Eating

Sensory aversion and food

Nearly all autistic people experience sensory differences, and these can make eating an intense or even unpleasant experience. A squishy texture, a bitter taste, or an unexpected crunch can be nearly unbearable. This is often framed as bad behaviour, but imagine being forced to eat something truly inedible to you – a beetle, say, or spoiled milk. Now imagine never knowing when that thing was going to turn up in your food! You might be suspicious too, especially if your parent kept trying to sneak it in without warning.

Rather than forcing it, build trust and give plenty of reassurance. Start with safe foods and build up slowly from there.

Once you have a sense of a person’s sensory profile – do they prefer strong tastes or bland ones? Crunchy and dry textures or soft and smooth ones? – you can try to adjust to their needs. This might involve blending sauces to remove any chunks, or finding a version of a crunchy cookie that suits their texture preference. Encourage them to touch, smell, and lick the food. Don’t worry if they spit it out. The goal is to lessen anxiety about unfamiliar foods, not to force them to eat

How food looks is closely connected to the need for comfort and feeling safe while eating. If a person is used to being very careful around food, they may have noticed that a change in packaging often means a change in the food. They also might feel that if their parent or carer hasn’t listened to how they like it set out on the plate, then their other preferences might be ignored as well. On the other hand, if you’ve earned their trust by understanding their sensory needs with food, then if something unavoidably changes (like a new recipe from the manufacturer), you’re more likely to be able to work together to find a solution.

Keep in mind that even professional chefs put a lot of weight on the presentation of food and how that affects the people eating it. Presentation is important to all of us when we eat.

Sometimes a few simple adjustments to the environment can go a long way. Are there too many distractions, like a busy, smelly lunch hall? Or is there an intimidating silence, with too much focus on the food? A move to a different room could help. Or even something to read or watch while they’re eating

In addition to the physical surroundings, the social situation can impact someone’s eating habits. Sometimes, a change in the situation – like visiting grandparents or going to a favourite restaurant – can help reduce anxiety about food. It might also be a chance to try something a bit different. For some individuals, having company might encourage them to try new foods if they see others enjoying them.

However, the opposite can also be true. If a social setting makes someone anxious, they might prefer to eat alone or with only a few trusted people.

When eating in different places, like restaurants or others’ homes, having a routine can be helpful. Gather as much information as possible about the available food, who will be there, and how long the event will last. If there won’t be any safe food options, consider bringing some along or having them eat before the event.

Autistic people often prefer to follow a predictable routine, which is often connected to their issues around food aversion and anxiety. A predictable environment, predictable food presentation, predictable food – these are all a form of routine. This can also mean processed foods feel safer than fresh ones because by their nature they’re always the same.

Any connection to an autistic person’s intense interests can be helpful. They might see their favourite characters eating something in a show, or they might be curious about the food in a different region they like learning about. It could be as simple as a character-branded plate or food cut into train shapes, or something more involved, like learning about growing your own food.

Sometimes problems with eating are a symptom of a deeper physical issue. It could be as straightforward as constipation or a toothache, or it could be a side effect of some medication or the beginning of a stomach flu. Because autistic people can sometimes have poor interoception, different belly-feelings like hunger, stress, or the need to use the toilet can also get muddled up and make it hard to tell one from the other, which can lead to unusual eating patterns as a person seeks relief but isn’t quite sure how to get it.

It’s important to keep in mind that problems with food might have a real physical cause and to make sure that the person you’re supporting has the means to communicate about pain or discomfort. Visual scales can help, or any augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) they prefer. Autistic people often express pain differently from allistic people, so it’s all the more important to listen and believe what a person tells you about how they’re feeling.

Emotions and food are closely related for most people, autistic and allistic alike. Sometimes if a person is struggling to eat well it’s connected to a different need that’s not being met. They could be turning to food for comfort, or avoiding it because of stress or anxiety.

If you’ve been keeping a food diary, it might provide some helpful context. Depending on your relationship and on the person you’re supporting, you may broach the subject openly if you have concerns, and listen to what they have to say, whether via mouth-words or an alternative method.

As with physical pain, issues with food might be a symptom of a deeper emotional need. Rather than focussing on the food, try addressing the deeper need in the first instance.

Pica is an eating disorder characterised by a person eating or mouthing non-edible items. It is often a sign of a vitamin or mineral deficiency, so it is important to consult with a GP to rule out a medical issue.

Autistic people may also chew on or eat non-edible items as a sensory stim, or due to stress or anxiety. If that’s the case, there are many alternatives available, such as chewable jewellery, chewing gum, or crunchy food. If the issue is stress or anxiety, obviously that would need to be addressed and supported directly.

Sometimes problems with eating are down to specific physical or developmental conditions. This could include delays in muscle development, or a genetic condition like Prada-Willi Syndrome, which keeps a person from feeling full. These would need treatment and support in their own right, with the appropriate professionals.