Concern About Son Not Eating Much

First, vitamins.

Second, federal funds are available for families.

Third,have several specialists (OT-occupational thereapit, PT-physical therapist, LSP-language speech pathologist,and child phsychologist) working cooperatively. Easter Seals, public schools, and the county health department are all possible avenues to help you find the child's team.

I cannot over-emphasize the importance of early intervention.

K. all these foods that are being suggested are not good for autism. Yo need to put im on a gluten free/ casein free diet. My cousin has a daughter with autism. She cound't speak but a few words either. Once she put her on this diet she felt so good she is now talking a bunch. You can go to TACA.COM and they have a whole section to help you to learn how to do the diet. It is hard at first, He will refuse to eat and you get scared for a few days but then he will open up and eat almost anything you give him. This diet makes them feel good so they like to eat again. He is self limiting right now becasue he doesnt feel good. Good luck.

K.,

I just replied to your other request too. My son is 5, autism, and very self-limiting with foods. At this point he eats fewer than 12 different foods and things he will eat are brand specific (he will eat Velveta Shells and Cheese but no other kind of mac n cheese, etc...) You need an Occupational Therapist who specializes in sensory issues in young children who has a background in feeding issues. If they have experience with autism, that would be helpful too. There are different types of OTs so make sure you ask about their specialties. Where are you? I'm in Las Vegas, Nv. If you live here too, I can direct you to all kinds of resources.

We are doing Occupational Therapy and our therapist has been working with my son for about 6 months. She established a good relationship with him, worked on sensory issues first and she's recently started on the eating stuff (she said eating stuff requires a lot of trust so the therapist needs a good relationship with the child to be successful). I'm optimistic that we will hit upon something that helps. My son is on what she calls the "bland and white" diet. He'll eat mac n cheese, chicken nuggets, fries, french toast, apples, grapes, wheat thins, water, milk and pepsi (and of course he'll eat cookies, candy, donuts, ice cream and cake but I tend to not let him have those things - we seriously limit artificial colors, flavors and preservatives because he's very hyperactive and those things make it worse). And that is pretty much it as far as food choices. In my experience, the food limiting thing tends to get worse, not better. If I would have known 3 years ago what I know now, I would have started OT many years ago.

Keep in mind that you'll be getting tons of advice on all sorts of diets, therapies, etc... It is really important to do your research and then try things you are comfortable with and work your way down the list. You can't do everything, nothing works for every child, and so on..... Don't beat yourself up for what you don't (or didn't know) just move on if you try something and it doesn't work. All you can do is the best you can do with the info you have. You can drive yourself nuts researching and trying different stuff. One day at a time... One therapy or diet at a time... One protocol at a time...

The things that are PROVEN to work are therapies: ABA, floortime, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, etc... So start there and then branch out into other areas.

T.

At this age all children are picky eaters. I have a 2 year old daughter who likes Mac and Cheese or french fries only most of the time. If it persists for more than 6 months then it is not a phase, told to me by my pediatrician. She bounces around with what foods she wants and none of them are the good for you ones. Pediasure helps with the weight and she thinks it is a milkshake. Keep trying and you will find something that he likes.

Good luck :)

Dear K.,

This website may be of help to to: http://www.autismteachingtools.com/

It has a section on helping with food issues.
Click on behavior issues on the right, than on food intolerance.

I hope this may help you a little. My prayers are with you as you start a long journey. Make sure that the diagnosis is correct though, food allergies sometimes can cause reactions that imitate autism. Perhaps having allergy tests done might reveal a problem that would help with the issue. Someone I know has a 7 year old son who was actually placed in special education and now found to have wheat and some other allergies...he has made amazing progress since in on the correct diet.

HI K.,
is your son receiving any early intervention services? I would highly recommend it---there are free services thru your local Regional Center. I would especially recommending seeking speech therapy and occupational therapy. I am an occupational therapist, and we work with feeding issues.
if you have any other questions, need assistance finding your local regional cneter, please feel free to contact me.
sincerely,
E.

