The Eating Habits of a Child with Aspergers

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1. I have been trying to get social security for my son since he was 5 , he has been denied 3 times so far , the reason they give is because he can be cured , I am not understanding this , as my son is in constant need of management , please can u direct me to a place that might help me?

   Comment by karren bonniwell — July 15, 2008 @ 4:38 pm

2. Our Grandson has terribel eating habits, shoving food in as quickly as possible, as though he hadn’t seen food for a very long time. We work with him to slow him down, but it continues. He is 10, in school and the other children are making fun of him for this behavior… Is this common with children who have Asperger’s?
   Thank you for your response.

   Comment by Adele — July 15, 2008 @ 4:41 pm

3. with my 13 year old we were told make sure he has bedtime snacks this was so he would lose weight do to hte med he is on. A bowl of cereal with fruit, ice cream HALF PENUT BUTTER SANWICH.

   Comment by RONNIE — July 15, 2008 @ 4:51 pm

4. Hi, I hope you don’t mind me asking but have you heard of a book called ‘Diet Intervention & Autism’ written by Marilyn Le Breton ? Also have you looked at the website for the Autism Research Unit at the University of Sunderland ? I have a 5.08 yr old son diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and when I started to read the book I thought I was reading about my son. I have removed Casein (protein found in dairy) from his diet and have replaced it with Soya, and have lowered his Gluten intake. I plan to follow the GFCF diet by the end of this year. My son now has school dinners every day and will try most things and eat far more now than he ever has done before. The ARU are finding that 85% of the children they are testing ( which is done easily at home by post ) have benefitted with a GFCF diet and are affected by Gluten and Casein in their diet. Maybe worth considering.
   With best wishes Louise

   Comment by Louise Foley — July 15, 2008 @ 4:54 pm

5. Dear Grandmother

   I know how you are feeling. I am the mother of a 9 year-old boy with Asperger’s. His eating habits are even more severely restricted than your grandson’s. Daniel will eat grilled cheese (if it is exactly the right color), french fries, cucumbers, hot dogs (one kind only), sliced pepperoni (only Hormel and if a piece is not the right thickness he won’t eat it), lettuce dipped in ketchup, red potatoes chunked with the skin left on and chocolate chip cookies. He will only drink 2% milk and water, no exceptions. He has a severe iron deficiency and it is a nightmare trying to get him to take liquid iron supplements so we give him a Sponge Bob Centrum multi-vitamin and the doctor has recently given him a milk restriction to one glass a day which is terrible because that is one of the only two things he’ll drink and he loves it. We have tried to give him new foods but usually he gags and vomits if you try to put it in his mouth and he won’t eat the rest of what’s on the plate if there is something on it he doesn’t want. He also never takes seconds. He eats one item at a time and when it is gone and he moves on to the next one that is it, so we try really hard to judge how much of the food he’ll eat before we give him his plate. Hopefully when they get older some of this will change. Good luck.

   Melinda Shannon

   Comment by Melinda Shannon — July 15, 2008 @ 4:57 pm

6. Hi
   I work as a nanny and one of the boys I take care of may be suffering from Asperger’s.The problem is his parents refuse to acknowledge the signs and think they should wait untill he’s older,see if the problem persists-he’s 3 now.
   We have the same difficulty with him eating fruit and vegetables.When he does try to eat some,he’ll gag and nearly throw up!The lady’s question makes me more convinced that there is something wrong with the boy,but I don’t know how to help him!

   Comment by Andreea — July 15, 2008 @ 5:00 pm

7. My 8yr old son with aspergers has to smell everything before he eats it or drinks it, lol. He mostly has the same diet all time, but will try new things sometimes. We just ask him to try it and if he doesn’t no big deal. A few times a week we will ask him to try something new, sometimes he will, mostly not. But when he does try something new, it is a great victory for my wife and I, lol.

   Comment by Michael — July 15, 2008 @ 5:06 pm

8. That Grandma has it good. My son has only eaten french fries for the past 10 years. He only eats dry foods for lunch such as cereal, crackers, pretzels, etc. Nothing soft or gooey! He is 13 years old and is very small in stature, 4’6″, 63 pounds. However, his blood is normal and I have had him tested and he is okay. I work on his eating every day, still to no avail. Maybe one day!

   Good luck!

   Comment by Donna Brown — July 15, 2008 @ 5:10 pm

9. There is a great cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld (wife of Jerry) about pureeing veggies to sneak into all sorts of foods. I wish our Aspie son would eat more veggies, but until he gets more comfortable with them, we’re using some these recipes to get him the nutrients. Also giving him children’s multivitamins – I know not ideal, but better than nothing for the time being.

   Comment by Rich — July 15, 2008 @ 5:14 pm

10. My 12 year old son would eat anything till he was two then it became a struggle, if he didnt like the look of something he wouldn’t eat it. My health visitor told me aslong as he had something from each food group he would be fine. I stopped making an issue of meal times and let him choose what he did or did not eat. Fruit wise he would only eat apples or bananas, but loved potatoes, carrots swede and parsnip mashed. He hated chewing meat. Loved yogurts, (no lumps), milk,cheese cereal, bread and peanut butter. Today he is still funny about some foods but he is more likely to try things, he eats most meat, still loves mashed veg (although the lumps got bigger as he got older)eats 2 or 3 apples a day, adores pasta and rice and eats as much as i do at meal times.
    Dont ever give up they will always eat if they are hungry and diet will improve as they get older.

