Food sensitivities and selective eating (aka picky eating) can be quite common in autistic and neurodivergent children, which isn't really surprising given that there are a lot of sensory aspects to consider when it comes to food. Think beyond taste and texture here. The sight, smell, and even sound of someone eating can be quite bothersome for some kids.
You might refer to your picky eater as selective, particular, self-determined, or restricted. But perhaps your child just enjoys specific foods because they're safe, predictable, and don't overwhelm the senses.
Now, obviously, there's also the possibility of ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder) with autistic kids, but that isn't a topic that I cover here. It's a bit beyond my scope of expertise, to be frank.
Instead, the resources here focus on supporting your kids at mealtimes, understanding things like samefoods, and exploring the sensory connections with food.
So, without further ado, let's take a look at some of those mealtime support resources for picky eating, selective eating, and food sensitivities.
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Mealtime Support Resources
Below you will find a variety of resources, strategies, and printables to support autistic and neurodivergent kids at mealtimes or at snack time.
From understanding samefoods and determining your child's food preferences to social stories and resources to help kids explore nutrition related topics, you're sure to find something that will be helpful.
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WHAT ARE SAMEFOODS IN AUTISM?
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FREE PRINTABLE TRYING NEW FOODS CHART
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FREE PRINTABLE PICKY EATING TRACKING SHEET
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FREE TRYING NEW FOODS SOCIAL STORY
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WHEN THINGS SMELL TOO STRONG SOCIAL STORY (EDITABLE)
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MEALTIME STRATEGIES FOR HYPERLEXIC KIDS
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ALERTING & CALMING SENSORY SNACKS
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SELF CARE NUTRITION PRINTABLE PACK
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SELF CARE KITCHEN TASKS PRINTABLE PACK
Grocery Shopping, Restaurants, School Lunches, & More
Sometimes our meals are at school or at a restaurant. Sometimes our kids need support navigating shopping at the grocery store. So it's important to think beyond the home too. That's what you'll find in this section: resources to help with food challenges outside of the home.
That's it for our mealtime support resources. Check back frequently for more resources.