The Autism Diet (starter)

Posted on September 30, 2012 by B's Dad

This post is now available in the ‘Life with an Autistic Son’ ebook available to download from Amazon.

LWAAS 3d book cover

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17 Responses to The Autism Diet (starter)

  1. Autism Mom says:
    September 30, 2012 at 5:16 am

    This story made me laugh and cry,mixed feelings as always.Like your another story here, B’s sooooo much like my son! As I read through, I felt really like I’m reading about my son( ha ha!). Your stories make me laugh so often because I can related to most everything, how my son is and what my son does to B’s. At the same time, makes me tear a lot because I can feel you and your wife’s experiences with B just as my own.

    This time, it was so funny reading about B’s behavior toward Bread and toast and “addicted to McNuggets” and so on. I can’t say enough that my son is EXACTLY the same! And the way you described it makes it so funny.Even though reality is that I’m having many difficulties with my son with those little challenges in everyday life, your writing makes it so humorous.

    I can tell you this for not only about this story but all of your past story that I keep on saying, “Yes,I know, I know!” with laughing or “Yes, I know…I know…” with tears while I’m reading your story, My son is 10 years old now, but I’ve been through (and my son’s been through) the same thing as you, your wife, and B’s been through. We still have some issues carrying on up to now and keep on working everyday. Then also I know, as always, we’ll face new issues toward the future.

    Anyway, thank you so much for describing you and B’s life in such a honest way and sometimes humorously. Your writing is comforting to read that I can feel I’m not alone. People are out there surviving in the same way as we’re right this moment.

    Thank you!

    Reply
  2. septicgirl says:
    September 30, 2012 at 7:57 am

    Just as autism mom commented, this post made me smile. My son is not diagnosed with ASD but has many traits! Yesterday’s meal was in McDonald’s too and I hate the place. But he loves it! I am lucky as my son loves homemade soup and homemade chicken curry. So I can hide lots of veggies in those, plus he is obsessed with eating apples so I allow 2 per day. But his choice would be pizza and chips everyday for every meal!

    Reply
  3. Anita says:
    September 30, 2012 at 9:05 am

    Our story has been very similar until we had to deal with a wheat intolerance as well!!

    Now Sean’s diet is even more limited, eating out is not done without his packed lunch and even McDonalds is off the menu!!!!!

    Reply
  4. Wendy says:
    September 30, 2012 at 11:06 am

    Loved reading this, and like others, yep that is also our son, he thought it was the best thing in the world when his big brother became manager of our local McDonald’s. It is reassuring to know that we are not the only ones fighting with frustration as to ” he liked it last week”, teachers ask him if he eats this that and the other and he says” I love it”, yeah right, he tapped it with his tongue and vowed to have more next time, only for it to never pass his lips again, but of course after telling the other adults that he ” loves it”, we are left looking like story tellers when we describe how he has a very limited diet. I swear they are expecting my nose to resemble pinocchio. Good luck fellow battlers.

    Reply
  5. Mary-cakes says:
    September 30, 2012 at 1:19 pm

    Hi 🙂

    Great blog! Just discovered it!! Relate to it all!! Going to get that book thanks for tip 🙂 as for eating with hands I discovered my son found using cutlery an issue because of motor planning issues perhaps it is similar for your son? At 15 my son now copes much better with cutlery but will still use hands by preference if he can get away with it 🙂 you can get cutlery that makes life easier for them if that is what is going on. We found it really helped 🙂 with perseverance of course! Caring cutlery is what you are looking for. http://www.handyhealthcare.co.uk/mobility-aids/household/cutlery/caring-cutlery.html. Also if he has low muscle tone due to dispraxia or similar then sitting can be uncomfortable so often results in loss of interest in food you can get cushions and stuff to help with that 🙂 hope some of this helps if u don’t already know it all 🙂 thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  6. Margaret Woodward says:
    October 1, 2012 at 11:22 am

    Hi, great blog, but my story is slightly different.. in that my daughter loves food…all food. She would continually eat – no matter what you put in front of her. I am constantly battling to keep her out the fridge. She is extremely overweight and everyday is a constant battle.