    Comment by sue — July 15, 2008 @ 5:39 pm

11. My 12 year old grandsons diet is minimal yet he is big fat looking. He alwys had four weatbix milk and brown sugar in the morning (sometimes with a banana on the cereal. Morning tea crackers (Arnott shapes biscuit juice) Lunch two pieces of bread never marg or butter (if he is at home he has some marmite or vegenite on it and some crisps in the bread or roll (at school he takes a small packet of chips to put in so they dont get soggy. a fruit or prunes or apricotes or chopped carrot packet of munchos and biscuit or home cooked banana cake. afternoon tea much the same as morning tea. dinner I put little bits of what we are eating i.e. rice and veg and chicken and ask him to taste but he never eats it. Its always the same a piece of cheese one piece of unbuttered bread raw cut carrot a few cooked peas (which he swallows whole as he doesn’t like the taste. i have tried him on raw peas and beans but he wont eat them. Sometimes he has a softboiled egg with toast unbuttered fingers (he alwys leaves the white – his mum does also. I dont give him dessert if he doesn’t eat all so often he doesn’t get a dessert and we dont alwys have them and he will only eat icecream chocolate topping peaches (peaches have to be separate). Sometimes I give him a mixture of fruit i.e. apple and oranges. He will eat nectarines and apricots as well. I give him a chewable vitamin tablet and sometimes Incremin syrup for fussy eaters and chewable omega 3 fish oil tablet. The pediatrician said the vitamins and fishoil etc are good as he has checked his blood levels. He doesn’t eat much protein. He dislikes sandwiches because he says they are awful and soggy with marg and fillings on them. Sometimes he just spreads tomato sauce on them. His pizza is just pizza base with sauce and a bit of cheese or he eates the cheese separate. His hamburgers are the same the bun and sauce and cheese separate. The nutritionist said that more protein would balance the carbohydrates. The pediatrician said that he may change at 14 years with eating. Mealtimes are hard because poppa is always at him for fingering his food and nibbling it on the edge. I have tried him with pasta soups etc but hes not interest. You can take a horse to water but you cannot nmake them drink it. He used to have rice and vege and chicken before he stayed with his mum for a year but came back eating hardly anaything although that could be because his mum is a vegetarian.

    Comment by Lillian Carde — July 15, 2008 @ 5:55 pm

12. My daughter was very fussy and I would put applesauce and cinnamon in the pancakes. Applesauce has no smell when cooked, and blends in well with the batter.

    Comment by Teresa Hopkins — July 15, 2008 @ 6:18 pm

13. My son is nearly 15 and may have Asperger’s – we still aren’t sure. He craves carbs of all kinds, and won’t eat fruit or vegetables. Lately, i have been giving him Ensure. Is there anything else I can do to balance his diet? He eats minimally during the day and then raids the pantry and refrigerator in the middle of the night when we are alseep.

    Comment by Barbara — July 15, 2008 @ 6:30 pm

14. My grandson is 5 years old, is thin and has a minimal diet. He will eat chicken strips, french fries, toast, some cereal, waffels, pizza, peanut butter and jelly, gold fish crackers, milk (chocolate or white) and orange juice. He says other foods are disgusting (his words) and will throw up or make himself throw up if he is told to eat something he thinks is gross (his words). One time he ate a half a loaf of bread. His pediatrician said he thought he had a mild case of aspergers and that he would likely grow out of it. He didn’t offer any information. Any suggestions? Thanks.

    Comment by Karen — July 15, 2008 @ 7:03 pm

15. I would like to suggest sneaking fruits and vegetables into foods (if he is not allergic). A good cookbook for that is Jessica Seinfeld’s “Deceptively Delicious.” Husband Jerry Seinfeld says that regular cakes and muffins just do not taste as good as his wife’s which have spinach, cauliflower, carrots, and broccoli hidden in them. She has kid loving recipes for brownies, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, pizza, etc.

    Comment by Sally Flores — July 15, 2008 @ 7:09 pm

16. My four year old son has a very hard time eating. He does like crunchy foods, snacks most of the time several times a day. He only likes finger foods such as chicken nuggets, carrot sticks, apples, pizza. However he does enjoy pasta with no meat just sauce and noodles. He is very busy at the table fidgiting, getting up and down and distracted very easily. He also likes to dip almost everything in ranch or sauce. I do have him try to suck soft textures through a staw such as puddings, applesauce, and yogurt. I do oral activities with prior to this, trying to help desensitize his mouth. Sucking these things also helps to calm him when he is acting very hyperactive.

    Comment by Amy — July 15, 2008 @ 7:25 pm

17. My daughter is fifteen and she is allergic to milk.
    Finding this out she was able to get off of all meds by two years time. As far as eating habits go,
    she likes most anything, but for some reason gets bouts of “this or that tastes funny” and
    she HAS thrown out tons of food over the past couple of years through her own judgment and this has become very costly to the entire family (done on the sly very early in the morning) for fear that we will all die from food poisoning.
    None of us have ever gotten it, but I think she wants to make certain we don’t!
    Living with Aspergers certainly has it’s moments

    Comment by Melody — July 15, 2008 @ 7:49 pm

18. My son is nearly 13. He is very particular about the foods he likes and dislikes. It is mainly based on the common taste, smell, look, feel, sound it makes in his head.I learned very early that if he chose what he wanted then he would eat it.I often put out each food separately on the table and he chooses what he wants and it all gets eaten.He doesn’t like chewing meat so I cook fish or chicken – he said the meat makes sucking noises and it hurts his head.He loves most veges but doesn’t like much fruit. I have found if I change the name of a vege where possible he will try it – eg. he loves kumara but hates sweet potato(they are basically the same thing). Also he hates pea and ham soup but loves ham and vege soup.I just have to be creative. He loves onion but the smell of cutting them up makes him leave the room. I have given him a big variety of foods and continue to expose him to as many different types as possible so he has a varied diet and we find what he actually likes. At the moment the favourite is curried veges and sausages.

    Comment by Susan-Australian — July 15, 2008 @ 7:58 pm

19. Our son is as fickle as one can be, and he too, was fine with most foods til about two or three. The foods he does like are mostly good ones, so I make sure we have plenty. He changes what he’ll eat about every week and a half to two weeks, so I am always on my toes! I make sure we have string cheese, yogurt and american cheese (the only kind he likes when he’s eating sandwiches), different cereals, carrots ( we cut them into sticks), Jeno’s pizza, peanut butter, sausage patties and english muffins for breakfast sandwiches (no eggs for him!). It’s even harder when school is in so I keep ensure on hand for him and snacks like chex mix, raisins and trail mix. He takes a multi-vitamin every day, and even though he’s not eating what I want, he is eating and maintaining his weight. Canned pears and the re-introduced Twister juice is good, too. Hope this helps…..

