Autism and Diet - How to get my child with Autism to try new foods

I have teamed up with Ciara from My fussy eater this week to discuss all things to do with food sensory issues, how to get your autisic child to try new foods.
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**Chicken Dippers**
INGREDIENTS
400g chicken mini fillets or chicken breasts cut into strips
2 medium eggs
70g ground almonds
1/4 tsp ground cumin
salt and pepper
2 tbsp oil
INSTRUCTIONS
Make an assembly line with all the ingredients that you need. Place the mini fillets on a plate. Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk with a fork. Add the ground almonds, cumin, and a little salt and pepper to another bowl and mix with your hand. Have an empty plate at the end on which to place the coated chicken.
Take each mini fillets, dip it in the egg, coat in the almond mixture and then place on the empty plate. Repeat with each piece of chicken.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan on medium heat and add the chicken dippers once the oil is very hot. Fry for about 4 minutes on one side and 3 minutes on the other side, ensuring the chicken is crispy and brown on the outside and cooked through on the inside.
Serve immediately.
NOTES:
These Dippers can be made in advance and kept in the fridge for up to 12 hours before cooking. They can also be frozen. Make as normal but instead of cooking them, freeze the dippers in a single layer on a plate or tray. When frozen transfer to a freezer safe container or bag.
** Red Lentil Pasta Sauce**
INGREDIENTS
1 kg passata
150g dried red lentils
600ml vegetable stock
1 tsp oregano
salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Add the passata, lentils, vegetable stock and oregano to a large saucepan.
2. Bring to the boil, cover loosely with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes until the lentils are soft.
3. Use either a stick blender or stand blender to blitz the sauce until smooth.
4. If the sauce seems a little too thick add some water until it reaches the right consistency.
5. Season to taste with salt and pepper (skip this if serving to babies).
6. Mix the sauce with cooked pasta and serve immediately.
NOTES
This recipe makes a big batch of the sauce so whatever is left over can be stored in a covered jar or container in the fridge for up to 3 days or transferred into freezer bags or containers and frozen for up to 3 months.
To defrost leave in the fridge overnight or put the frozen sauce into a saucepan and gently heat until completely defrosted and warmed through.
Links:
My Fussy Eater blog: www.myfussyeater.com/
My Fussy Eater app: itunes.apple.com/gb/app/my-fu...
My Fussy Eater KZbin Channel: / @myfussyeater
Nana's Manners: www.nanasmanners.com/
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Social media:
Instagram - / taraleniston
Facebook - / cominghometoautism
Website - cominghometoautism.com/
Business enquiries:
[e-mail]
Video Producer:
Tiara Westlake www.kamukami.com/
Music:
Music by Simon Cade
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[@jannetf3006]

I have a younger brother (5) and he doesn't eat new foods not even desserts that other kids might want to try. It is sometimes sad when he sits at party and doesn't want to try the cake or drink some juice but when he tries even just a little bite, it feels amazing and it just shows that the struggle is worthwhile. I've been finding ways to help him try new things and I'm glad to have found your KZbin account :D Best wishes to you

[@itsummAbdullah]

my son is 5 years old, and he is the same. He simply doesn't want to, but if he does, seems to enjoy it... But first, trying itself is a hassle.

[@srtacarla5833]

One thing to consider is that most children with ASD have leaky gut syndrome. Meaning that they won’t be able to absorb the nutrients the same way a healthy child would. For example you might find an extremely skinny child with ASD that refuses to eat every time., he is most likely to be anemic the begin with. A good multivitamin for that child will make the difference to his appetite. Anemia or other deficiency like low protein produces loss of appetite.

[@whitneymason406]

Just found your channel! My son is 4, nonverbal and was diagnosed with autism at age 2. I just got my own autism diagnosis this summer. I just thought I had severe depression and social anxiety and didn't even consider autism because I present so differently from my son. My son is a picky eater and I was a picky eater as a child. My babysitter would have me eat dinner right after school and that really helped because I was starving and on the verge of a meltdown from masking all day. I agree with what both you said, you have to throw out some old rules and expectations and just do what's best for your family. Thanks for sharing!

[@shelljennings956]

I had a light bulb 💡 moment my son can eat pringles and wants pringles all the time, I didnt even think sensory 🤦‍♀️ haha learn something new every day. Thank you both

[@rosiedispensa6697]

Dried/roasted chickpeas might be an awesome replacement to chips who want to eat crunchy foods

[@My89Rhythm]

Really enjoyed this video. I am going to buy the book immediately.

[@ComingHometoAutism]

thank you so much please do let us know how you get on x

[@Ecclectic_citcelccE]

I loved that silent celebration at the end!!😍

[@ComingHometoAutism]

;-)

[@aminamohamoud2933]

Hello Tara, I am so happy to find your channel, you are an amazing human and mum and I can see that in your children specially Dylan, I have 6 years old daughter with autism, Eliminating gluten and dairy were a big step for us, my daughter only uses two to three words but not sentences or spontaneous speach, please can you share with us any therapies or programs that helped Dylan to speak? and how long does is take him to, I got your book few days ago but haven’t seen any therapies you have done. I am so happy for you and your family and I pray to all our children with or without autism to have bright future

[@ComingHometoAutism]

Amina Mohamoud thank you for taking the time write such a lovely comment . In my book the chapter out and about I talk about some of the therapies I did with Dylan’. I found ABA quiet good and lots of speech therapy . Intense courses ect. We followed a sensory diet which was given to us by the occupational therapist . That combined was very useful for us. Hope this helps x

[@soycandyyque4412]

I love ciara! I got her app ! She has amazing recipes not just for kids with autism, I do recommend her !

[@stephanieyepez7246]

What is her apps name?

