Let’s Talk Picky Eating
Is your child a picky eater? Do they actively refuse to try new foods, or throw tantrums during mealtime? This can produce feelings of worry and frustration, but know you’re not alone! Mealtime meltdowns are one of the most common behavioral challenges we help parents manage. Food selectivity is especially prevalent among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)–with some studies estimating that up to 87% of the ASD population displays picky eating. This may be due to the intense sensory input that food provides.
Food selectivity can take many forms, including:
Selectivity by type, in which a child consumes only a narrow range of food;
Selectivity by texture; or
Selectivity by presentation, in which a strong preference is displayed for food being presented in a specific way.
Extreme food selectivity presents immediate nutritional concerns, since a varied diet provides children with essential nutrients. But selectivity can also have social impacts. Thriving in social environments often involves eating varied foods, of different textures, across people and settings. Thankfully, behavioral strategies can help transform mealtimes from a messy conflict to pleasant, nutritious bonding time for the family. Here is a snapshot of how behavioral intervention can help expand your child’s food repertoire and decrease challenging behaviors around mealtime.
Positive Reinforcement: Positive reinforcement is the foundation of all we do in ABA. When positive reinforcement follows a behavior, that behavior is more likely to occur again in the future. For instance, preferred foods can serve as powerful reinforcers, and be easily incorporated throughout a meal. Reflect on what items or activities might be most motivating to your child, and introduce those following any desired behavior such as accepting a bite of new food, or staying seated at the table.
Family Meal Time: Eating as a family provides numerous learning opportunities for your child, by modeling healthy eating and pairing the act of eating with social connection. By making the overall experience of eating more enjoyable, we decrease desire to escape from mealtime.
Simultaneous Presentation: Present a preferred food alongside a novel food to increase acceptance of the novel food. Simultaneous presentation is a common way for many people to enjoy foods (for instance, serving bitter greens with a savory dressing).
Controlled Choices: It is natural for your child to desire a degree of agency over what and how they eat. Giving your child controlled choices can reduce resistance during mealtime. (For instance, ask your child: “do you want 3 blueberries or 5?”; “Which chair do you want to sit in tonight?”)
If your child is displaying extreme food selectivity and/or challenging behavior around mealtime, High Point ABA can help prepare a detailed intervention plan for your family.