    Comment by Gina — July 15, 2008 @ 8:00 pm

20. I don’t want to sound difficult but your advice on hiding foods may work for some children but what do you do when your child is extremely taste sensitive and doesn’t like the texture of most foods.My 10 yr old son has Aspergers and has a very limited diet as it is but I find if I hide anything else in his food he tastes or smells the difference and then that food is banished forever. He does eat at least one food from each of the food groups although he would be perfectly happy if he ate toast( no brown bits) for every meal.He is small for his age but I can’t give him a multivitamin as he won’t tolerate the texture of tablets and most liquids are strong flavoured. I have found that by doing a menu plan for the fortnight of what we are having for dinner, he is more willing to try something new because he has had notice.I also separate foods and sauces, and only put small amounts on his plate so as not to overwhelm him. He doesn’t try new foods very often first time but I usually perservere a few more times(unless he had an extreme reaction to smell then I leave it alone).At home we have gotten used to him eating with his fingers to check texture however this can be a bit embarrassing in public. It can also be difficult when eating out because he won’t eat burnt or brown bits.We try not to make food a big deal and I live in hope that one day he might enjoy food rather than it just being something he has to put up with to stay alive.

    Comment by Donna Roach — July 15, 2008 @ 8:31 pm

21. My son 18yr old is and always has been very picky! He has always loved ice cream and also very ocd about health….one time when he was maybe 8-10 years,he was gulping down a shake and suddenly asked in a very serious tone if this was bad for him! I replied that no, it was not bad for him because I knew if I said anything else,he would probably never enjoy it in the same way again. He still orders his Subway with no condiments and eats no seafood at all. He is the picture of health six foot three and two hundred thirty five pounds of all fit muscle, works out all year round and plays high school football. I believe he will always be picky. However, things do get better when they grow.
    Thanks Kim

    Comment by kim — July 15, 2008 @ 9:10 pm

22. Hi!
    My son is 10. He eats everything I give him, more or less. He doesen’t like vegetables, but I make him eat soup everyday before every meal, instead. Soup is a good way of getting children to eat vegetables and it’s a good habbit in my coutry. For the rest, he eats everything. His meals vary, so he gets all that he needs: meat, fish, eggs, pasta, rice, milk, fruit (he loves fruit and eats it all the time)…
    Funniest thing he does: he separates the food on the plate: first he eats all the meat/fish and only then the rice/pasta/potatoes.

    Comment by Daniela — July 15, 2008 @ 9:29 pm

23. Dear auyhor, You were surprised at the high percentage of women who wrote about theie asd child REALLY? 92% of these kids parents divorce and 90 something % of the moms and siblings end up near poverty if the moms devote their time and money curing their ASD kid with early intervention,therapies, speech ot pt meds etc. and NO COURT takes this into consideration. The property is divided similar to a common family with no ill kids and it is done fairly,ie whoever has the most for attorneys gets their fare share. As Dr. Phil would say, ARE you kidding me? As a tchr and mom of asd do you know that nearly 1 out of 6 have asd in NJ? Do you know that a large number of the father s go innto denial, hurt the kids, or slap them around because the mother is SPOILING them?lol Do you know that many fathers stop the effective meds in spite or so they can get out of paying for therapy. This is one of the largest growing populations. And sew…..mothers look for help, read look for cures etc. Please tell me as I forgot, Are you writing from California and if so is that a part of the United States? Your friend, Shelley

    Comment by S. Tzorfas — July 15, 2008 @ 9:35 pm

24. I’ve heard of this new cookbook called Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld (Jerry’s wife by the way) that sneaks veggies into everyday food. There are some free sample recipes on the web. I havent tried it but I can imagine it could help.

    Comment by Mara — July 15, 2008 @ 9:43 pm

25. HAI I AM FROM INDIA AND HAVE A 5 YR OLD SON . HE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ASPERGERS YET BUT I AM CONCERNED COZ HIS SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME …… HE IS OVER ACTIVE….LATE MOOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ANTI SOCIAL AT TIMES….. HIS FOOD HABITS ARE PRETTY OK AS LONG AS I DONT GIVE HIM CEREALS WITH MILK,FRUITS AND SWEETS (MOT OF THE TIMES)
    CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME WITH WHAT I SHOULD DO?
    0

    Comment by kalpana — July 15, 2008 @ 9:47 pm

26. My 6 year old has quiete interesting eating habits.He hates butter but will eat it ONLY with fairy bread.He likes spaghetti with no onion and everything seperated,just recently he is trying it all in a bowl together.He enjoys most fruit and veges which is good.I find he likes bland foods,which luckily are quite nutritious,porridge,pasta(no sauce)bread(no butter)cut up fruit and vege.The only problem is it has to be on his placemat and served out exactly as requested or he wont touch it which means ive wasted a meal.

    Comment by michelle — July 15, 2008 @ 9:47 pm

27. I have a friend that is going to employ the deceptive method on her husband, who hasn’t been diagnosed but I feel is Asperger’s afflicted.
    He reminds me of my daughter with all of his actions and I told my friend to look into it…

    Comment by Melody — July 15, 2008 @ 9:48 pm

28. my daughter is 8 yrs old and she has always eaten in a very strange manner she takes everything apart piece by piece. So if she is going to eat a cheeseburger she will take the bun off put it to the side take off the pickles, then scrape of the cheese with her finger nails put it to the side. Then she will eat each piece of the bun, then she will eat the meat, thenthe cheese and for last always the pickles. She eats everything this way pizza, meatloaf, fried rice she will pick out all the things and group them and then eat them. Needless to say our dinners go a little long. We love her so much and are just wondering if there is anyway we can get her to eat in a reasonable manner?

    Comment by mandy gonzalez — July 15, 2008 @ 9:54 pm

29. I have grown to look forward to Dave’s emails and postings, I have a grandson who is 9 yrs old and reading helpful information to help with Aspergers have really helped me to deal with things. I have learned to speak up for his needs at school and works best a smaller setting as loud noises bother him. Teaching him if NO hair cut he will shampoo his hair and brush. Also he is thriving on routine, bedtime, grooming, and now socializing very new for him. He “loves his friends and cousins” as for behaviors remind him first if the answer is NO that means you do not throw things period. With new foods, I will say Wow that was Aunt Lisa’s favorite food and he will try. He is adapting to good home cooked meals. I am very proud of him, he knows he is different, and has to constantly tell himself not to flap his hands at school or in public, he had not learned to ride a bike yet. Still working on that one. we have our good days and bad days mostly good ones. Thank you!

