Autism & Food Issues 👉🏼 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gsecaquY1c6dYKs.html

I have tried to explain to people that even as an adult, it’s not that I’m picky, it’s that if come across certain tastes or textures, it takes all I have not to gag (or worse). I literally cannot eat certain things.

For about six months my son would ONLY eat french fries and peaches. We found a wonderful feeding therapist who really helped us get him to try new things and now there’s probably 20 things he will eat.

I am an aspie & have always had food issues. Texture. smell & the overall look of the food item. The only kid to never eat hot dogs or hamburgers, just the bread.

I am Autistic and ADHD. I am 60 years old. We did not have chicken nuggets or fast food when I was a child so I do not like fast food or takeaways. I do not like eating out I only like home cooked food. My parents did not know I was Autistic and I was treated the same as my siblings. I did not like meat or fish but I loved vegetables and fruit. I was always encouraged to try things I did not like or difficult so had to try a little bit on my plate. We only had chips on a weekend as a treat and only allowed sweets on the weekend because of weight problems. I was encouraged to exercise and did gymnastics, swimming and judo. Cycling and long long walks. My father always took us for very long walks to wear me out because I have sleep difficulties I have 3 hours sleep and sometimes none so I crash. We always ate our meals together. We had child size portions and child size cutlery. I was lucky because I had a very structured childhood and the same expectations as my siblings. Set mealtimes, bedtime and chores. We all helped to preoare the meal either preparing vegetables, doing dishes or laying the table dependent on age. I have learning difficulties but was always encouraged in the things I was good at. Meltdowns or tantrums they called them then, were not tolerated and I had to learn to cool down and use exercise to moderate myself. We had a very quiet and calm environment with vety little overstimulation. Tv was limited and we were encouraged to be active or had jigsaws, puzzles, bulding things, reading, drawing, painting and plasticine etc which required a lot of concentration. I think that the world is to stimulating now and that does not help children or adults with Autism. Because I did not like the texture of fish they gave me it in different ways and I persevered as I got older and eventually got used to the texture. The same with meat, although I am not bothered about meat. I now love fish though and eat everything I found difficult as a child. I have a healthy varied diet. I still exercise and walk 3-4 miles with my dog. I do not enjoy socializing or being around people because it causes anxiety, so I do not do it. I think parents want their children to be sociable but forget that for some of us it causes too much anxiety and we actually do not get lonely or need social interaction in the same way that NT's do. After decades of trying to fit in and be like everyone else, I have learned that personally, I am happiest in a quiet environment with nature and my beloved adopted dog. I allow myself to be me and do not want to be the person I tried so hard to be which actually nearly killed me All I can say is try and make the environment less stimulating. Do not expect your child to be sociable because it will only cause severe anxiety. Allow them to be alone if that is what makes them happy because it is actually very peaceful when your mind and surroundings are too fast and overstimulating. Some of us need to escape from the modern world in ordet to survive. Stop worrying about food. I think Autistics like chicken nuggets, crisps and things because they are crunchy textures so try and provide healthy crunchy textures. Personally I do not understand the McDonald's go to etc. What would you give them if they did not exist? I think overstimulation is a big factor and too much reliance on computer games etc. I love computer games but know that I would not do anything else because I get addicted and obsessed and would do nothing else, so I have to limit myself. I find Audiobooks help at night. Not always but listening to them helps slow my brain down. Hope this is helpful.

I actually went through a period where I didn't eat. I was actually afraid of food. I only ate when I got so hungry that I had to

You had me from chicken nugget being a symbol of autism 🤣🤣🤣 I’m a 40 year old mom with ADD of an almost 11 year old boy with high functioning autism and severe adhd. Thanks for the tips. I’m going to share this. I’ve had health problems the past few years but up until then I was on the board of directors for the Autism Society it Greater Orlando. Sharing!

I've always had this problem. I didnt get diagnosed until I was 38 years old but needed to have my food all in separate bowls and not all together on one plate from a very early age. When I was 2 1/2 all I would eat was farleys rusks and cottage cheese. My parents were baffeled. I was taken to our old Indian doctor at the time, who had a more holistic mindset for the early 1980's, who calmly told them my body would know if I needed something else and I would instinctively then start to eat other things. Funnliy enough that did happen. It seemed every 6 months 'ish I would reject the Farley rusks and only want two new or the other sorts of foods. Of course my parents did the "you not leaving the table until you eat your dinner" thing, so dinner was often traumatic, extremely stressful, and a nightmare for everyone. Mum and Dad thought they were doing the right thing however. We had no idea I was autistic then.

