Anyone else have food issues? My son won't eat most foods.

Angela - posted on 04/30/2013

I have a 13 year old son who is autistic and has ADD/ADHD. He will only eat certain foods (i.e. pizza (mainly pizza hut - sausage or pepperoni), chicken (fried and hot wings), hot dogs, bread, grits, and occasionally oatmeal). For snacks, he will eat cheez its, oatmeal cream pies and couple brands of cookies. I have to bribe him to eat vegetables, but it does always work without a fight. He doesn’t like yellow foods. He loves juices (concerned about the sugar). Recently, I have been able to get him to drink bottled water more. I discussed his lack of food choices with his pediatrician and was told as long as he is eating and is healthy, don’t worry too much. My concern is that his food choices may be affecting his behavior. Anyone with thoughts on food triggering behavior problems [tantrums]. Also, he loves girls and I am having a problem with taking him to public places, school dances and a girl catches his eye and getting him to not run up to her (in her personal space). I have been trying to take him places to work on his social skills and now I am limited to where I can take him. Any help/suggestions about maintaining personal space when in a public place. Same to be said for his infatuation with cars. If I turn my back he may open every hotwheel/match box car in the store.

Cindy - posted on 10/30/2009

My son is 10 and has been having food issues since he was 4. At this point he lives on pizza, morning, noon, and night. And it is not just any cheese pizza - currently Tombstone cheese pizza. He eats this for about a month, then you can tell he is tired of it and then he will flip to a different kind of cheese pizza. He has been diagmosed with sensory integration disorder. Just recently he has tried a few new foods. It is a tough road. If we go anywhere I have to worry about what can he eat or if I can take pizza along.

Kelly - posted on 10/29/2009

Hi, It is so wonderful to hear that so many other people have the same problems as I do with food. Our speech therapist has been helping us introduce new foods to one of my children with some success. However, I find if I don't keep offering the foods he has consents to eat on a regular basis, he goes back to not liking those food. I am encouraged by the Amy's comment that 97% grow out of it. I hope that's true for PPD-NOS and AHDH with traits.

Amy - posted on 10/28/2009

I actually took my 8 y.o. to an eating disorder center. Their advice worked for about a week each time. Bottom line was that he was healthy. We decided to just stop battling & leave him alone. I make sure a few meals each week contain things he likes, the other nights his choices are to try it or go hungry. I've read that something like 97% of Aspie kids will outgrow this by adulthood so I'm choosing not to completely gray my hair over his eating. Our laid back approach seems to be helping. He is asking to try some of the things we eat. The biggest problem is that he influences his little brother.

Chantelle - posted on 10/28/2009

I did give the gfcf diet a go last year for about 4 mths but noticed nothing. I have to be careful what I eliminate from his diet because he can and will literally starve himself to the point where he has to be hospitalised. He has started a multivitamin and will start v8 juice tomorrow - fingers crossed he will drink it.

Heidi - posted on 10/27/2009

I have an 11 year old son that is very very particular with his food. He doesnt try new things, and smells everything. I was concerned with the lack of vitamins and minerals in his diet. What works for me, since he wont try new things, I sneak in things into food that he already likes...For example I grind up some veggies very very fine and add to a hamburger. He never noticed. I also add fiber to his food every day.

Denise - posted on 10/26/2009

i also have that problem with my 6 yrs old. i tried forcing him to eat foods he dosen't want and he refuse to the fullest! so instead of him no eating, i jus give him what he want to eat, of course if its good for him. cause he luvs sweets! my way of tricking him, i tell him is if he wants something sweet like his favorite, ice cream he has to eat real food first. n he eats wit no problem! but for his lil treat i would get fat free or sugar free stuff n top it wit fat n sugar free caramel. he thinks it's sweet but its really not.

Karen - posted on 10/26/2009

maybe his body is telling him he can't process yeast or carbs?'

anyway, you should figure out what happenes with each food he eats. .

