Eating habits of autistic children

Food is the basic human need.We all feel hungry and eat to resolve this hunger.Usually a mother feeds child uptil he learns independent eating. In normal course it extends to not more than one or two years.What if it prolongs to years and years surely it becomes tough .
In case of children with special need it becomes very very important that we train our kids for independent eating as soon as possible.
Now if you say which kids I am talking about.In case of autism self eating does not come naturally. But not that it can not come.If we train kids giving small targets then they can easily achieve it.Early we start earliest we achieve.

All we need to do is follow simple steps:

Improve hand eye co ordination by occupational therapy exercises

Guide with bites or small portions for how much child should should take in one go.

Give small targets like 5 bites by the child then rest by mother .Slowly increasing the number.

While child eats chew before him and keep saying chew chew chew.Point towards your own face.If possible avoid food with I pads or television.

Most autistic kids avoid eating veggies be it raw or cooked.Try boil or grate veggies and mix in flour without water .Then make chapatis or paranthas.

As sensory integration is high in oral cavity.Most children do not like sour or spicy taste.Oro motor exercises can reduce the sensory issues try doing them.

One meal in a day should be of their choice .Also the most hunger meal should have one small portion of food they dislike. That too at the meal starting and follow up with self eating.