I'm the Husband of an Autistic wife and Father to an Autistic daughter and ALL of these apply... Great advice as always Dan.... Cheers....

I eat out of a bento box most of the time so I can separate all my food (and because I love Japan)

My grown son and I are both on the spectrum. He's had a hard time eating away from home at all. His stomach would be in knots. Anti-anxiety meds have helped in recent years. My food issues are food sensitivities and digestive issues. Over the years I've tried all different ways of eating, trying to figure out what my body could handle and feel well. Its a struggle. The best I ever felt was when I ate 80/10/10 Raw Vegan for a couple of years. Mostly fruit. My body can't handle that way of eating now though. I wish eating was optional.

We have a 28 year old son on the spectrum. This is compounded because he is developmentally delayed as well as non-verbal. This channel has given us new things to look at. It’s basically given him a voice. We appreciate it so much. Don’t ever stop.

I’m a parent of children with ASD wanting to learn more . This exactly has happened where I’ve seen them eat a certain thing in a certain place but not somewhere else .

Sch canteen : "safe grab and go", so Boo will only have a certain drink and sandwich, if it's not in the expected place or sold out he doesn't eat or drink all day. Restaurant : orders out of 3 dishes, if not available can't choose something else even if it's a usual go to favourite. Home : can't eat until he's ready to, but at the same time "feeling hungry" so rarely registers, when it does it's got to be nigh on instant! With sch and restaurants acoustics, how busy, lighting, smell are the biggest sensory processing difficulties dictating his relationship with food and drink. At home I've found the best way to avoid distress is to have Boo cooking with me. Giving him that control of what goes into the meals we eat has helped slowly expand his meal choices at the same time as teaching him to be a confident independent cook which is a vital life skill. But none can be done unless Boo is in the right headspace.

My wife and I were just discussing the sensory issues with our son’s eating routine. We said he likes his chicken and salad on separate plates! You hit it on the nail my friend 👏🥗🍗

I have 4 family members at different levels of the spectrum and I work in a specialist school for Autism, ADHD and Downs Syndrome. I have been watching your videos for many years and they help keep my knowledge fresh and clear. One thing I have noticed over the years is the white colour and separation of food on plates. Your comment on the pasta dish reminded me of my nephew a few years ago before he was diagnosed (although he was 3 at the time and un-diagnosed) his mum told him he was having spaghetti bolognese cooked by our aunt but she was unaware on his nature. When the plate was presented to him he went into full melt down refusing to eat! First she had put onions in (he hates them). Second she had broken the spaghetti (who really like broken spaghetti). Third she had put large chunks of veg in it. Forth she had put the food on the same plate and it was touching. After half an hour of tantrums and meltdowns we managed to get him to eat once we had separated all the food removing the onions and veg, also washing the spaghetti so no sauce was left. His mother had forgotten to pass on the information about his dietary needs. That seemingly insignificant piece of information would have made a worlds difference. Try and be patient with your child/ren and understand what they need.

I have Autism and I enjoy food and cooking a lot, so when I tell people I have austim they are very shocked at how much I eat, and how much I try! I think I learned about it, but for me, the best stemming is tasting things because it’s so nice to taste all different food, kind of like touching a bunch of textures, but like tasting things like sandwiches, pizza, Raman, salads, and even other foods that I can’t name because I can’t spell! I’m even thinking of becoming a chef one day because I love food and I love cooking it and I’m a killer cook in the right situation :D

When I was a kid I couldn't stand baked beans cooked at home but when out at a restaurant I always ordered them with my chicken nuggets and loved them hahaha my parents never could understand it now I understand why 🙈

I am an aspie adult and have lots of food issues. I can eat a specific food only a certain number of times and then I want nothing to do with it. Tends to rotate around. Can't seem to just settle down and be okay with a specific food once and for all. I have a thing about tomatoes. I can eat buckets of salsa and can eat spaghetti sauce. I can occasionally tolerate a sliced tomato on a sandwich only if it stays on the sandwich. If it falls off, game over. I can't eat a raw tomato by itself or on a salad. That is a slime factor. I can relate about smells. I get really upset if someone is cooking sauerkraut or fish and have to leave the room. I tend to eat only a few different foods all the time. I don't like variety. If I could eat just one food I'd be a happy camper. French fries would be my one food.

