Food obsession and autism are closely linked due to the sensory sensitivities, need for routine, and focused interests of most kids with autism. However, this is often overlooked and untreated, leading to challenging mealtimes and added stress for caregivers.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a condition that affects how the brain develops. It can cause challenges with communication, social interactions, and behavior, often including repetitive actions or very specific interests (1).
Kids with ASD often have nutritional deficiencies because many stick to a limited diet due to food preferences or fear of trying new foods. As a result, they are 2-3 times more likely to be obese compared to children without autism (1).
The strong connection between autism and food challenges is a key element to improving the quality of life for kiddos with ASD. Food obsession is just one example of how autism can influence eating habits.
In this blog post, we’ll explore why kids with ASD may experience food obsessions, what this behavior looks like, and practical tips to manage food obsession and promote healthy eating.
Understanding Food Obsession in Autism
Food obsession is when someone becomes overly focused on certain foods or food-related thoughts and behaviors.
This can show up in different ways such as:
- Obsessing over a specific food or drink
- Rigid eating patterns
- Wanting the same foods all the time
- Preferring certain textures or smells
- Overeating or binge eating
- Ignoring feelings of hunger or fullness
These habits can lead to nutritional deficienes, weight issues, or digestive problems like constipation, stomach aches, or diarrhea (1).
While the connection between food obsession and autism is still being explored, there are some theories that may help explain this relationship.
The Root Cause of Food Obsession in Autism
Food obsession within ASD often goes beyond simple preferences—it’s rooted in a combination of sensory processing issues, anxiety, and difficulties with self-regulation.
Here’s a closer look at some of the key factors behind this behavior:
- Using food to meet sensory needs: Many kids with autism use food to satisfy sensory needs, like seeking certain textures, tastes, or smells that feel comforting or stimulating. This can create a strong preference for specific foods that meet these needs.
- Underlying anxiety: The desire for sameness in their food choices may stem from a need to control their environment. This sense of control helps reduce anxiety, especially when other aspects of their day feel unpredictable or overwhelming.
- Inability to regulate hunger and fullness cues: Kids with autism may have trouble with self-regulation, which includes recognizing hunger and fullness cues. This can lead to over and under eating or irregular eating patterns.
- Decreased sense of taste or smell: A reduced ability to taste or smell food can cause certain foods to become more appealing, while others may seem unappealing or even intolerable. This can result in a limited range of foods.
These challenges can make it hard to eat at restaurants, travel, and meal planning for your child with autism, as the need for food predictability and control often takes priority.
Tips from a Pediatric Dietitian
Managing food obsessions can look differently for every kid with autism. Plus, developing effective strategies takes time and consistency. However, these tips are practical and effective places to start!
1. Create a “Safe” Food List
Start by making a list of foods that your child typically accepts and enjoys. If they’re old enough, involve them in the process! This list helps you plan meals confidently and always include a “safe” or “preferred” food at each meal.
2. Evaluate Sensory Needs Before Meals
Kids with autism sometimes use food to meet their sensory needs, which can lead to food obsession or refusal. Before mealtime, check if your child is over or under stimulated.
If they’re under-stimulated, offer something else like a fidget toy or a physical activity before sitting down to eat. If they’re over-stimulated, give them a break with calming activities like reading, quiet time, or even offering ear plugs at the dinner table.
3. Create Alternative Sensory Experiences
If food obsession seems to be driven by oral sensory needs, providing alternative sensory stimulation is helpful! Try offering something different after meals, like chewing gum, sipping sparkling water, or using an oral sensory toy. This gives them a chance to fulfill their sensory needs without always turning to food.
4. Offer Choices Within Boundaries
Setting boundaries is key. Kids with autism may struggle with recognizing hunger and fullness, so creating structure around food is helpful.
Setting boundaries could look like:
- Offering 1-2 snack options, rather than letting them roam the pantry
- Have a “boring alternative” to each meal and not catering to their specific requests (a “boring alternative” is a meal that isn’t necessarily enticing, but acts as a safety back up for your kid. The best examples of this are things you dont have to cook like yogurt and fruit, apples and peanut butter, etc)
- Firmly stating “We are done with food for now. Snack time is in 2 hours ” and have an alternative activity that assists with sensory stimulation
5. Create a Structured Mealtime Routine
Having a consistent meal and snack schedule helps your child know what to expect and when. It takes the guesswork out of food and creates structure, so your child isn’t constantly wondering when the next meal or snack is coming.
6. Make Smaller Changes to Food Than You Think
Making small changes to your kid’s favorite foods is one of the best ways to increase their diet variety! However, kids with ASD can have especially strong connections to foods, so the changes need to be minimal at first.
Changes can include:
- Serving the food in a different plate/bowl/serving dish
- Serving it at a slightly different temperature
- Serving it at a different time of the day
These small changes should eventually allow for larger changes such as:
- Changing the brand
- Cutting the food into different shapes
- Serving different flavors
- Homemade versions of the food
Plus, these tactics also help prevent new food obession or picky eating from occuring or progressing.
7. Address Nutritional Gaps Strategically
Focusing on every aspect of nutrition at once can feel overwhelming. A pediatric dietitian can help identify key nutritional goals and focus on the most important ones based on your child’s current eating habits.
This way, you can create a manageable list of top priorities, whether that includes adding a protein drink, fiber supplement, or multivitamin to fill in nutritional gaps.
If protein is a top priority for your kiddo, download by “Protein Guide for Picky Eaters” here!
When to Seek Help
It’s important to have a good team of doctors and specialists who support your child. If you ever feel unsure or overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion. You should feel confident and supported by your healthcare team.
If you can relate to any of the following things, it might be time to speak to a pediatric dietitian:
- Accepted food list is shrinking rapidly
- Your travel and daily schedule revolve around your kid’s diet and food options
- Drastic weight changes (or growth chart drop offs)
- Brittle hair, skin, or nails
- Consistent GI issues
Progress takes time, so be kind with yourself as you work through changes with your child’s eating habits. Every child is unique, so it’s important to adjust strategies to fit their specific needs.
If you’d like more personalized support, to schedule a free phone consulation for us to get a game plan for your family!
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