    Comment by Valerie — July 15, 2008 @ 10:17 pm

30. My 10y.o. son has A.S., and doesn’t like to try new foods. The textures are part of the problem, things like banana are simply too much for him to tolerate still. He is very aware or tastes, I made a new pizza crust recipe and he was the ONLY one who could taste the garlic in it. We have a ‘deal’ about new foods, he must try a new food on three separate occasions. As a result, mealtimes are less stressful as there are always choices he likes as well as something new. It has expanded the variety of vegetables he eats, fruits are still off the charts. He has started to enjoy a wider variety of fruit juices, so I have him help me select them by reading the ingredients (which helps with the healthy foods lessons!) We recently added hamburgers..by accident. He adores meatball subs and steaks, but refused to eat hamburgers. One evening we were making meatballs and because I had no other clue what to do, I smashed one flat and said…..”There, THAT is a hamburger, the only difference is the shape!” The visual seemed to connect the dots for him, and he’s even been able to enjoy barbeque’s even more!
    With patience, and perserverence, they will add foods as they get older, as long as you continue to provide them with choices and good solid ‘evidence’ on eating healthy. One of his favorite veggies? Asparagus!
    Color also seems to play a part, as he likes green and yellow vegetables more than others.
    He goes to his pediatrician regularly, has had multivitamins in the past; and she says as long as we keep trying new things his diet is in decent shape. When you allow an A.S. child to stay in the rut of the few things they like, they are very content; keep insisting they try new things not just with food but in other areas as well, they will truly benefit from it.

    Comment by Cass — July 15, 2008 @ 10:30 pm

31. wow is diet a concern. Our daughter during 8 soon is very picky. She must have her food separate. Nothing touching, or mixed. This year we started a Reward program for behaviors which included trying “new foods”. If she tries a new food she gets 10 pennies. She gets to trade in her pennies for rewards. She gets her pennies on thursday night and loses pennies on thursday night. She may use her pennies at anytime. Her rewards have different values, so she may have to save them up for a special reward. Now she will at least try something “New”. She now eats steak, lettuce, carrots, and eggs. The school lunch is still a challenge, sandwiches are not to her liking but we are hopeful.

    Comment by Pam Hunt — July 15, 2008 @ 10:35 pm

32. My 8 yr old son is the same as many above – picky eater, no meat at all, no vegetables, but will eat cheese, Kid’s Kitchen Spaghetti Rings (but he won’t eat the ‘franks’), pear flavored applesauce, vanilla ice cream. He will lick the centers out of Oreos but not eat the cookie part. We have him on a multivitamin but the developmental peds lady says we are trying to get “sheer calories” into him as he is so very thin and small for his age. So even though some of the things he eats aren’t the healthiest, i.e. the ice cream, we give it so he can get those “sheer calories” into him and hope and pray for his appetite not to fall off especially with the meds he’s on.

    Comment by Satscout — July 15, 2008 @ 11:00 pm

33. My son has many sensory related issues when it comes to food. He doesn’t like any veggies other than potatoes. Fortunately he does like spaghetti, so I throw onions, carrots, garlic, bell peppers, turnip, parsnip, and any other veggies I have on hand, into the blender and puree them. Once they are liquified I fry them up with the hamburger meat and you can hardly even tell that it is in there. I have gotten away with serving this meat with nachos, tacos, and burritos, as well as the base mix for spaghetti sauce.

    Hopefully this works for someone else!

    Comment by Julie — July 15, 2008 @ 11:02 pm

34. I read the issues about weight and diet with our kids. I struggle with these issues and my 10 yr old son. A couple of pieces of information. I give my son a product called Fruit Plus which has capsules filled with whole fruit and whole vegitables they also have blueberry capsules for antioxidents. Up until recently I could not get my child to take any medicine I had to sit on him and force meds. Alot has changed I introducesd him to juice plus and he cant not smell the product and he swallows it well. He takes a drink and I put pills in mouth one at a time and he swallows. MY JOY I now have him on fruits and vegitables. The health food store also makes a natural multi vitamin and mineral product which he chews orange dinasours also the only one I could get him to take. My son eats meats mostly only bannanas and only cyclindar tator tots. Thats right no pasta, no cheddar cheese or mac and cheese, no vegitables, on the flip side he doesnot eat candys or chew gum . But give him a dougnut and hed love ya. So I guess I am happy your kids eat more of a variety and there is my hope on the fruit and vegitables. They also have a project if you sign up kids get product free . Thats what I do and I find our family does not get sick like we used to. On the weight issue… my son has stretch marks bad rapid weight gain. I again went to whole natural food market and spoke to them about this. Zinc in our diets contribute to elasticity of our skin so if you make sure kids have enough that helps. My friend suggested when pregnant the creams to put on to prevent scars. I purchased three products and have seen the scars on chest fade and oh hips even he says thay look better mom. I hope you find this works for your child..

    Comment by deborah — July 16, 2008 @ 12:27 am

35. my ASP son is now 19 and although he still has his ‘dislikes’ for certain foods, he has outgrown ALOT of his picky habits. I think the most important thing to remember is that there are many alternatives to help our children get their daily dosage of vitamins, etc… I feel that if we as the parents take the extra time and make the extra effort and not make a big deal of the eating issue, than mealtime will be a more pleasant for EVERYONE!

    Comment by Dianne — July 16, 2008 @ 1:04 am

36. My daughter is shoving food in as quickly as possible, as though she hadn’t seen food for a very long time. It is so bad that she eats every one and half or two hours, while I am at work. She is 13 and is becoming to put on weight very fast, in school and the other children are teasing her due to this eating behavior and started being overweight. It seems that there is a few comments from some readers that have the same problem. I need to know what I can do to assist her is getting her to stop making a fool of herself in front of her peers by eating twice / thrice as much as they do.