Excellent video Dan!!! I did a revisit here just to ground my sanity. My child would ONLY drink from a straw. Without the straw, and some straws were a no go too based on smell, texture, taste, then the liquid was NOT going down. It was crazy making and potentially dangerous due to dehydration if the straw was not accessible. That whole doctor and grandparent and other well meaning parent advice if they will eat and drink when they are hungry or thirsty would land us in the hospital due to dehydration every time. Getting meds down impossible. Everyday I just wanted the feeding tube so desperately to bypass all this and get the necessary nutrients down. Last night everything was a “no” that usually is fine. Yet he was hungry, but it was obvious there was a mental struggle he couldn’t express and explain. As a mom, it kinda makes me sad and cry and feel hopeless and frustrated. So much stress over just getting food and water in my kid🥲 Because I tried so hard to do whatever it would take I was always accused as enabling and creating the problem. No win. I love my kid but at this point I don’t ever want to be responsible for another persons dietary requirements ever ever ever again. 🤷‍♀️. Yes, the setting... my oldest refuses any type of pasta since age 2, he’s 22 now and still. Yet once at a friends house he ate the spaghetti and raves about it to everyone. I got the recipe made it and served it and it was as though I was trying to poison him. He would eat nothing served up by his dad, he only trusted me to serve up the food at home, except that spaghetti. So foods could only be trusted from the source of origin or eaten in a “safe zone”. His father and grandparents and at school he might be forced to eat something he couldn’t. He knew I would not force him, so so so many many things yet their inability to express the “why”. He couldn’t explain it or put it into words, just tears of frustration sometimes Trying to become the “why detective” became my whole world. How did I get here and how do I get out???? Btw... a few years ago he was diagnosed with esophageal issues (EOE) on a doctor visit after a cardiac scare. He told the doctor his throat is always very sore and sometimes it feels like there is something stuck in it. I never knew. All the doctor visits in the past due to stomach issues and food sensitivities and allergies and addressing the aversions and no one dialed into this. Please don’t overlook potential physical abnormalities that contribute to developmental conditions. For him certain foods created a potential life threatening dynamic no one knew and he didn’t understand. It was explained that you can’t have an allergic reaction to something you’ve never been exposed to and with repeated servings the allergic reaction develops then the item Can no longer be tolerated and this is what was happening it would appear that he would like some thing but then eventually he would refuse to eat it but he couldn’t communicate why he simply would look at it as though it was going to kill him And that was a very real possibility and we didn’t know it. It was the doctors questions that revealed it... Do you have a sore throat? How often? How sore? He could answer the direct questions. Does it ever feel like something is stuck in your throat? Does it ever feel like your throat is closing? Yet asking him why he couldn’t or wouldn’t eat something he didn’t have words to express, just tears or shutdowns or stone face. Potentially because the reasons he gave as a small child were rejected, belittled, or shaming. He was just labeled as having control issues. 🥲. Sorry so long but if any of this could help one parent or one child❤️

I almost fell over when u said autistic ppl love nuggets! That’s pretty much all my 6 year old son will eat! This was so helpful! U have no idea how your channel helps ppl like me! U have made me come to terms with my sons autism and I don’t see it as a bad thing anymore, I see it as just a having a different way of viewing and sensing the world! And my son is an amazing little guy that is so creative, smart, and he has the sweetest heart! U are a wonderful role model! Not enough thank you’s!❤️

i'm an aspie myself, i've found it difficult to lose weight as dieting is hard, but it's made fitness one of my biggest prioties, win/win i guess?

I’m an adult female diagnosed with ADHD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and dyslexia (and possibly even MS). I’ve come to believe that I probably don’t have ADHD but am ASD instead. This was one of the first clues for me. I’ve always had sensory issues and especially when it comes to food. All my life I’ve been labeled as very very picky. Like it’s easier to list foods I will eat than foods I won’t. As a child I remember staying at the table for hours because I would not touch certain foods on my plate. This happened more times than I can count.

I'm an Aspie and in bed is where I eat my meals. It is very uncomfortable for me to eat at a table. I always thought I was just being selfish and lazy about this. But it's where I feel most comfortable. Thank you for this video! I can let go of a bit of guilt now.

