Will the “eat it or starve” method work for my 3 year old autistic son?

Question

He’s super picky !! He only eats chicken nuggets/tenders and frys, cherrios , yogurt/pudding , bananas, fruit snacks, crackers, and 100% fruit slushy things .. honestly that’s all , if I try to give him something else he will scream and cry

Answer

Not with a child who has autism. They have sensory sensitivities which is what causes a lot of their particularities. I would consult with his doctor and even a specialist in the area of autism.

Answer

Well I will say it could be worse. Chicken and fruit is good. I know a girl that won’t eat anything but Mac and cheese. I can’t tell you for sure because I don’t know your son but it’s very possible he just wouldn’t eat. I would try to find very similar foods and just change things little at a time.

Answer

I’m mother to an autistic 16 year old.  He is still an extremely picky eater.  These children simply can’t tolerate some foods, it could be the texture or smell but whatever the reason it’s very real for them.  Don’t try to force anything they dont want.  As your child gets older you may be able to get him to try new foods but dont count on it as autistic children hate change.  My son can earn an extra hour of Xbox if he trys what we are having for dinner.  Sometimes, though not often he will try something.  But it’s very rare that he likes anything different. Pick your battles, this is one you won’t win.  This is from a Mom whose been there.  Be sure to give a good multiple vitamin, this is what my pediatrician suggested.  It’s very difficult, I know, hang in there.

Answer

He’s young and he has a disorder that makes it difficult for him to communicate... I would not use that method on him. What he will eat sounds healthy enough. Probably makes shopping for him easier, too. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 
I’m a teacher working with several students with asd (different than being a parent, I understand).. but when something works for these students, I stick to it! Why rock the boat unnecessarily?

Answer

Autism or not, if kids have enough will they will starve themselves. They might get creative and eat paper or something silly before they do, but you’ll never get far with that method.

Answer

The best thing to do is always offer various foods (and eat them yourself) but also make sure there are options that they will eat. Your dealing with an autistic child—not simply a stubborn or spoiled child. There could be a million different reasons why he doesn’t like this or that and you may never know why things really bother him. With my son things change quickly from week to week and he constantly keeps us guessing. 
They do recommend avoiding processed foods so I would honestly just maybe work on shifting what he will eat to healthier options if your concerned about how healthy his diet is.

Answer

I would say not for an autistic child. Some autistic children can not handle certain foods. As long as he is eating that’s what matters, it’s not like he only eats candy. He seems to have a good variety of foods: protein, carbs, dairy and fruit. I would see if there are any veggies he will tolerate but don’t force anything. Talk to your pediatrician about if there are any other supplements you can give your child to involve other nutrients and vitamins in his diet. Best of luck.

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I don’t think food should ever be used as punishment and there has been research done to back that up.

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If you are worried about him not getting the nutrients he needs, there are some ways to hide puréed veggies in tastier foods that he might like! 
But I am not a mom and I can’t judge any of your methods! Do what works best for you and your son! Best of luck!

Answer

🤦🏻‍♀️ please seek some therapy. I can't even believe this is a question. I'm a Behavioral Health Professional who works with children with Autism. I'd never tell a typically developing child to "eat it or starve" so I sure as hell would never do this to a child with Autism or any other intellectual disability. This is completely unacceptable. Please take the time to educate yourself so you know and understand your child better.

Will the “eat it or starve” method work for my 3 year old autistic son?

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