    Comment by Jolette — July 16, 2008 @ 3:03 am

37. I have a child with attributes of Aspergers (we think it is more than that) he also is intolerant to (dairy), wheat (gluten), preservatives, msg, colours, salycilates and amines. We have found avoiding these foods makes his asperger qualities diminish alot. If he goes off his diet his behaviour changes dramaticly. My daughter who also has traits of aspergers only likes crunchy food. She eats raw carrot everyone else eats cooked carrot. I have slowly given her cooked carrot started with one piece we are now up to three pieces. she also doesn’t like chewing bones so she tries it and then we cut the meat off she is slowly getting better at it. She also likes to over eat for sensory issues so she loves eating a cup of ice. She thinks she is spoilt and she is getting the chewing action she needs but not the food she doesn’t.

    Comment by Karol — July 16, 2008 @ 3:17 am

38. I have enjoyed reading all your comments – because like many of you, my son (9) ate everything I gave him until about 2 years – he doesn’t eat pasta, rice and eggs – loves fruit and most veg. We regularly have taste sessions – which, as a family we all take part in. It’s fun for the kids, especially when mum and dad have to eat things we don’t like! it helps all of us!

    Comment by Netty — July 16, 2008 @ 7:09 am

39. Hi I love these newsletters and never associated Asperger with his picky eating. My son is 17 years old and would never eat a potato no matter how it was cooked (fried, mashed, augratin) based on this I can see he has definite texture and cooking odor requirements. I love these newsletters as I am able to truly get to understand how my son ticks and I get less frustrated with him. Thanks

    Comment by Mary Beth — July 16, 2008 @ 8:58 am

40. I have raised two boys that are 10 years apart and both have aspergers. Our two girls eat what we eat. Its funny how both boys had mostly the same eating habits.As the older one grew up he started eating more foods and textures. The younger one was another story. He didnt like texture or spicey foods.He lived on P&J and macaroni and cheese. If he ate a sandwich or cheese pizza it had to be dunked in liquid. I finally told him that his eating habits were going to affect him in the long run. He started drinking water and less milk. I have gotten him to eat chips but only if he has a liquid to soften them with.He wont chew alot of his food. He would rather suck on it. He is 18 now and both boys live together on their own. The oldest one has a girlfriend who also lives with them. SHe happens to be a chef! I figure that the younger one will change his eating habits as she introduces new foods. Its not like his parents who worry more about that stuff. We’ll see.
    They both liked cheese, milk, any dairy products. Neither cared for steak, chicken or solid meats. Hot dogs were ok and so was bologna and hamburger. Veggies were okay if they were softened like steamed. Cereal was ok as long as it soaked in any liquid! Both had to be encouraged not to drink just milk. Food was food no matter what time it was. Breakfast could be supper and vise versa. I am hpoing that some day some one will figure the mind of a child with aspergers as my grandson has been diagnosed also. I wont worry about him too much. His mom is a sibling of an aspy so she can handle quirks that make him special.

    Comment by betsey — July 16, 2008 @ 8:59 am

41. My son is 13. He ate only 5-6 types of food up until 2 years ago. We instituted that EVERYONE has to try a food if they have not. We assured him it was not going to posion him and we tried new foods as a family. He now will try almost anything. He loves fish, pasta(plain…still not sauce or butter). Vegetables are still a struggle however Edame is loved ( one of those foods we tried as a family). As your child gets older, it does get better. I wish there was boards like this when my son was younger as I thought I was the only one with a kids that did not like pasta,hamburgers. One other thing that has worked…my son helps me to cook. I let him taste ingredients and let him know that some no matter what will not taste good unless mixed with something else. By appealing to his way of thinking (only black not gray areas) he understood food more and became more willing to try those textured foods that literally scared him when he was younger.

    Comment by Kirsten — July 16, 2008 @ 9:39 am

42. My son is almost 14. He has finally been correctly diagnosed with AS. He would eat nearly anything until the age of 3 or 4. He is a very picky eater but his taste seems peculiar to me. He loves Pepperoni, beef jerky, cheese (lots of cheese!), chicken nuggets (but not real chicken!), pizza, chips, crackers, pretzels. As you can see, absolutely no fruits or vegetables. He will occasionally eat frozen corn and he has discovered that he loves coconut! It has taken years for him to try new things but we keep encouraging him. Sometimes we even bribe him! A friend once bet him a dollar that he wouldn’t try a certain food. As a boy he couldn’t resist the challenge! It only cost a dollar and he found a new food that he didn’t hate! Good Luck to all of you!

    Comment by Christy Wolfe — July 16, 2008 @ 10:09 am

43. Are children with Aspergers Syndrome at risk for drug abuse when they’re teenagers ? Are there any studies on this ?

    Comment by cindy flannigan — July 16, 2008 @ 10:47 am

44. my son is 7 and autistic. he eats goldfish, cheese ritz crackers, popcorn, chocolate (one kind)and peanut butter cereal for the last 6 years. he used to eat fishsticks, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, fries and cottage cheese too. every year he would stop eating something but never tried anything new. i tried everything to make him eat other stuff. tried gluten free and casein free diet and almost starved him to death. if i try to alter his food he stops eating it. tried medication and alternative medicine. nothing works. i’m worried sick about him.

    Comment by mirela — July 16, 2008 @ 1:03 pm

45. Just another thought on the food issue. My son likes very few foods, separates all foods, and God forbid he were to see a sandwich (all those foods and textures touching each other) I realized pretty early that it was becoming a power struggle, and since I didn’t want to give him any more problems eating meals, I backed off and did the best I could. Giving him choices for lunches, stocking the house with his favorite foods, etc. He was always very thin and was short-until he hit 15, and shot up in height and weight. He is still not huge, but he is 5’4” and 120 lbs, and still has more growing to do. He also began eating alot more than ever, before he could go all day and not eat unless reminded. Last thought, any time I tried to sneak in foods, he would discover them and then doubt his few “safe” foods, therefore making him distrustful to eat what I prepared. I stopped sneaking and meals are better, and I really don’t worry too much about his nutritional intake.

    Comment by susan — July 16, 2008 @ 4:46 pm

46. I haven’t tried the cookbook from Jerry Sienfelds wife but it sounds really good, she can hide just about anything and the chicken nuggets are a favorite. Oprah and the studio audience really seemed to like it. One thing my 15yr. old ASPERGER son doesn’t like is any of his food mixed together. He will not eat it if any of it is mixed together. I love my son and wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world but being his parent is very exhausting!