Parent with a child with aspergers & SPD he eats such a limited range of food, you are so on point with the chicken nuggets!! Occasionally sausages. Segregated plate all the time! Thanks for this Dan, so helpful xx

Hi Dan, I am the father of a sixteen years old son on the spectrum. Thank you for your insight as always! I always learn something when I watch one of your videos that I will use daily with my son.

Very useful Dan, thank you. Love the environmental point. It's something people don't emphasize enough, including myself until now.

I am in my 20's and I am on the spectrum. I do see a couple of the things that I noticed in myself, like only cold food or hot food and never together and somethings sounds are too loud for me as lighting it bright sometimes. I hate those things when I am out. Thanks for the video Dan, it does help a lot.

I’m on the spectrum and I really appreciate this video. I could never verbalize why i have such odd food habits or get triggered by the same dish at different places. Thanks for helping me to learn something new about my self.

I am on the spectrum and there was some food from the netherlands i realy liked but once my mother made it wrong and it was so gros so now every time i eat it it wil theast like that one time it was gros so i can't eat it any more. Im dutch and im bad at english so sorry if i wrote something wrong

Love your channel :) I was diagnosed previous month with ASD at the age of 19 and that was a little shock for me, but I found your channel and you can't even imagine how helpful it is! You're a wonderful soul, bless you and your family :)

This is another instance where I initially thought these symptoms didn't apply to me. Then I remembered I have to eat my food in a certain order, which everyone notices. And I don't eat sandwiches at home. And I always have to eat biscuits in a certain way. And I can't stand sharing food. This was a fantastic video. I've given a thumbs up and subscribed.

I am a community inclusion specialist in the Pacific Northwest. I work in an art studio that operates as a day support program for individuals with various developmental challenges. Several of my students have an Autism diagnosis; I’m here to learn!

I'm an ADHD uncle to an autistic boy who's 3 and a half - He's still learning how to communicate his needs and in the meantime he's got low tone and mobility problems in his legs! Environment and food arrangement and presentation and routine are what I'm going to try to focus on more now, thanks so much for your insight! I'm going to share with his parents, so grateful

I came here because I currently don't have the want to eat. Like the whole idea of food right now is just off-putting in my mind and I'm forgetting or avoiding until I feel far too unwell not to . I learnt something new as a result of your video. I never knew why ribs, wings, "hand foods" couldn't be eaten out and the whole situational connection makes sense now. THANK YOU.

Mom with two on the spectrum here. My boys both only eat a handful of things. Mostly pizza and chicken nuggets but only certain brands or places it’s very specific. I think you hit the nail on the head with the three main issues why that might be. Both my boys have different or varying reasons why to eat something one time and not the next. Setting has everything to do with my oldest, he does not like eating at family gatherings because of the noise level he may tell me one day I tried the food and liked the flavor but not the texture. Another day it may be the smell from the other food I cooked. This video is very helpful in understanding eating issues with kids on the spectrum. Thanks for the info!

What an eye opener! Thank you. Mum of undiagnosed ASD teen with food issues here.

I'm 29, and this spoke to me so much. I thought I might have just some really obscure eating disorder no one can help me with or understand, and this is literally all of my food problems my whole life

Super helpful thanks Dan, we are still waiting on our little guy who's 3 to see someone who specializes in food aversion (wait lists are huge) but definitely some great tips and tricks that we can try. I also have my six year old waiting to be test to see if she has autism and I'm sure this will be helpful for her too. Thanks a bunch!

Mother of an Aspie here...yes, everything you said! Setting and environment absolutely matter. Thank you for sharing.

your videos have been so eye opening for me. I'm a neuro-typical but my boyfriend is on the spectrum(diagnosed as Asperger's). It's difficult for him to talk about it and admit it to himself so your videos are so helpful in understanding certain behaviors and actions, and a better understanding to be supportive. If it were up to him he would live off of chicken nuggets and pizza lol much love from the US!

I discovered you within the last few weeks and have been watching a ton of your vids. I was just about to comment "well, I'm vegan, but I still agree. Gardein is where it's at!" and then you said "I'm vegan" and I was so thrilled to hear that!!! I love Gardein, Trader Joe's brand chikn nuggets, and morningstar buffalo. What are your faves?

On the spectrum and I waited till after my tea to watch this just incase I got put off eating. Unfortunately I am easily put off eating or distracted. Because as well as autism I have had an eating disorder (ed with atypical anorexic thoughts ) which wasn't one to start with but got treated like one. Also foods I don't like make me gag sometimes I can't even go near food I don't like and give general anxiety if I'm expected to eat it. Thanks for the video.