    Reply
    • helena1002 says:
      October 6, 2012 at 10:43 pm

      You may have already looked into this, but has your daughter been considered to have Prada-Willi Syndrome? People with P-WS do not recognise that they are full and just keep eating.
      My ASD son loves certain types of food, doesn’t use cutlery or sit at the table either. He is learning that not all food belongs to him, though he still has a tendency to mug the ducks in the park for their bread!

      Reply

  7. Pingback: The Autism Diet (starter) « Raising kids with diagnosed/undiagnosed autism

  8. glynis charlesworth says:
    October 1, 2012 at 4:39 pm

    im in that book my 3 sons are still set in their ways when it comes to eating but paul who was then 4 has not improved one bit tho hes been seen by all in area they did in end get blood tests done but whats use of handing over a paper saying this is what he needs to take when im not only faced with a son with high high functioning autism but sensory processing disorder too? ok is it right shape size smell or have any taste ? have got him taking some vitamins but not all he should be having he coming up for 16 now wont go near cooked food at all wont stay in same area as any food smell hes very hypersensitive to the smell and theirs no hiding anything as he don’t eat anything in order to hide it in and will pick up on any change when things go improved /new recipe let alone the packaging
    anyone found anyone of any help with any of this with in u.k please let me know THANKS

    Reply
  9. caffieneplease says:
    October 1, 2012 at 9:19 pm

    I enjoyed your post. I can relate!

    Reply
  10. J's mum says:
    October 2, 2012 at 10:20 am

    I came across your blog a while back but this is my first post to it.

    This most recent post had me nodding like the Churchill Dog to everything that you’ve said. My DS (aged 4 and half) also has a limited diet and can be fickle as to how food is presented. He doesn’t eat fruit and the only veg we can get in him belongs to a well known brand of tomato and basil sauce and even then, it is only allowed to be put on fuiselli (sp?) pasta. Any other type of pasta is a no no for sauce. And yes, if he could he’d probably live on fish fingers and oven chips. J himself was open to any food when weening and in fact, ate everything put in front of him.

    He also will eat with fingers rather than cutlery. What we’ve found though is that getting him to eat at the dining table just doesn’t happen, he will not sit still and will move around so he now eats at the little table and chairs that we have in the living room whilst watching the telly (another thing I swore that would never happen – eating whilst watching telly!!) but by doing it this way, he does eat his food.

    Anyway, your blog is a really good read.

    Reply
  11. laurenharmon says:
    October 4, 2012 at 9:17 am

    Thanks for this. My little man hasn’t been dxd on the specturm as of yet, but we are well on our way. I thought his food issues was his age, that he was just starting the pickiness I only want X Y or Z. After reading this I just don’t know. The other night we were at dinner at my parents and a meal he would have eaten a few months ago got thrown on the floor. Because mom was out of chicken nuggets I made him a cheese quesadilla. My son could survive on cheese. Everything is cheese…please. Of course, not having a mom who is understanding gets on to me about making sure little man has a well balanced diet. If she only knew what it’s like on a daily basis. We don’t do the golden arches, but Chic-Fil-A. I’m so glad they at least have a grilled nugget and applesauce option.

    Reply
  12. Karen says:
    October 15, 2012 at 7:13 pm

    This might be a stupid question, but would your son eat frozen peas or sweetcorn? My nephew treated frozen peas like popcorn. Also the seating issue at mealtimes, could you use some sort of beanbag on a normal chair? Clearly would need to be frigged for safety but may give the safe feeling he needs

    Reply
  13. Bea says:
    October 19, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Just reading this is like you are describing my son to a tee…. Sad as it is, its also comforting to know we are not alone. Thanks for sharing B’s life so honestly.

    Reply

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