I think it would serve you better to find some chat groups and support services that are specifically parents of kids with autism. My nephew is autistic, so my experience is second hand, but please google and find some help right away. You need to establish some therapy for your boy through early intervention services. Get as much as they will give to you that you feel you can fit into your life. The therapists often come to your home and work with the families on all sorts of issues from feeding, gross motor skills, OT, speech therapy, etc. It will become your full time job to manage his therapy and development, but a wide range of services are available to you with his diagnosis. Pleas contact early intervention services and find out what you are eligible to receive and work through the paperwork right away. Your son needs to start going down the path to recovery, and you are in the drivers seat.

Good luck to you.

Hi K.,

Please check out the information on the www.talkaboutcuringautism.com website and read the following books as soon as possible:

Changing the Course of Autism by Dr. Bryan Jepson
Healing the New Childhood Epidemics by Dr. Kenneth Bock
Special Diets for Special Kids by Lisa Lewis, PhD

Following the GFCF diet and eating healthy, wholesome, close to the ground food (i.e., foods that are not overly processed, have not been given hormones and do not have preservatives) is imperative for most children on the autism spectrum. Heck, it's good for everyone buy especially so for children on the autism spectrum.

Also, seriously consider retaining a DAN doctor to help treat your child if you can afford it. Most DAN doctors do not accept insurance but they can prepare a "super bill" for you which you can submit to your insurance company and try to get reimbursed that way. We finally started seeing a DAN doctor for our son last February and it has, hands down, been the best money that we have ever spent. Where ABA, speech and occupational therapy have helped to engage, shape and mold his behavior, following the biomedical protocol prescribed by our DAN doctor and doing the GFCF diet have allowed us to see more and more of our son without his ASD symptoms. I wish that I had done this 4 years ago when my son was first diagnosed -- it would have saved us a lot of time and frustration if we had.

After all that, here's a behavioral technique that I have used with my son for a couple years now that has gotten him to be more experimental with what he eats:

STEP 1: Put a little bit of the food on a spoon or fork and tell your son to "kiss it";

STEP 2: Next, tell him to lick it (touching it with his tongue is fine);

STEP 3: Next, tell him to take a small bite or taste of it. If he rejects it after this, I let him off the hook until the next time we are having the food for dinner. About 50% of the time, my son will declare the food "delicious" at this point and gooble it all up even though he had declared it "yucky" after Steps 1 and 2.

Good luck and take care. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail.

How about making him some smoothies? Kids always seem to like these.

Or, some parents of "finicky" eaters, give their child "Pediasure" or "Carnation Instant Breakfast" drinks. These have added vitamins/protein/calories and are nutritious and can help a child gain weight. I have given my children these as well, when they go through "picky eating" phases.

ALso try giving him calorie dense foods... what he is eating is fine... but try and increase the frequency that he eats... giving him more snacks etc. For my kids, if there is "too much" on their plate they are less likely to eat...because the portion size is too much. So I serve them on smaller plates and smaller portions, then they can finish their meal better.

BUT, it is also at this age in which children get pickier anyway... so it could just be his age as well. Toddlers and 2 year olds are this way.

You could ask your Doctor about giving him vitamins...

All the best,
Susan

My daughter's father is on the spectrum as are his twin boys and likely my girl. He tends to eat like what you described unless offered something in an aesthetically pleasing way. Make a puzzle of the plate.

My daughter would eat carbs until she dropped if I let her. I have found that rice & beans are a favorite. But you also might want to get some probiotics to mix into juice or milk. Her dad was reading up on the connection between autism spectrum and gut imbalances. He drinks kombucha a lot these days. Nothing in excess is great for you, but give kefir a try in the am and see if that switches up what your son wants later in the day. I know my daughter is more likely to eat chicken and frozen peas w/ rice on a day where she had a yogurt drink for breakfast.

good luck!