I am self-diagnosed as autistic and was trying to get an assessment before covid hit. I cannot under any circumstances eat apple sauce, but I can use it in recipes as an ingredient replacement. I cannot eat boiled eggs at all except at Easter time. I used hate the texture of mayonnaise and avocado/guacamole, but I realized that I needed to season with something and have them only along side other specific kinds of foods. I am often sensory seeking when it comes to food and flavor, but not when I'm feeling unwell. There are foods I can only eat at certain times of the year/holidays. I used to think there was something wrong with me. My family used to think I was an extremely picky eater, but I LOVE to try new foods. I'm glad I'm not alone. These points make so much sense! Thank you!

interesting ideas. I never thought about my environment affecting my eating habits. thank you. (PS your super aware of sensory overload and yet the last few videos i've watched have flashing colours and/or images... causing me issues watching them)

Your videos are so helpful I can’t even really watch other videos cuz I get to bored or distracted but your videos I can understand and I feel like I can connect with them

I am the parent of 2 children on the spectrum. My daughter is almost 6 and my son just turned 4. I really appreciate all of your insight!

Again, very informative and helpful. Difficult question: how can we create the right environment (and food options) at the school dining table? I can only see problems arise if kids on the spectrum are always separated at lunchtime with their own meal. Any suggestions based on personal experience?

I'm a parent with a kid (Joe 9) on the spectrum. It is crazy to keep up with Joe's eating. So far he does not eat any meat. He also totally did the noodle this but it was a one off!! Here is what he does eat. Honestly, total list. Food: Philadelphia cream cheese, crackers of different kinds, butter and bread, everything bagles, eggo brand waffles only, pizza from specific places, doritos, motts apple juice only, cheese-Its, plain potato chips, kit kats, oreos, chips ahoy, (he will hand any other cookie back to you and say no thank you,) whole milk (no icecream), water and some baby food vegies (no chunk in it). McD fries but only sometimes. End of list. 🤪😳😩😤😟😞😔 OMG! You are blowing my mind right now. Little food book coming up. So looking forward to this. The one thing I have gotten good at is observing my son. Enviornment. Situational. Getting it! Hope has arrived.

As my on-the-spectrum nephew would say, "That was great". Love the detail.

For years I've never understood why I never liked food when it was deemed as "leftovers". Your explanation of environmental and temperature issues explains it all. If I get take out and put it in the fridge for later because I didn't finish, it's leftovers. It's gone bad in my brain. Because now it's a different temperature, a different context, and microwaving it heats it to a different temperature than the last I had it in a wrong way and in a way that changes the moisture level of the food. I think I'll try heating things in the oven from now on. Thank you!

Ty for all of ypur videos btw...i found them recently and I feel comforted when I watch them. Not so clueless 😅 tysm

Mix temperature food in same plate was ringing bells loudly in my head. E.g fridge cold salad with fruits pieces *goosebumps*, just boiled hot potatoes and cool down meat. Or bred with huge seeds, which I always been picking away. Not liked in my hole life those kind of things. People around me always have been said that I'm fussy and ungrateful eater. You are so picky, stop that, don't play and push it around the plate our food, behave and be like good girl since my younger years I have hear comments so many times.

Yeah, I was always a somewhat timid child and had sensory issues when it came to touch. For some reason I just felt guilty if I didn't eat the food, even if I didn't like it. I remember being babysat and not liking Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup, but because I was at someone's house and knew that was probably going to be the only food I would get (me being hungry), I tried to still eat it, but I'm not sure if I ate it all. The texture of raw broccoli bothered me, and steak (because it required so much chewing), and grainy textures like shredded coconut in baked goods, or nuts. I remember one time I only ate a few bites of a dessert because of the shredded coconut and my stepmother's friend could tell that I didn't like it 😕.

Dude, food temperature and texture is EVERYTHING. I can’t stand foods with a grainy texture(applesauce,etc). Cannot deal. It’s cold and grainy and my worst nightmare. I also like a food I know I like on a cold wet day. A staple of mine is a paleo Sunday beef roast. Flavors I like and it’s also good for me. Thank you so much for this video. Love the content and you so much!

Thank you so much. This helps me understand my son who was just diagnosed with high functioning autism

Thank you for your video, I'm a parent. Still learning, what my child likes to eat. Is been difficult and on top of that some people criticize how I feed my child.