    Comment by Michelle — July 16, 2008 @ 8:36 pm

47. How do I get my son to eat out when we are traveling? He does not like the food because I do not make it.

    Comment by Linda — July 16, 2008 @ 9:31 pm

48. I have a picky eater at home so my complete understanding to all. I have a friend who had the worst eater I have every known. She would eat a certain type of cooked noodle, one brand of yogart and McDonald’s chicken nuggets and then only if they looked just right. My friend took her daughter to an Occupational Therapist who started her on sensory integration. This included brushing her skin with a soft brush in a certain way, then compressing her joints and swabbing out her mouth with a a piece of soft gauze. This was done several times a day. A short time after the therapy started the girl was up to 100 new foods.

    Comment by Lisa — July 16, 2008 @ 10:06 pm

49. Our daughter with Asperger’s has food sensitivities that greatly influence certain Asperger “behaviors.” Foods with gluten and dairy products are detrimental to her well-being. Others may benefit from eliminating whet and dairy.

    Comment by Brad — July 17, 2008 @ 2:05 am

50. Wow, lots of comments on this one… Does anyone have an Aspie pre-teen or teen (my son is 13) that eats from morning to night if allowed and hides junk food in his bedroom?

    It all started a couple years ago. I thought it was because of the Risperdal when he gained 40 pounds in 6 months after starting the med. However, he did not change his eating habits when we switched to Abilify or Geodon. I know that teens are notorious for cleaning out the fridge but he seems to take it to the extreme.

    He can eat a huge meal and start rustling through the kitchen 5 minutes after I clean up.

    I’m going to add “waiting” for his next food to our chart and see if I can tie that to his other “waiting” things we have already talked about. It’s going to be a battle because his compulsion to eat is so strong and he gets angry with me for kicking him out of the kitchen. Our psychologist suggested getting Shawn his own personal timer for waiting instead of using mine in the kitchen. Any success stories out there? Thanks, Ronda

    Comment by Ronda Whitford — July 17, 2008 @ 8:54 am

51. My son has always had a food specific diet, big cheese, white cheese, yellow cheese and then the cheese sticks. This is how we started off. I did not fight him on this I let him eat what made him comfy. One thing that I did was remove ALL refined sugar from his diet. That is really hard let me tell you there is refined sugar in everything but it has made him feel better in his head and body and he eats more. At age 9 he still requests foods in a specific manner such as a Mayonaisse, mustard, meat, cheese sandwich. That order or else…LOL I can’t make casseroles with veggies in them but he will eat veggies if they are not mixed with anything at all. The veggies that he loves are not the typical veggies that children will eat. For example his favs are Spinach, asparagus and artichokes…Maybe the green has something to do with it. But I mean he’ll eat the heck out of spinach, I have to make sure he doesn’t over do it. My opinion, try different things eleminate refined sugars, all sugars, gluten whatever. Each child is different and even though our tasks as parents of children with Asperger’s is an ardous task we love them and want to make their life easier so keep on trying.
    I do also have a the problem of my son LOOKING heavy. He’s very muscular in his thighs and buttocks and gets picked on for being “fat”. He exercises by riding his bike and swimming and I even managed to get him to take ballet and tap, but he still is looking quite “heavy”. I don’t know what this is about and it concerns him because you know they want social interaction so badly and being called fat is certainly so hurtful. I’ll take any suggestions on that. Remember I include no refined sugars in his diet and I’m very very strict.

    Comment by Micki — July 17, 2008 @ 2:59 pm

52. My son is very picky too. At nine, with Aspergers, he mostly wants foods from the bread and dairy group. Has only drank water and milk (a little juice when small – never soda pop, says it is “hot” thank goodness. Eats scrambled eggs, hot dogs, sometimes chicken nuggets but has never ate steak, hamb (fine with me I’m vegan). Anyway, he is big for his age but I have concerns with his weight and always craving dairy, refined flour and sugar. I recently read Jenny McCarthy’s book “Louder Than Words” and she recommends seeing a DAN doc. and trying a GFCF diet. I am scheduled to see a DAN (Defeat Autism Now) doctor who will deal with diet and other issues. There is a lot of research showing a link between kids with autism and having sensitivities to wheat (gluten) and dairy (casein). These sensitivities may not show up as allergy but still have an affect on the immune system. Jenny’s son also had candida/fungus overgrowth (feeds on sugar). I truly believe there is a link between diet and many of the symptoms my son has. We have had him off dairy for the past week and I notice already he is less frustrated, happier and not as many gastro difficulties. I’m hoping to go gluten free within a month. Do the research and you’ll be amazed at what’s out there. Jenny was also on Oprah and answers a lot of questions at this URL http://gfcfdiet.com/Jenny.htm Another good source for info is http://www.gfcf-diet.talkaboutcuringautism.org/index.html Best of luck to everyone and I wouldn’t trade my son for the world. I love how special he is, I just want him to be healthy.

    Comment by Carol — July 17, 2008 @ 3:00 pm

53. my son is almost 15yrs.old and DOESNT trust you as far as he can throw you.He is Aspergers never ate a veggie other than ff,would litterly gag and throw up if even put on his plate.HASNT GOTTEN ANY BETTER like I said doesnt trust anyone will take his food apart and inspect it.you will never pull nothing over on this one He is healthy 5’8 “underactive throid”which he is on medication has no ambition to do anything likes to go out only at the beginning at of darkness but stays in fenced yard,cant stand anyting that buzzes or looks like a bee.”"The Inspector”" aka:Ryan Cooper

    Comment by Ryan Cooper — July 18, 2008 @ 8:46 am

54. I have a 12 year old girl and a 9 1/2 year old boy that both have asperger’s. I was always concerned with their food choices as they were growing up and it was not until they got diagnosed with asperger’s that I realized it was a sensory issue. When I want them to try new foods I do not make a big deal about it. They come in the Kitchen and take a small bite of the food with the trash can beside them. If it is horrible to them they spit it out right away and I say thanks for trying it. After many tries my son now eats Asparagus and my daughter loves peas. I Hope their diet will continue to improve over the years with this method. Good luck to you all.