Karen - posted on 10/26/2009

Cany Marshall hit a good topic that deserves more research. Write a diary of foods requested, eaten and refusing. Add the vitamins. Must have nutrition. After 3 weeks of diary - look for common things. What do you see? >>> My daughter ate specific foods for months at a time. Encourage new foods after 21 days. Seemed like a magic number in our house.



Today, my daughter eats toooooo much. Last 6 years she put on 33 pounds, just don't over do anything. Moderation, over time .. remember: "A solution today can be tomorrows problem. Pick carefully" [my quote].

Candy - posted on 10/26/2009

you should consider the gfcf diet. the book children with starving brains explains that these children crave certain food becuase it turns into an opiate like substance there for putting them in a fog because they are basically high the food is the drug. my son has only been on the diet for a couple of weeks and i am already seeing more eye contact and even a few short sentances. it has to be 100% on the diet to work and a little known fact... playdo and stickers are a no no they both contain flour...

Patti - posted on 10/23/2009

Have any of you ever looked at the Autism Research Institute's website? I found out my son had a ton of food allergies, and he was quite literally addicted to the foods he was sensitive to. I took him off of the things he was allergic to, and he immediately began to improve; within a week he was babbling, a month later he said his first words! He also stopped his self injurious behavior, stopped stimming so much, and potty trained! He still has autism, but he enjoys life A LOT more! (oh, and I'm happier, too!!!)

Vanessa - posted on 10/23/2009

Quoting sharron:

my son is almost 3 and was just recently diagnosed with asd and won't tolerate anything that is lumpy given the chance he'd eat yogurt all day everyday. I'm still having to blend his food he never did the hand to mouth action even when he was teething, yet recent blood tests say he's as healthy as an ox lol. I just want to get him to try other food and i'm absolutely at a loss as at what to do next can anyone help
???

   my boy will be 4 soon and I deal with very similar issues.  I ended up buying one of those magic bullet blenders and I'll puree all kinds of stuff.  it's a great way to sneak in veggies and fruit.  I'll mix carrots with mac and cheese or like mashed potatoes with ham, cheese and green beans, also I'll puree  cereals and mix them with fruit and yogurt.  get creative

I also go to a feeding clinic in hershey pennsylvania to dr keith williams.  Since we started going there my son has started to feed himself with utensils, suck on oreos, and he'll feed me dry cereal.  He really likes to feed me.  That took forever to get him to touch food with his hands without a total melt down

Eleanor - posted on 10/22/2009

When y son had his follow-up this year for Autism assessment - he's 8 and also a picky eater - a stocky kid who likes high-calorie protein rich foods, e said that as long as my son was getting a good multivitatmin - he loves the gummies -and I was making lower fat food choices ( cheese, hot dogs, sausage, chips, enriched bread, ec.) and was active, he was fine - it's only really an issue when we go to someone's house to eat, and we I have to explain about his food issues, and prepare him something different than what is being served...people don't understand their sensitivity to strong flavors, or different tectures.

LINDY - posted on 10/20/2009

HI my son is the same too he only eats peanut butter sandwiches and chips and egg yolk on toast only eats macdonalds cheese so now they let me buy it from them in bulk which is very nice of them he eats no fruit or vegies and no meat will have apple and blackcurrant juice what i got told was if they eat bread get the one with heaps of vitamins in it and peanut butter is protien and juice has vitamin c i am going to try and see if there is a powered vitamin to put in his juice though and to get ethan to try new stuff i just say lick it sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt but he is now licking corn lol one day hopefully he will eat it:)

Erica - posted on 10/19/2009

My son is the same only his diet is way more limited. His doctor has prescribed him 3 cans of pediasure a day. She told me if we couldnt afford the pediasure to use the carnation instant breakfast mix with 12 oz of milk twice a day and a childrens chewable multivitamin. Hope this helps!

