STAYING FIT AND HEALTHY
will become. A bonus: chopping, mixing, and carrying dishes all count as “heavy work” and increase fine motor skills. Use these special times to introduce healthy alternatives to your children and use rewards to encourage experimentation.
Keep mealtime quiet and calm One of the best ways to help your sensitive sensory child reduce problem eating behaviors is to make mealtime as simple and routine as possible. Most children with ASD deal with some level of sensory processing difficulty or sensory sensitivity. Combined with a dislike for certain tastes and textures, a noisy, overly-lit dinner table can make problem eating behaviors even worse. To make mealtime more peaceful for everyone, set the mood as you set the table. If you have a dimmer in your dining room, lower the lighting in the room. Even better, replace the bulbs in your dining room and your child’s bedroom with full-spectrum lights. Play low, calming music as you prepare dinner and as your family eats. Finally, make it a game. To reduce the stress and the stakes, practice setting the table with your child, passing dishes, and filling water glasses when it’s not mealtime to get your child used to your routine. Tell social stories, using both pictures and words, to anticipate what will happen at the dinner table.
Don’t be afraid to supplement Reducing food aversions is the best way to boost your child’s nutrition. Of course, sometimes, even when you get your child more involved and invested in mealtime, and you model proper mealtime behaviors, the food sensitivities don’t go away. There may be foods, or entire categories of food, your child still refuses. Parents of kids with ASD should be proactive about supplementation, working with your family’s primary doctor or a licensed and registered dietitian/nutritionist to decide which supplements will help make up for nutrient shortfalls. In addition to a high-quality multi-vitamin, some of the supplements that have been demonstrated to reduce the problem behaviors and other symptoms associated with ASD include Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, magnesium, and Vitamin B6. Many kids with autism also deal with digestive challenges due to lack of fiber intake and destruction of
good gut bacteria from medication. Consider adding a good probiotic and fiber source to your child’s supplement regimen as well. The best approach is to introduce one supplement at a time and monitor how your child reacts to it (if at all). If your child won’t swallow a pill, look for a liquid or gummy supplement instead.
Avoid artificial additives While no scientific studies exist that definitively link ASD to environmental toxins or processed foods, there is a mountain of evidence that details health problems with overconsumption of highly-refined snack and junk foods. While a parent cannot force a child to eat anything, modeling healthy eating and keeping foods with low nutrient density out of the home is a step in the right direction. Whenever possible, choose whole, organic foods, snacks, and drinks, and avoid artificial flavorings, sweeteners, and food coloring. A bonus: crunchy snacks like apple slices, carrot sticks, and organic granola provide heavy proprioceptive input for the jaw and increase oral motor skills. RESOURCES Strickland, E. (2009) Eating for Autism. De Capo Lifelong Books. http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/diseases-and-conditions/ autism/nutrition-for-your-child-with-autism-spectrum-disorder-asd http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/010713p46.shtml
Eileen Wissell, MPH, RDN/LD, works with Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health in Travelers Rest, SC, and has been a registered dietitian for over 25 years, working with children and adults in both private and public health. She has been actively involved in helping individuals and families improve their health and reduce the risk of disease by learning how to plan for healthy eating and conquer negative eating behaviors. If your child needs help managing the maladaptive behaviors associated with autism, contact Springbrook at 864-834-8013 for a free, confidential consultation. Through our program, many children have been able to reduce problem behaviors and gain social and life skills. Website: https://springbrookautismbehavioral.com/
52 | Exceptional Needs Today | Issue 2
