How do you know if your autistic child is playing you or it is part of his disibility?

Question

My 4 year old son wont eat dinner most of the time. He will eat certain things and not others. I dont think it is healthy to eat grilled cheese or ham every night and he barely gets any vegetables. He wont eat at all if it is not certain foods. He tries the new foods but after chewing it for a few seconds he then spits it out. He is constatnly getting into the fridge to get cheese and eat that or get into cookies on the counter. We have to hide the cheese and cookies so he doesnt gorge. Some people say he is playing us to get what he wants but I dont cook the same thing every night and he tries it. I dont believe in making people eat things they dont like but I need my child to eat healthy. I alos have noticed he wont eat anything really tough or chewy. He has low muscle tone in his jaw and other areas. I am not sure what to do.

Answer 1

I agree with the previous posts. It seems a very positive thing that he is willing to explore the other foods, and hopefully he'll move into actually eating the foods he apparently doesn't mind the taste of.

You may want to also try adding vegetable juices (like V8 or V8 splash) as part of what he drinks, just to supplement his diet.

My nephew was similar - he was extremely picky with certain textures and he had a very narrow range of acceptable foods. After a lot of encouragement and experimentation, my brother and his wife eventually got him to eat a lot of different things. They also would have done the "no grilled cheese until you eat every pea on your plate" tough-love approach. Mind you my nephew didn't like it one bit, but eventually it paid off.

Answer 2

I was told that in most cases it is their sensory intergration problems that cause such eating problems but they are smart enough to use that when they want to sometimes too so you really have to just watch him and see what is going on.  Does he gag on the foods or anything?  My son can eat mash potatoes but he won't eat any other potato he just gags.  He will try foods but if he gags then that is it he won't try it again.  He too went through a phase of only eating one or two things but finally got use to more things with time. I would talk to his councler if he is seeing one and see if they think he is using it as an excuse of if there is a real problem why he isn't eating the other stuff.  

Answer 3

My answer is;

That's tough, and the answer isn't a easy road. You need to Change the Food you have in your home. And stick to it. (Thank you Doc. Phil!)

It will be hard, there will be crying (you can do it) but if it isn't there he won't get it. Ham and Cheese do have there places and are healthy. You just need Fresh Fruit and Veggies.

And thought, He might have a fear of biting his tounge or the inside of his mouth?

I'm not a Doc. I just have a son who as "fear" issue's.

Answer 4

It sounds like a sensory thing to me. My son only has PDD-NOS and he was so picky at that age too. He used to literally gagg if I made him try a bite..

I would assume that your son has a therapy team if he has been diagnosed as having autism. I would check and see if they have any suggestions for you, or if it is something that can be addressed in his therapy sessions

Answer 5

I don't know much (or just about anything about autism) but he's doing the exact same things that my daughter did when she was about 2 1/2 - 3 1/2. Working it until it can't be worked any more. Just like any child - autistic or not - if he gets hungry he'll eat what he's given. If you know he has poor muscle tone then make sure all his options are easily masticated and then if he doesn't eat then let him not eat. Kids will eat when they are hungry and will have a fit about what they are being offered when they are not. As long as he's not losing weight I wouldn't worry about it. Make sure he's drinking his milk and getting a little something along the way and he'll be fine.

Answer 6

I can across your question looking more info myself. I have 2 kids on the spectrum (3,7 yrs).

The chewing part is sensory. Trying to get them to eat is more of a goal than trying to get them to eat healthy.(one goal at a time with food)  Both of my kids have sid(sensory disorder). My oldest is old enough to eat vegs but understands she'll get a reward for it but gags eating vegs.

My youngest is really bad about food. He wants crackers with every meal, he'll go crazy for hours and hours say cracker over and over.Also hot dogs.  He will eat saltly, carbs (cracker, bread), some fruit and only processed meat (hot dogs, deli meat etc).

He used to crave cheese by the package not joking. He just out grew it but took a year.

Don't give up. It's probably a faze. They go through different food fazes. Try a every day kid vitamin. They have liquid form or Flintstones, gummy etc.

I would try easy crewing foods ex chicken nuggets, hot dogs, my kids like deli chicken cooked already(cut them up small).  My kids can't chew steak etc bec. sensory

Fruit try; apple sauce not cinnamon, bananas,mango, oranges sliced or go the opposite sliced apple soft peaches. Make sure it's sliced small remove peeling.

         A lot of people with autism even adults will only eat certain foods. Yes it's mostly likely sensory but others it's a schedule thing. Some have to have the same breakfast every morning and at the exact minute/time(my oldest out grew this last year )

                As far as it goes for him playing you.... these people probably never had to raise or be around another family member with autism. They probably will never understand what it is like for these kids and parents... simple things from eating certain foods, to public out burst, from not talking like everyone else,or just being different or  not understanding certain social situations. People just don't understand autism.

   Look for an OT for help. I know they have foods/ eating  classes.  

Answer 7

Most children with autism have a problem with texture. I would try soups with him. Most soups are pretty healthy.  you said he won't eat veg, but can you get him to eat fruit? Just keep introducing the foods you want him to eat and give him vitamins in the mean time.  

Answer 8

Idon't have an autistic child but i believe there a cook books out there that tell you how to hide veggis in some foods that kids like and i'm not talking about just burying the corn in the mashed potatoes. Also why not just get a toddler lock for the fridge?