MONA - posted on 10/04/2009

HELLO, I KNOW ITS A STRUGGLE. MY SON IS NOW 6 AND EATS VERY LITTLE. HE WILL NOT EAT FRUITS, VEGIS OR MEATS. EXCEPT FOR HOTDOGS. HE ONLY EATS CHEESE, RICE, CEREAL,PBJ SAND. AND CHIPS.. IM HOPING THAT ONE HE WILL EAT OTHER THINGS BUT TO ME AS LONG AS HE IS NOT LOSING WEIGHT IM NOT GOING TO FORCE HIM.

Barbara - posted on 10/04/2009

My 5 year od has asperges syndrome and will only eat meat products, toast and eggs. I talked to his doctor about it and she recommended Flintstones vitamins with iron. he will drink anything usually so i buy V8 splash and mix it with apple juice and he LOVES IT.

Chantelle - posted on 10/03/2009

Thank you everybody for your help and suggestions, there are definately some great ideas there that I will be trying. He ate his pikelets today that I had changed the ingredients in, so he is off to a good start. :-)

Sharonda - posted on 10/03/2009

My son too is a very picky eater. He only eats on a regular noodles, oatmeal, cream of wheat, french fries, yogurt, pudding, occassionaly chicken, and occassion fresh fruit. He will not eat veggies. Due to my concerns I took my son to a occupational therapist that specializes in feeding disorders. She has been helping me to introduce my son to other textured foods and at least try a food. We have attended 6 visits so far. I will keep you posted on how it is working once we are done.

Debbie - posted on 10/01/2009

My 15 year old only ate fruits and veggies when he was younger - no meat (because of its texture) and few starches. For a while, if we went out to dinner, we had to pick a place with a salad bar. His diet has expanded some now - but if it doesn't feel right in his mouth, he won't eat it. Ever know a kid to turn down cotton candy? Mine won't touch it because he says it feels like hair in his mouth.



Now that he's older, I do give him some say in dinner preparation - he's a fan of meatloaf, so I make that periodically and keep it in the fridge/freezer. That way if he reacts to something, I can slice off a hunk and give it to him as a sandwich. Reduces the drama around mealtimes. But I also give him a multi-vitamin in the morning - to make sure he gets what his growing self needs.



Good luck.

Amanda - posted on 10/01/2009

My son is 13 now and has Apserger Syndrome. I have always found with my boy that giving him the power of veto works wonders in getting him to try new things. I used to buy all different types of things and then give him the choice. When he was little I used to put about 8 different types of veggies on his plate every night for dinner with whatever meat he had chosen. Then I would let him pick 3 of the veggies to eat and he could leave the rest. Each night he would choose different veggies to what he had chosen the night before so he ended up getting all of the vitamins he needed from a well rounded diet. Allowing him to push some things aside and make choices seemed to make him feel in control and comfortable. As he got older I changed the rules slightly. I made him choose more to eat and less to not eat and now he eats pretty much anything as long as it is fairly bland i.e. no heavy spices. Lots of fruit on a plate for lunch, all different types of noodles (egg, wholemeal, vegetable, duram wheat) and allow them the choice. Now he helps me do the shopping and we discuss our purchases as we go through the supermarket and we have no arguments over food any more. I hope this is helpful. :-)

Sharron - posted on 10/01/2009

my son is almost 3 and was just recently diagnosed with asd and won't tolerate anything that is lumpy given the chance he'd eat yogurt all day everyday. I'm still having to blend his food he never did the hand to mouth action even when he was teething, yet recent blood tests say he's as healthy as an ox lol. I just want to get him to try other food and i'm absolutely at a loss as at what to do next can anyone help

???

Dawn - posted on 09/30/2009

My 9 year-old has the same issues, but I have noticed that he like "shakes"...I am with alot of the other moms as far as "at least they are eating" so I supplement him with carnation instant and juices or milk, depending on his mood. I also give a multivitamin.

Vickie - posted on 09/30/2009

wow our boys are opposites. My son also 7 wont eat anything but chicken nuggets, ff , pancakes, only cheese pizza, no eggs, no breads, snacks are his favorate anything sweet. I worry about his eating all the time. Expecially with the no fruits or veggie thing. sorry this doesnt help but good luck!!

