As if coping with autism wasn’t difficult enough, meal times can become the battle of the century trying to get your autistic loved one to eat something, anything. Sometimes, due to their sensory issues, getting a child with autism to eat, can make you want to scream. One day they will eat something and the next day they scream when it comes near their mouth. Not to mention, your fears as a parent that your child is not getting adequate nutrition. So what do you do when your autistic child becomes a picky eater?

One option is to try the same food in another form. If they were unimpressed by the orange slices, provide them with a glass of orange juice. Won’t touch green vegetables serve them some V8. Of course, this can become difficult and you can feel like you are running a restaurant if you have other children you are preparing meals for, but like all aspects of the autistic world, it takes adjustments. The less you indulge in the food fight the better chance you have of overcoming the issue. Another possible issue is the upset over food touching other food. This can be easily remedied by using divided plates that do not allow contact between areas and therefore, the food remains separated.

Though coping with autism and picky eating can be a somewhat daunting task, it is essential to keep trying and doing your best as a parent to provide your child with what they need. If you notice a complete lack of certain nutrients or foods in their diet you best approach may be supplements. Do what you can and in time it becomes easier and more like second nature.