Hi K.,

I have a son with autism also.........He has always been very thin and a picky eater as well, although now he will try more things.

One of the things I do everyday, is make him a milkshake with raw whole milk, frozen organic strawberries and some ice cream. It is the only way I can get fruit into his diet.

Have you been able to find other parents in your area for support?

Best wishes!

My daughter was a really small eater and still is. It worried me a lot so I can relate to what you are going through. For my daughter I gave her pediasures, avocados and anything that had high calories and are packed with nutrition. Also, if you can remember that it may seem like he is not getting enough to you but it might just be what he needs for the time being. Kids can go through periods of good eating and not so good eating. I hope he is just going through a phase. Good luck!

Dea K., I think this website may be helpful to you http://www.generationrescue.org/. And perhaps start seeing a DAN(Defeat Autism Now) physician. Does autism run in your family? and or do you think vaccines prompted your son's autism? I wish you all the best of luck. K. Mendenhall

Hi: You might want to consult with an NAET certified practitioner as I believe they have had success in treating and/or curing autism. NAET is the acronym for Nambidripad Allergy Elimination Techniques, and Dr. Nambudripad has published a book entitled "Say Good-bye to Allergy Related Autism." I (and 2 of my grandchildren) go to Dr. David Karaba in Fullerton and have had great success in eliminating allergies.

Best wishes
M.

My son was developing fine eating everything in sight. At 3 he was diagnosed with autism. Anything that he has not tried prior to age 3 he will not try without force.

His favorites are chicken, fish, pizza, fries, hot dogs. What I have found is that he displays a lot of signs of sensory integration dysfunction so he leans towards crunchy, salty, sweet, the extremes. Soft, cold, wet are not his preferences. At this time the only vegetables he eats are peas, corn cob; fruits are apples, grapes.

His weight gain began after removal of Concerta from his program. He is now overweight by about 25 lbs. He does not like team sports. He began to lose weight from walking to the bus stop for school this January to June. But of course now the problem is school is out.

I would say try to find out what he likes about the foods he leans towards and then try to find similar foods. I also just try to cook the "unhealthy" foods in the best way - baked fries, whole wheat bread, egg whites? low sugar jelly/low fat peanut butter. Also make sure to give him a multi vitamin.

One thing I envy about my son is that this dietary limitation has carried over into drinks. His primary staple is water. He has not had milk in easily over 5 years (his choice). I suspect that he is lactose intolerant slightly. He will also drink Gatorade, kool aid in moderation, capri sun, and hi c orange. Refuses soda.

So try to emphasize the positives. Also, always offer the items. One day he may surprise you. They get less picky the hungrier they are. He also tried foods when he visited other people's homes and I was no where around.

Hi K., Being a picky eater is characteristic for most kids, the peanut butter and jelly is cool, all kids eat those, eggs are not bad at this age, that's what i was told when that was all my son would eat for btrakfast when he was little. Try putting out a variety of finger foods for him, sliced apples, chiken nuggets, crackers, things like that, don't sit him down with him, just make them available for him, and he just may eat them on his own. I will pry for your son. I believe he will be fine, most parents go through eating issues with their kids, my 19 year old daughter is still pick about some foods. J. L.

Picky eating is common w/ autism. Sometimes its a texture thing, sometimes is taste, other times a whim that turns to obsession. At that age I indulged my daughters choices. Does your son drink milk? If weight loss is a big problem, pediasure helps. You can sneak a lot of foods into "milkshakes". Try to reward healthy choices and new textures, but don't force it. My daughter would often throw a fit about a specific new food, but if I ignored her and walked away she'd eat it anyway.

I do have a friend with a son with Autism and she had great success with nutritious food herbs. If you would like to learn more, please let me know.

God Bless!
J.
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Be creative when you serve the food. Make it colorful and
fun.
let him cut the bread with your assistance & spread the jelly .

Eat outdoor at the park . join mommmy & me classes. go to the bookstore and there's a lot of actvities & suggestions for kids to do