Picky Eaters & Special Diets: Tips to Get Your Kid to Eat a Healthy, Balanced Diet

Recent studies show that children with autism are at a particularly high risk for poor nutrition because their diets tend to lack variety. For example, they had a tendency to be deficient in essential fatty acids and researchers suggest that increasing foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids in the diets of autistic children may be beneficial.

It can be tough to try to increase the variety in an autistic child's diet because many children tend to be picky eaters and/or have sensory issues, and some children are on specialized diets that limit food choices. Here are a few solutions if you are worried about your child's nutrition. (For serious concerns you should consult with your pediatrician.)

For picky eaters, there are special cookbooks with recipes "sneak" nutrition and variety into your child's favorite dishes:

• Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Getting Your Kids Eating Good Food
  
  
• The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals
  
  
• Better Homes and Gardens' Kids Favorites Made Healthy

For kids with sensory issues, there are are feeding therapy programs at Our Children's House at Baylor (locations throughout DFW), Integrative Pediatric Therapy (Dallas & Plano), and Pediatric Therapy and Activity Center (Corinth).

The Callier Center offers two Feeding Disorders classes for children ages 2-5: "Food and Fun" at their Richardson location on Thursdays, and "S.T.E.P.S. (Supportive Treatment of Eating in Preschoolers).

Additionally, Our Children's House locations in Allen and in Waxahachie have weekly group meetings for children with food issues:

• Our Children's House at Allen holds a "Food Frenzy" class for children ages 3 and up every Wednesday to help them with tactile issues with food. Participants must obtain an occupational therapy evaluation prior to attending class.
• Our Children's House at Waxahachie holds its "Behavioral and Sensory Feeding Group" class on Wednesdays for children who have behavioral and sensory aversion to food.

If your child is on a Gluten-Free Casein Free diet, there are special cookbooks such as The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet or Special Diets for Special Kids. There are also email groups such as the GFCFKids yahoo group and many message boards on the internet.*


Finally, there are nutritional supplements. My son likes his gummy bear multi-vitamins and Nordic Naturals brand DHA (Omega-3 fatty acids) supplements. Check out this short but informative article, "Does Your Child Need Nutritional Supplements?" from the American Academy of Pediatrics.



*Note regarding the GFCF diet: I am not recommending the GFCF diet, just offering resources for those whose children are on special diets or are considering them. I personally have not tried any special diets with my son because he is already so picky. Many in the medical community are skeptical about the treatment of autism with special diets and are concerned that limiting the diets of children who are already notoriously picky eaters will lead to inadequate nutrition. Still, there are many parents who claim to have seen improvement in their children because of the GFCF diet (Jenny McCarthy is a strong proponent). So if you are considering a special diet: talk to your doctor, talk to other parents, and good luck!