Over the Rainbow: Getting Kids with Autism to Try Colorful Foods

Feeding a child on the spectrum with picky eating can be challenging for a variety of reasons. To name a few:

• Your son/daughter may be more sensitive to taste, texture, smell, or temperature
• He/she may have skill delays that make using utensils, or even chewing or swallowing, difficult
• Your child may crave predictability and want the same meal night after night
• Your child could experience discomfort related to eating such as heartburn or tummy aches

Read more here at Autism Parenting magazine. 

New Autism Study: Gluten-free Diet Does Not Help Autistic Children

The new study, just published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, is the first randomized, well-controlled study of gluten-free diets in children with autism. The scientists, all from the University of Warsaw, Poland, recruited 66 children, and assigned half of them at random to a gluten-free diet. The other half were given a normal diet, with at least one meal a day containing gluten, for 6 months. The children ranged from 3 to 5 years old. After 6 months, the scientists evaluated all children using multiple standardized measurements of autistic behavior.

The results were very clear: the study found no difference between the diets. None of the core symptoms of ASD were different between children in the two groups, and there were no differences in gastrointestinal symptoms either. 

Read more here. 

Unusual eating behaviors may be a new diagnostic indicator for autism

 Atypical eating behaviors may be a sign a child should be screened for autism, according to a new study from Penn State College of Medicine.

Research by Susan Mayes, professor of psychiatry, found that atypical eating behaviors were present in 70% of children with autism, which is 15 times more common than in neurotypical children. 

Atypical eating behaviors may include severely limited food preferences, hypersensitivity to food textures or temperatures, and pocketing food without swallowing.

According to Mayes, these behaviors are present in many 1-year-olds with autism and could signal to doctors and parents that a child may have autism.

Read more here. 

Great Ways to Improve Life and Social Skills In the Kitchen

Kids with autism are more likely than their peers to have food aversions, which leads to a poor quality diet. Inviting children into the kitchen to experience various textures and temperatures is often the first step to eventually tasting something new. Research shows that children are more likely to eat a meal when they are involved in its preparation and that children who are exposed to food outside of meal times tend to have diverse diets.

The benefits of cooking extend beyond diet. Cooking is a valuable life skill that fosters confidence and independence. Being in the kitchen with others can improve communication and social skills. Following a recipe teaches reading, listening, math, and sequencing. Learning to prepare food can promote sensory integration and focus. Finally, many parents find that cooking with their child is a gratifying opportunity for connection.

Read more here at Autism Parenting magazine. 

Mealtime and Children on the Autism Spectrum: Beyond Picky, Fussy, and Fads

Many parents of children on the autism spectrum struggle with their child’s severe eating problems with little or no professional help. In part, this is simply due to the limited number of specialists dealing with eating and feeding disorders. Furthermore, within this limited number of specialists few have much understanding and experience with children who have autism spectrum disorders.

Medical, behavioral, and environmental factors, including sensory difficulties, must be considered when feeding and eating problems occur. Within the scope of this article, medical and behavioral factors will be addressed briefly. Medical issues and frequently, behavioral issues, need to be assessed and addressed by working with the appropriate professionals. The environmental and sensory related issues will be discussed and outlined in more depth. It is the environmental and sensory related problems that families can often adjust on their own once they better understand their child’s needs.

Read more here at the Indiana Resource Center for Autism. 

Archived Webinar - Mood and ASD: Nutritional Strategies for Anxiety and Depression

 

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Tune in to learn about nutritional strategies for addressing anxiety and depression in ASD.

View the archived webinar here.

Archived Webinar - Mood and ASD: Nutritional Strategies for Anxiety and Depression

View the webinar here. 

Archived Webinar - Resolving Common Problems in Learning to Cook

Each person has unique challenges and abilities; consequently, there is no single path to development of authentic and generalizable cooking skills. At the same time, there are common difficulties which can be anticipated – and addressed. 

These include: 

- Difficulties in opening food packaging: A range of options will be offered for opening common products as well as traditional and pull-top cans. 

- Difficulties in mixing ingredients: Many individuals with motor challenges will need special methods to grasp the needed motion and the presentation will offer several. 

- Challenges in learning how to safely chop and cut ingredients: The presentation will briefly overview some of the most effective means for teaching prep skills with minimal risk. 

- Over-reliance on others to complete tasks: Independence is often hindered by well-meaning staff and caregivers. Several methods for overcoming this barrier are addressed. 

The presentation will briefly explain how Active Engagement allows the use of a pictorial cueing system instead conventional recipes.

View the webinar here. 

Archived Webinar - Specific Carbohydrate Diet for Autism

Nutritionist Kelly Barnhill shares research updates about nutrient intake and dietary status in ASD patients. Presentation includes an overview of the SCD diet for ASD patients a case study review.

View the webinar here. 

Archived Webinar - Diet and Autism

Dr. Susan Hyman, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician at University of Rochester, discussed "Diet and Autism" in this webinar recorded on July 25, 2018.