Renee - posted on 09/28/2009

Ahhhh, the joys of feeding people w/ Autism! Mostly yellow/ orange starchy carbs, right!?! Sounds like my son, too! He is 19 now, and it's alittle better. I have a few suggestions: 1) The TEACCH approach- 1st this then this( bite of fruit/veggie, then plate of fries). It does work well when the person is very hungry. Over time, have them eat larger amounts of the desired item before they get the "fun food'! 2)Try the cookbook DECEPTIVELY DELICIOUS by Jessica Seinfield (Jerry's wife!) When you make a high desired food for you kids (pancakes, cookies, hamburgers etc) add extra good stuff. I add protein powder & mixed veggie baby food to LOTS of stuff & no one ever knows! Also try protein slushies w/ lots of frozen fruit & protein powder~ maybe they like shakes better, take out juice & make it with milk. Also make your own ice cream! Kids love to help! (waiting is another issue!) 3) Salad bar restaurants! This was always our favorite place to take our son. Very noisy, he fit right in! We had a little bite of many items while in the line, then pizza & ice cream when we sat down! Just try to go S L O W thru the line & make it a game. He eats 1sliver of veggie, then he gets to feed you 2! It gets the job done, slow but sure. As good as you can with the issues that face you (and the kids!) You can put the food in front of them, but you can't make them chew & swallow. Don't make it a battle- you will loose every time. Try to make it fun, and give in fast if you loose. Then try again next time! Hope this helps!

Shasta - posted on 09/28/2009

You have just described all three of my boys. LOL. I know exactly what you mean. The only thing I know so far is that their behavioral therapist and occupational therapist are both helping them to open up their ranges. The biggest issue that limits their diet according to the ot is sensory issues. So, maybe if you can find an occupational therapist to work on sensory processing it will help.

Heather - posted on 09/28/2009

My son vincent has lots of food issues. His food of the week changes. One week all he'll eat is hot dogs(and lots of them), the next week all he'll eat is chicken nuggets. For him, i think part of the fussyness is a texture issue.(Sensory Integreaion dysfunction). Sometimes he'll put the food in his mouth and chew it then spit it back out because he doesn't like the texture. I have managed to trick him into eating cottage cheese (he grabbed it and said ice cream? I said yes. Now he likes it!). Vincent also won't eat if I tell him to, so i just let it sit there untill HE thinks it's his decision to eat, and he does. He mostly eats meat and a few other things.

Cheryl - posted on 09/28/2009

My son has been diagnosed wth Asperger's Syndrome and only eats a few things also. Plain pasta or macaroni's, peanut butter and jelly, bread, chicken nuggets, and some fresh fruits. He won't eat any kind of a veggie, and hasn't since he was a baby eating baby food. He won't eat any meat, except for chicken nuggets. He'll eat a couple fruits, but t has to be fresh fruit, not anything from a can or frozen. I too worried about nutrition, so I give him a Centrum vitamin every morning, and at least once a day, sometimes twice, I give him a cup of the V8 Fusion juice, which has a full serving of fruits and vegetables in one 8 oz cup. It tastes mostly fruity, but sometime she doesn't want that either, so we tell him that t is all there is and he drinks it.

Kellie - posted on 09/28/2009

I struggled with same issue for a long time. My son would only eat noodles, sausages, rice and fries! My concern was that he too was not getting enough nutrients etc.At 10yrs old he still has very poor diet but is slowly introducing himself to other foods, fruit and veg. I did start to give him multi vitimans to make up for the missing foods and i think it did help him with his energy levels and his immune system did improve.All i can say is that as long as he's eating something i wouldnt worry what it was! I find most parents commenting on their childs diet at your sons age! I have a fussy 7yr old at the moment and he has no ASD he is going through a phase of eating cheese pizza or stake and kidney pie! I find forcing foods will put him off! In his own time i'm sure he will introduce other foods to his list of likes!