Autism, or autistic spectrum condition (ASC), is a lifelong condition. But there are also reports of this condition improving.
Basically, autism affects the brain and how a person communicates and relates to other people and the world around them.
Children with autism often have eating disorders. This emphasises the need to make the right choice of diet for anyone with this condition.
Autism affects people in different ways with varying symptoms, level of functioning and challenges. This makes it a spectrum condition that requires proper care from care givers or parents.
Also, every autistic person is blessed with different abilities and personality.
While some experience increased sensitivity to light, others experience same to touch, sound and taste (1).
This differences also means a lot when you are choosing the food you give them.
However, above all, remember that a balanced diet is important for the individual’s’ development and good health.
Dietary Considerations For Autism
While you consider their diet, it is important that you factor in these dietary considerations associated with autism.
Routine Around Meal Time
Persons with autism love to predict their environment and even meal time.
As such, experts recommend that you create a routine around mealtime.
Something like specific seating for the autistic person and the people who eat with him or her.
Also, consider the specific cutlery and plates they use.
Furthermore, find out if they love to eat alone.
These are necessary, because they are often sensitive to smells, sights and sound. At mealtimes, these could impact eating.
As a result, you need to consider so many things while choosing a diet for a person with autism.
One thing you must avoid is making meal time a scary moment for the person.
Also, autistic persons may prefer foods that are predictable. That is, foods they can predict by the way they look, smell or taste.
Making their foods predictable helps reduce anxiety.
For the choice of food items, here is what you should know.
In most cases foods that contain fibre are great for persons with autism.
Experts suggest that high fibre foods – wholegrains, breakfast cereal, beans (red kidney beans), red rice, wholegrain bread, fruits and vegetables – help increase fibre intake.
These meals aid digestion and reduce gastrointestinal symptoms.
Furthermore, add to their diet, 6 to 8 drinks a day. Preferably, natural juices that you blend and filter.
Any gastrointestinal symptoms should be managed in the same way as in those who are not autistic.
Gluten-free Diet
You see, gluten is one compound in some foods that people do not know their system does not tolerate.
Unfortunately, you could be having gluten intolerance and not know it is your food that is the issue.
As a result, it may be necessary to ensure that the foods you give to a person with autism do not contain gluten.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley and foods made from them.
Wheat (both natural and process) contain gluten in high amount and most processed foods are made from it.
This is why you need to avoid giving them foods that are processed with flour as one of the compounds.
Some of these processed foods are bread, pasta, biscuits and breakfast cereals.
Consider Casein
Also, another compound to consider is casein.
It is a protein found in cow, goat and sheep milks. Some foods made from them are cream, yoghurt and cheese.
Some persons with autism are sensitive to these foods.
Interestingly, some people report feeling better when you take out these foods from their diet.
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Although, some persons may feel better with yoghurt in their diet. Remember that yoghurt provides good bacteria in the gut.
Take time to understand if the person reacts negatively to these foods before excluding them totally from their diets.
This is because, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advises not to use exclusion diets such as gluten and casein-free diets.
They warn that this may make the autistic person miss out on certain nutrients.
In children, this may lead to weight loss and affect their growth.
Energy-dense Food
Furthermore, persons with autism tend to prefer energy-dense food with low nutrition.
But you should find a way to exclude this from their diet.
A study warns that this diet could alter their metabolism, leading to the accumulation of oxidative radicals, causing them to deteriorate mentally and physically (2).
Note, however, that they would be some tantrums and behavioural problems that come with depriving them these foods.
Find a good way to manage the situation to ensure you do not make them begin to feel uncomfortable with meal times.
You may adopt a gradual withdrawal of these energy-dense foods with low nutrition.
While you withdraw these foods (processed foods most especially), increase the visibility of other healthier alternatives.
Gradually, the autistic person will become more aware of these foods and familiarity will increase.
Experts recommend that you could involve the autistic child in shopping or chopping vegetables if they are happy to, even if they are not expected to eat it.
Finally, when it comes to feed a person with autism right, patience is a good virtue to get.
Take small steps per time and praise the autistic person along the way to reinforce their improvement.