[@soycandyyque4412]

@@stephanieyepez7246 my Fussy Eater and also she has a Facebook page ! She post a lot of easy recipes on both ( app and Facebook )

[@rainbowkitten8990]

I have autism myself, and may not be a child anymore (I am 20) but have so many issues with food. We have lots of comfort foods in my house, snacks etc that make me feel comfortable eating. I have anemia because I don't get enough in, so have started on vitamins and food supplements.

[@jeanguerrero8305]

My almost 1y/o son is picky eater but we try to explore and feed him something different. He likes fruits, orange, banana, ripe mangoes. He eats rice, cereal, oatmeal, chicken and fish. He likes gerber puffs so much! He ate soups too. However, sometimes the ones he likes and ate before, somehow he doesn’t eat it. Policy it’s a different taste to him like if the banana or oranges is not sweet or sweet, or too ripe when he ate it before. I tried egg and broccoli but he didn’t like them. Carrots we minced it and put it in his cereal. So far, he ate it. It’s challenging because idk what to try too and what will he eat if he has sensory issue as he grow older.

[@alisona8732]

I have done a few my fussy eaters recipes. They are great. I have recently discovered your channel and finding your videos very useful. My daughter is 3 and has been referred due to her speech delay. Do your cover in any of your videos how Dylan’s speech progressed? I am currently watching them all and this has been a very helpful channel x

[@ComingHometoAutism]

hi there thank you for your comment. I havent yet we are going to be doing one in october though. He was pretty much non verbal until he was 5 then he made some words that no one could understand other than my self! he knows words now if you ask them what they are bit he still finds it hard to put them in to sentences. this is something we are still working on. x

[@carmenperham9238]

Thank you for this Video Girls. My boy 7 years now, only eats fresh bread rolls (only the outside) crust, must be torpeedo shape or oven bake rolls from supermaket warmed up, rose petals fresh out of the Garden, roasted pinenuts , plain milk and water. Nothing else that is food. He has "Pica' :(

[@carmenperham9238]

I know its all the things he shouldn't eat....other wise he will eat nothing...I am growing a fruit and veg and herbs out in garden to try and temp him to change

[@elsakarakatsani6709]

Dear Carmen seems that he likes crusty/crunchy things...try different kind of bread with flavor...olive, pumpkin, ...if he eats only the crust thats ok...after the 2-3 first times, say to him " do you like it?? There are olives inside??" Make him consious of other flavors...you can blend an egg in his milk and a sweet fruit, try a little at the beggining, if he like it put more...

[@hargwaynegegziabhre8044]

What about a 21 month old toddler who only will eat soft purreed food? And will only eat a couple of things only?

[@brianuke2301]

For us, having your kid help make the meal is the most important part of getting them to try it

[@kiarathomas5481]

My 4 year old daughter been sleeping with me from the time i had her until 3 and she now sleeps with her daddy every night because she gets up alot at night and want go back to sleep until he with her and she has autism two and my husband and i relationship is not the same and it hasn't been in years. and my one year old son sleep with me because that's the only way he goes to sleep and i need help about it all thanks 😢

[@omariyoung937]

My son only want pizza ice cream I'm trying to get him to eat healthy he's twelve years old and you do not like water I cannot get him to drink water the only way is I mix it and his soda

[@lisaorme8879]

Fab video. We are lucky Alfie will eat most things. He loves veg just funny with strong smells so no salt and vinegar crisps or prawn cocktail lol but would happily eat a plate of sprouts and broccoli lol

[@ComingHometoAutism]

thats briliant x

[@xamdishuutye5025]

How can i get plz this book i am in africa special kenya

[@ComingHometoAutism]

Xamdi Shuutye hello there thank you for your comment. You can get both our books via amazon or any good book store should have it. Other wise I have a blog cominghometoautism.com where I post a lot of blog posts. Hope this helps x

[@Alyssa.asutaitis]

I’ve been eating the same things on repeat for the whole of my life (19 years) 😂 anything I did not have or try when I was a younger I am not trying now even my McDonald’s order is the same think I’d have a heart attack if they took it off the menu

[@secilbaran9019]

Hi can you advice me on which probiotics to use?

[@ComingHometoAutism]

hey there i have a video on supplements and probiotics ect hope this helps x

[@meglupo18]

Dr ohirras is fantastic. Check it out. They sell then at health food stores.

[@abbystephens9766]

I am the opposite I am willing to try new foods. I have high functioning Aspergers.

[@1736hiratariq]

Which country are you from?

[@ComingHometoAutism]

Originally from Ireland but I grew up in many countries and now we live in the uk x

[@meghansanderson1591]

My son I just found out has autism is such a picky eater really bad

[@ComingHometoAutism]

hi there, keep trying to offer him differnt foods in different ways even if he just plays with them. If he has something he likes try and sneak different foods in if you can. Dylan likes mince meat and once i got him established with pasta mince i pureed up some veggies. The lentils is a great way of sneaking more in too . My fussy eater has some great recipes on her website . hope this helps x

[@meghansanderson1591]

Thank u for replying and when people asked me how I was feeling I couldn’t put it into words and once I watched ur video I cried and said yes that’s exactly how I’m feeling Nd glad that I found someone who understood the feeling and could put it into words bc there’s so meany emotions you go threw the min the word rolls off the doctors tongue even though u new u still have a small bit of hope it might be something else so it’s just still something I’m dealing with also I have ABA and intervention for him had intervention be for we found out he had that so we had a jump start with that and they are amazing!!! Right now trying to figure out wich way to go with potty training due to Communication issues bc of his speech delay so looking up ways so if have any tips I’m all ears Have a blessed day

[@ComingHometoAutism]

@@meghansanderson1591 in my book i do talk about with a speech therapist how to potty train your child if that helps. we have a lot of tips that worked for my son on there x