    Comment by Janet — July 18, 2008 @ 9:16 am

55. My son is 6 years old and has ASD. He has always been a fussy eater when it comes to fuit and vegetables. The way we have managed to get him to eat more of them is by telling him that other children his age eat these same foods. He has always liked potatoes and most dairy products but he now eats carrots, broccoli, beans, bananas and sometimes apples. Each year we introduce a couple of new foods and tell him that other kids his age eat them. This usually at least gets him to try something new. If he genuinly doesn’t like it, we dont force it, but with most things he finds he does like them. It has taken a lot of stress off of him and us.

    Comment by Tiffany Jensen — July 19, 2008 @ 4:30 pm

56. My grandson has ASP, he is 9 yrs old. I find his moods to be very disturbing to me. I wish I could help him more. We have him on the Gluten free/Casein free diet and his is very good about following it. He will question anything different which I find to be amazing for him. My question is – is there any kind of medication that he can take to help him control his anger spells or social skills. As a grandmother, I love him dearly and I find it dishearting that I cannot help him.

    Comment by Laura Williams — July 21, 2008 @ 10:42 am

57. Our son is 4 years old and recently diagnosed with AS. What appeared to be a food phobia, was actually the trigger for his diagnosis and there has been a sense of relief that there is now a reason for his behaviour even though we don’t really have any answers as to what we do about it! He eats toast (no grains) with butter, Readybrek cereal with sliced banana and honey for breakfast. A small pureed dinner of root veg for lunch (but will often vomit the whole dinner if he discovers a small particle of food) along with toast and butter, followed by fromage frais (certain brand). For his evening meal he will have the same as breakfast. The only other food which he will happily eat is a dry bread roll. He only drinks water or warmed milk. We suppliment his diet with a multivitamin and iron medicine. That has been his daily intake every day for the past two and a half years. We have tried to introduce new foods at numerous intervals but to no avail and often resulting in distrust and refusal to eat even his own foods for many days. We have stopped doing this. Even though we have been reassured by his current dietitian that he is having adequate nutrition we are concerned that this is it, as there has been little or no progress. He often gags or vomits when others are eating and we have told him to ‘close his eyes’ if he doesn’t like what he sees, which has helped a little although if there is a strong smell this will not work. He will also often literally ‘run’ from the source of his anxiety with no concern for his personal safety which is a massive worry for us in sending him to school etc as when he is with us we can often pre-empt such situations. We have had some dreadful advice about ‘starving’ him until he eats properly!! and that was from a senior dietitian in the health service! He also has severe allergies for which we carry Epipens so it is difficult to ensure his safety and instil confidence in him while trying new foods. Not sure what we do next, if anything?? Was interested to read the comment made by ‘Lisa’ (no 48) about sensory integration. Would like to know more re that? Also am very interested to know how Kirsten’s son (comment 41)coped with school, having such a limited diet when he was younger.?

    Comment by Tracy — July 24, 2008 @ 7:48 pm

58. Please! Don’t dispair over the eating habits. As long as he/she is getting their nutrients, maybe in a completly different way than we think is “normal”- we must remember that their brains aren’t wired like ours. But, then again, whose is? A book on nutrition will be an awesome aide to make sure that he/she is getting the nutrients they need, although it may not be as much as “required”. As long as he/she has adequate exercise and good bloodwork results, in time, they will learn to try and like new foods. I about fell over dead yesterday when my six year old son tried bacon AND lettuce (both which he has detested in the past)!! In the same day!!
    Praise the LORD!! Metabolism may play a large part in these children who look like they don’t have an ounce of fat on them (like my son). The higher the metabolism, the more energy they burn.
    I hope this has helped even one of you out there, for I know that you have helped me.

    Comment by Terri Metzger — July 25, 2008 @ 10:57 am

59. Hi, I too struggle with my kids, andhave found that hiding foods a la Jessica Seinfields book to be a great way of sneaking them in.all 3 of my kids are on the spectrum, 2 with aspergers, one with autism.and my youngest daughter,(aspergers) won’t even take a flintstone vitamin!my oldest, 14, wll now try some stuff, but growing up, he was terrible, ad lived on chocolate milk for probably 2 years, however, they have always been willing to eat nuggetts from McDonalds,(nuggetts and fries only, no burgers) if anyone finds away to sneak healthy into them I would love to know! I a glad to have come across Jessica Seinfields book, adencourage others to try,it isbetter than fighting with yur kids all the time.I try to pick my battles!

    Comment by Stephanie Tibbetts — July 27, 2008 @ 8:45 am

60. I only wish my 6 yr old had as varied a diet as many here! It’s been getting narrower since toddlerhood: now he is eating meatloaf (where I sneak in tomatoes and am going to try smuggling in some carrots which he used to eat), pizza, cheeseburgers(without buns), bologna or hot dogs (all beef only, and only occasionally) 12-grain toast, whole grain crackers, or whole wheat waffles (but only with butter), occasional cheerios (he used to love them, too, darn it) popcorn (unbuttered PTL), potato chips (low salt) and french fries, romaine lettuce (the ribs ONLY but LOTS of them), broccoli (the tops ONLY), apples (red delicious ONLY) plus anything chocolate (which we dole out carefully). His beverages are down to three: no-fat milk, apple juice, and water, and I haven’t managed to get a vitamin into him since he gave up drinking orange juice earlier this year (I’d put the liquid vitamins from the pharmacy into it and I think he got wise.) On the other hand, he drinks no soda, chews no candy or gum, and is curiously immune to the pleasures of wider ranges of junk food except for cheetos (which I really restrict). So, with his other issues, food is one thing I try not to get crazed about, as long as the pediatrician thinks his growth and weight are OK it’s OK by me. We have friends with an NT son, now 21, 6 ft+, who spent his entire eleventh year of life eating nothing and I mean nothing except chicken nuggets and Coke. It’s worrisome but it’s not fatal for sure.

