Fussy eating in autistic children and teenagers: what you need to know

Some autistic children and teenagers have fussy eating habits. This means they eat only a limited range of food.

Fussy eating or selective eating?

When autistic kids eat only a limited range of food, most people call this behaviour ‘fussy eating’, but ‘selective eating’ is a better way to describe it.

Why do some autistic children and teenagers have fussy eating habits?

If your child has fussy eating habits, it’s good to understand why. This can help you manage your child’s eating.

Gastrointestinal problems

Some autistic children’s eating habits are caused by gastrointestinal problems. So it’s always best to speak with your child’s GP or paediatrician if your child has gastrointestinal symptoms like slow weight gain or growth, diarrhoea or tummy pain.

Other reasons

If tummy problems aren’t the cause of fussy eating, it might be because autistic children:

• have sensory sensitivities and prefer food with particular textures
• like routines and want the same food at the same time every day
• are focused on how food looks and want the food presented in the same way every day
• find it hard to try new experiences, including eating new food
• have become preoccupied with a particular type of food.

Why it’s important to encourage your autistic child to eat a variety of healthy food

Your child needs a variety of fresh, healthy foods for good health and development.

But forcing your child to eat new foods is unlikely to work, because your child might refuse to eat altogether. So it’s almost always best to use strategies that encourage a healthy and varied diet and help your child gradually get comfortable with new foods.

Your child needs a wide variety of fresh foods from the 5 healthy food groups – vegetables, fruit, grain foods, dairy or dairy-free alternatives and protein. You can find out more in our articles on healthy food for preschoolers, healthy food for school-age children and healthy food for teenagers.

How to handle your child’s fussy eating and encourage them to try new food

Your child might be more willing to try different foods as they get older. In the meantime, there are things you can do to find new foods that work for your child and change your child’s eating habits. Try to be patient, because change might take time.

Introduce new foods that are similar to familiar foods

If your child finds change difficult, they might take a while to get comfortable with new foods. It might help to introduce foods that have a similar texture, colour or smell to other foods that you know your child enjoys.

Try these tips:

• Put the new food near similar food that your child likes. For example, if your child won’t try broccoli, you could try putting the broccoli near some cauliflower.
• Let your child sniff or lick the new food to get used to the look, feel and smell of it. Just let your child know that they don’t have to eat it.
• Acknowledge that it’s tricky to try a new food. For example, if your child lets you know that the food ‘stinks’ or is ‘gross’, say, ‘Yes, it does have a strong smell that you’re not used to’.

You might have to do this over several meals before your child is willing to even take a bite of the new food.

Introduce new foods in non-food contexts

If you can introduce new foods away from the family table, it can reduce the pressure your child feels about trying them. For example:

• Visit the supermarket or grocery store together to look at new foods.
• Look at pictures of new foods.
• Look at recipes and prepare meals together.
• Explore new foods through play – for example, by squashing, painting, stacking or smelling.

As your child becomes more comfortable with new foods in these contexts, you can start introducing new foods at the table.

Use neutral language when talking about food

Using neutral language about food can help your child be curious about food and explore it without judgment.

• Talk about the food’s texture or function. For example, ‘It’s crunchy’ or ‘It gives your body energy’.
• Describe food in relation to nutrients. For example, ‘This food has plenty of protein, which will help your brain grow’.
• Avoid using words like ‘bad’ or ‘good’ food. Instead, talk about food that you eat often or food that you eat at special occasions like birthday parties.

Change the way you present food

Making small changes to the way you present food might encourage your child to try new and more foods over time. For example:

• Put food on a different colour plate.
• Put a healthy snack in a favourite lunch box.

Share meals

When you share regular meals and snacks with your child, you model healthy eating habits and a varied diet for your child. When you’re using this approach, give your child food that you know they’ll eat as well as new foods. Let your child decide whether they want to try the new food.

Keep to a routine

Offer your child meals and snacks at regular times. This encourages a better appetite at mealtimes. Also, having regular meals and snacks sends the message that healthy eating is part of your family’s routine.

Some autistic children will mouth or eat non-food items, like dirt, hair, coins, soap or fabric. This is called pica. You could try replacing non-food items with snacks, and praise your child whenever they choose a food item rather than a non-food item. If it’s difficult to manage your child’s pica, speak to your child’s paediatrician or other health professional.

Where to get help with your autistic child’s fussy eating

If your child eats in a very selective or restrictive way or seems to have a small or reduced appetite, they might not be getting the nutrients they need. It’s a good idea to talk with your child’s GP or paediatrician, a dietitian or an occupational therapist. And it’s always best to talk with one of these professionals if you think you need to supplement or significantly change your child’s diet.