought to you by the Autism Nutrition Library, a one-stop hub and community for all things autism nutrition created to help you explore evidence-based nutrition approaches that have proved to be effective to help individuals with autism feel their best, do their best, and be their best.
Join now by clicking Autism Nutrition Library or by stopping by my Instagram @AutismDietitian. See you next week.
Transcribed by Descript
ABOUT Brittyn Coleman, MS, RDN/LD, CLT
I’m a Registered Dietitian, Autism Nutrition Expert, and the Creator of the Autism Nutrition Library.
I work with parents of children with autism to optimize their child’s diet, supplements, and lifestyle based on their unique needs. I help expand accepted foods for picky eaters, improve digestion and gut health, find the root causes of many symptoms, and ultimately help them feel their best so that they can do their best and be their best.
Not only do I relate to families on a professional level, but also on a personal level. I have been a part of the autism community for over 20 years, as my younger brother was diagnosed on the spectrum at a young age.
I look forward to working with you to uncover the root cause of your child’s symptoms and help your child be the best version of themselves!
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] 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.
[3] Zimmer, M.H., et al., Food variety as a predictor of nutritional status among children with autism. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 2012. 42(4): p. 549-56.
[4] 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.