    Comment by TomsMom — July 30, 2008 @ 6:40 pm

61. My aspie son (9) was always reluctant to try new foods i introduced a cash reward scheme! for trying new things including vegetables he still won’t do broccoli or cauliflower but he now enjoys the same sunday dinner as the rest of the family including vegetables & gravy!! it took a while (& a fair few fifty pences) but we can now go to friends for dinner or out to dinner without a fuss worth every penny!!!

    Comment by Roisin Babe — August 5, 2008 @ 11:40 am

62. Our son used to be a picky eater, but now he relishes trying new foods and even mixes up his own concoctions. His problem with textures such as nuts still exists, but he eats a wide variety of food. His psychotherapist believes it is because he is feeling more secure with himself and the environment. We have been using Floortime and EEG neurofeedback for his therapy and we are seeing great results in all areas of his development.

    Comment by Kathy Seymour — August 6, 2008 @ 1:54 pm

63. Having been exposed to starving children that will even eat dry sand to just have something in their bellies, I know that the human will eat anything if hungry enough and that the parent is in the unenviable position of making the decisions about what is available for eating in the home.

    In addition, people with Aspergers respond well to elimination of Gluten, Casein, Salicylates and Amines. Adding Lactobacillus GG (patented by Culturelle) helps develop a healthy gut and resolve the “leaky gut” syndrome that allows bacteria toxins through the blood-brain barrier which act as OPIATES in the brain which causes a kind of drunkenness. If you remove the opiates, the Aspie is less clumsy, has less brain fog and better social skills. This means… changing the diet to remove anything that can ferment, especially anything with yeast and many fruits.

    Because the Aspie has an open pathway for toxins to get into the blood, heavy metals like mercury and aluminum find their way to the brain. If the child is younger than 3 and has mercury pumped into their system via vaccines, it deposits itself in the brain and the only thing I have found to work is weekly injections of Methylcobalamine B12 (not just any old B12), supplemented with 3x RDA Zinc and 2x RDA Magnesium. The problem is that when the heavy metals are coming out the brain, they get back into the blood stream on the way into the urine, so the Aspie feels unwell for a day or two, but as the heavy metals are eliminated, the symptoms become less.

    Another problem many Aspies have is with Oxalates… All related to food/vaccine intolerance… The GFCF diet will help, as will others that address intolerance issues, but the best way to give your Aspie the very best chance at happiness and self-respect is to implement the Failsafe program. The worst part of elimination of toxic foods is that the body exhibits withdrawal, much like drug withdrawal symptoms. Yeast die-off is the worst it gets and that can manifest in pretty rough flu-like symptoms as the body disposes of the dead fungus via the blood.

    Within 2 months your Aspie should be exhibiting much improved interactions and behaviours. It is easy to implement and a good idea to keep in touch with others using this method as new discoveries and discussions arise daily.

    My wonderful husband is an Aspie and he is so much happier and “together” when he is eating this way. He is less clumsy at work and even stims less!!!!

    Comment by From Africa — December 20, 2009 @ 8:54 pm

64. My son is 35 with Asbergers. He eats very well and exercises. Exercises to an extreme. Loses weight and shaves his head because he lost most of his hair after college. He looks like there is something wrong. Makes a very good living but shuts his phone off after work and has no interest in any sort of communication.

    Comment by Dan Ambrosino — December 22, 2009 @ 10:08 am

65. Regarding picky eaters..My kid will eat those little hotdogs made for toddlers..she is 12 , they are full of vitamins and made from chicken and turkey and such also baby fruits.. smooth foods like instant potatoes ,canned yams with butter and for some reason carrot sticks are ok

    Comment by vicki reynolds — December 29, 2009 @ 12:30 am

66. i am sorry if this comes across badly (if you can cook)…but is it the cooking that he hates…my mum cooked great fresh vegies all my growig up that i couldnt stomach YUK!!! i would eat em raw if i found em..(not that mum gave them to me like this) her cooking was revolting (sorry mum) but to me ..her veg was salted before cooking (ie cooked in salt water) & tasted yuk to me…i loved mashed potato & that was it for the veg. ….until i got starving out west one day while stuck with people i didnt know & they cooked up steamed veg & we had no choice…so i tried them …OMG what lovely food!

    i also grew up to cook this way & love veg of all kinds now & all of my kids & their friends who come to my home for sleepovers with my kids (who eat out of courtecy) want seconds & when i tell their mums that they ate their veg & were well behaved, they are blowen away & say “what, they never eat their vegies” & the kids say “I had a double helping!” the mums say “no way! i dont believe it”

    so try cooking with different methods & leave the salt out of the veg…& dont “over” cook…but remember that they will still think that they are the same yuk ones that they remember…& to give the new ones a try can still be an issue

    who knows…it might work!

    Comment by trudy beckham — January 27, 2010 @ 7:07 pm

67. My 4 year old son lives on pediasure and has for the past 3 years and 2 months. He rarely eats much of anything. I never thought I would try bribery but it doesn’t even work! I could use and help anyone has to offer on this…

    Comment by Dawn — February 17, 2010 @ 3:02 pm

68. My 6yr old son w/AS is EXTREMELY sensitive when it comes to food/diets. We are currently working with a dietician that has experience w/kids on the spectrum. We learned to give him supplements, such as magnesium, zinc, VitD, and possibly extra Bs in addition to a daily vitamin. We are also having him drink his veggies, as he loves V8, and Superfood Juice (no textures, and has a sweeter taste). We will have him tested (a urine peptite test) to check if he is unable to diegest wheat and dairy products as well (they usually crave the foods they are most sensitive to, almost like an addiction). There is a special enzyme that can be given to help break down these foods, which can also effect behaviors. Lastly, try to eliminate all preservatives, and chemicals in the diet (like msg and nitrates), and offer a new food slowly. Let him touch the food, and smell it at his own pace, then if he is able, just have him put it in his mouth to see “how it feels” (an ABA tip from our nutritionist). Be patient, as they have much stronger food aversions due to heightened sensitivity to smells, tastes and textures. Good Luck!

    Comment by Sara — March 3, 2010 @ 8:29 am

69. WordPress Site owner – Did you know you could save 5-10 or so minutes every single day using the software? I used it on my own sites and yes it is really a huge difference.

    Comment by Annamarie Zelaya — February 12, 2013 @ 4:31 am

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