In preschool, Cole
and his classmates were introduced to the story of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr.
Seuss. They were excited when their teacher actually cooked up ham and fried
eggs with green food coloring. Inspired by the story, all the children took a
bite to discover whether they, too, liked green eggs and ham-all, that is,
except for Cole. Cole's sensory processing issues made it extra hard for him
to tolerate any new food, so while he understood the point of the story, he
wasn't going anywhere near that "icky stuff."
We all know kids need
to eat a variety of healthy foods, but picky eaters often need more exposure
to a "new" food than other kids do before they will take a bite. For
children with sensory processing disorder and/or autism, who experience the
world as a confusing and inconsistent place, where unpleasant and disorienting
sensations can bombard them at any time, familiarity is very comforting. It
may take much time and repetition to get a picky eater with sensory issues to
try a new food. To avoid wasting food as you are working on getting your child
to try something new, serve him a tiny portion, perhaps even one small bite or
spoonful, on his plate. Work toward having him tolerate the unfamiliar food on
his plate without fussing.
You may have to start by serving him the food on a
separate plate, then later, serve it on his plate but make sure it's not
touching any other foods. The next step is to insist that he touch it with his
finger, then pick it up and touch it to his tongue. After that, the goal should
be to have him place it in his mouth and chew it. Allow him to spit it out in
a napkin if he finds it very distressing and intolerable. In this way, you can
slowly but surely expand his food choices. Choose one healthy food to try to
work into your picky eater's diet. Make it one that is somewhat similar to a
food she already will eat. If she will eat peas, try corn kernels, which are
similar in size and texture.
Often it's the "feel" of the food that
matters most to a child with sensory issues. Recipes for toddlers and children
that sneak vegetables into sauces may work if there are no lumps or bumps in
the sauce, but your child's sense of taste may be so exquisite that she
notices something's different about her pizza today. If your picky eater with
sensory issues resists mixed textures, which is a common problem, work on
introducing simple foods without condiments and that have simple textures. A
slice of tomato that has been deseeded, a piece of roast chicken with the skin
removed, or a hardboiled egg yolk or egg white separated from the rest of the
egg offer simple textures.
Some parents find some success in getting their
child with sensory issues to tolerate two different textures or temperatures
by serving a sugary treat such as ice cream with broken cookies mixed into it
or hot fudge drizzled over the top. But don't be surprised if her sensory
issues cause her to place her need for familiar foods with simple textures
over any desire for something sweet! You may actually be better off working on
getting her to eat plain celery sticks or cucumbers slices with the seeds and
skins removed. What's more, simple, healthy foods are easy to prepare and keep
on hand to be introduced again and again. If the child has a favorite junk
food, such as French fries or corn chips, introduce healthier versions of
these foods and healthier foods that are similar in texture and shape. Steamed
red potatoes with the skins removed have a texture similar to that of French
fries, for instance, while crunchy foods such as carrots or snap peas give
sensory input similar to that of chips.
Serve raw vegetables and fruits as
snacks and appetizers before meals if it is difficult to get her to eat her
broccoli rather than just her macaroni and cheese. Encourage your child to
find favorite fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods and serve them to her
often. Keep in mind that children who severely limit their food choices,
particularly if they self-limit to foods containing gluten (an ingredient in
foods derived from wheat and some other grains) and casein (a protein found in
milk and milk-based products), may have a food intolerance or celiac disease.
In fact, these children often have digestive or skin problems as a result of
their food intolerances, and crave the very foods their bodies can't tolerate
well. If you suspect this is the case, consult with a nutritionist who is
knowledgeable about sensory issues and eating difficulties in children. In
extreme cases, a feeding clinic program can help. copyright (c) 2012 Nancy
Peske The information contained here is provided as a public service.
It is
for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as
personal medical advice. Although every effort is made to ensure that this
material is accurate and up-to-date, it is provided for the convenience of the
user and should not be considered definitive.