View the recorded webinar here. 

Archived Webinar - Diet and Autism

In this webinar, Dr. Susan Hyman discusses why individuals with autism have food selectivity, what kinds of problems food selectivity can lead to, how a proper diet can impact behavior, and evidence for dietary treatments for symptoms of autism. 

This webinar is 60 minutes long.

View the webinar here. 

Accommodating Disabilities in the School Meal Programs: Guidance and Questions and Answers (Q&As)

This Question and Answer (Q&A) memorandum is designed to provide practical guidance related to accommodating disabilities in the School Meal Programs.

The attached questions have been grouped under the following headings: General Information; What is a Disability?; Procedural Safeguards; Requesting a Modification; Making a Meal Modification; Reimbursement for Modified Meals; Accommodations to the Meal Service; Non-Disability Situations; and Miscellaneous.

Read more here.  

Archived Webinar - Feeding Q & A: Beyond the Basics

1. You’ve initiated a feeding intervention plan for your child, and you’ve hit a wall. 
2. Or you are slowly moving through a big scale plan that needs some additional support for success as it has taken longer to make progress than anticipated. 
5. Or maybe you simply want more strategies for success as you get started in helping your child. 

Join us for this webinar as we answer your questions and expand on multi-disciplinary options for behavioral, dietary, and nutritional support in a feeding program.

 

View the archived webinar here.

 

Archived Webinar - Food in Schools: Navigating the school environment for a child with food allergies or restrictions.

1. When a child has a food allergy or is avoiding common allergens based on medical advice, the school cafeteria looms large. Communicating with the appropriate school personnel, choosing to send lunches or arranging to buy school lunches, and planning for snack times, special events and parties are all topics that must be considered and planned. Join us for a discussion on this topic and get points to consider, ideas to implement, and a chance to have your questions answered.

View the archived webinar here.

Archived Webinar - Nutrition Interventions to Improve Sleep in Your Household

Sleep - that elusive achievement. Ask any parent what it is they would give anything for more of and chances are one of the top three answers would be sleep! 
If you need more of it in your household, join us for a discussion on nutrition interventions and strategies to help the increase the Zzzzz's in your home. Presented by Kelly Barnhill, MBA, CN, CCN, Director of Clinical Services, The Johnson Center for Child Health & Development


Watch the video here. 

Archived Webinar - Ask the Nutritionist - Live Q&A

Ever had a question wanted to ask a nutritionist? Here's your chance - ARI's Nutrition Director Kelly Barnhill will be taking participant's questions live online. 

View the webinar here on the Autism Research Institute web site. 

Archived Webinar - Tips for Feeding Picky Eaters

Many children with autism spectrum disorders develop food selectivity, or what may be called “picky eating.” It is not uncommon for children to restrict their diets to one or two things, to refuse to eat certain colors or textures, or to consume only pureed foods. This session will focus on strategies that have been demonstrated to be successful in helping children with autism learn to eat a wide variety of new foods. Participants will also learn what assessments should be completed before starting feeding therapy.

Watch the webinar here.

Help Needed: Child with Autism Eats Only When Spoonfed in Mom's Lap

It sounds like you have a few different factors to navigate: 1. Who is going to feed your son? You or will he feed himself? 2. Where is he going to sit while he eats? 3. What else will he be doing while he eats? First, it’s important to think about how and why these routines developed and to rule out any medical problems or lagging physical skills that might be getting in the way of the mealtime you’re hoping for.

 Read more here. 

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Archived Webinar on Autism and GI/Nutrition Issues

Please join speaker Dr. Timothy Buie, Director of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Lurie Center for Autism; Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and Harvard Medical School for a free one hour presentation on the recognition and management of GI and nutritional issues in children with ASD. 

Recognize the prevalence of GI issues in children with ASD and how these issues may be identified.

Describe the most commonly occurring GI symptoms and potential nutritional deficits in children with ASD. 

Discuss assessment needs and management strategies for children with ASD and GI and/or nutrition issues. 

Identify 2 ways in which amino acid-based formula/semi-solid food may be indicated for children with ASD with GI and/or nutrition issues.

View the archived webinar here.

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Parent Seeks Advice: Child with Autism Eats Only Candy & Chips

Ten strategies to try at homeAs for ideas to try at home, I have ten strategies to share. But first, take a deep breath and remember that change will take place in small increments. I want you to give yourself at least a full month to consistently try the following strategies for helping your daughter become more comfortable around a broader range of healthy food: 1. At every meal and snack time, offer a protein, vegetable or fruit, and a starch along with a small amount of her favorite chips. This may sound like a lot. But when a child is struggling with eating, we want to use every opportunity to provide a variety of nutritious options. Offer smaller quantities during snack time, but still offer options. If your child doesn’t eat her lunch, you will feel better knowing that she will have a full range of snack options coming up. And those familiar chips? They can give your daughter the signal that it’s okay to start eating. They will also encourage her to come to the table and sit with you.

 Read more about eating here.

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