Hi Dan! Both my daughters are on the spectrum and the oldest one has always had issues. What helped in her case, is when I stopped making them eat at the kitchen table and set up a spot in the room where they spend most of their time. Thanks for your videos, they are so helpful. And yeah, chicken nuggets!

This is really cool. Have you done other videos on the environmental/situational autism connection? I wa diagnosed as autistic almost a year ago, and I'd love to understand this more. I haven't heard that connection made before, it makes a lot of sense 😊👍

Thanks man this video really helped, my son is on the spectrum and this has been really rough for me getting him to eat a more variety of stuff. I'm going to try these things.

I'm a parent of a child who is blessed with the gift of autism. Beautiful video as always, Dan!

I’m a mum with a child and partner on the spectrum- thank you for the content

Thanks Dan. Once again, you're the man

Thank you for this video. As a mother of an Aspie girl, this makes a lot of sense.

I have a son who is 9 and severely autistic and is super picky about food! Thanks for sharing

DONE SUBSCRIBING MY daughter has autism too. It is really hard and challenging raising a child with autism. But God choose us to be their parents to love accept and protect them always.

For me, this video is priceless. My partner is autism spectrum/dyslexic. He eats everything. Everything. I, on the other hand, have food issues more commonly seen in autism spectrum! Texture is as important as taste. When I consider aroma and appearance as well... in the end, I am the one who gets lectured for being a "picky eater", by my autism spectrum partner ! LoL

I am watching from Wales uk and I have high functioning autism and am getting tested for adhd and asperger's syndrome I am also dyslexic I struggle with sound from like a dripping tap or a dog licking for too long can make me lash out for no reason and cars with a high pitched sound gets to me only started watching you for like a week and your very interesting person to watch keep it up

I'm a parent with a 13 year old boy on the spectrum. Thank you for making such informative video's.

Totally agree 100% with cold gravy. They always said we have a microwave. Heat it up. Hello. That is not the same. Chicken nuggets are a staple. 😊👍 And environmental calm. Totally see that too. Very well presented.. Keep em coming Dan. Ryan.

I am autistic and I'm also now the parent of an autistic child.

Great video Dan thank you.

Very interesting fact about food and place being linked.

Thanks dan I was just. Wondering if you was going to do something on this

I loved this video. Thank you. My nephew loves pasta and chicken nuggets. He does want food at a certain time. Some foods he eats for my mom. And some for me. I have noticed that he has to have his food hot. Please make more videos like this. It really helps. ❤️

Thank you I have serious eating problems and I think this will help

I can't eat carrots or beans because I don't like the taste or texture. Also i'm a 19 year old autistic female.

This video was so helpful!

I am on the spectrum and my mother often argues with me because I eat my meals too cold… (I also eat a little differently when going our or at other people's, but that is because I think that I can eat that food once there and if I ate it at home I would have to eat it always…)

I'm autistic myself and sometimes do have food issues too. I'm not a picky eater as I'm happy to eat all different foods including all different fruits and vegetables, fish, meat and also dairy and bakery foods, and always have been right from when I was a little child. However, there are some problems which I do have with food:- - I'm sensitive to heat, so I can't eat any medium or hot curries. I will only eat stuff like korma. - I can't eat strong mints, again due to the heat, only mild ones like tic tacs and polos. - due to a love of routines, I always eat my food in the same way, unless I'm eating just one kind of food, like vegetable soup. If I'm having a mixture of food - such as a roast dinner - then I always eat the vegetables first, then the potatoes and I always eat the meat or fish last, as it stays hot longer than vegetables. Whenever I have spaghetti or pasta with meatballs, I always eat all of the spaghetti or pasta first, and leave the meatballs until last. This can sometimes result in the meat or fish being cold, or gravy being cold, which I dislike. - eating in social situations can be difficult sometimes. In a restaurant or cafe, it can be hard for me with other people due to difficulties with socializing, especially with adult men strangers (due to the issues with socializing, it's not me being sexist). Understanding social cues can be a problem, like waiting until other people have finished for instance. I'm also clumsy, so are prone to dropping things. Also, my main hypersensitivity is to smell - in particular to smoke - so some smells can be overwhelming to me, such as foods which have been cooked by smoking for instance, hence why I would shy away from anything cooked this way. Sometimes I can get overwhelmed with bright lights, or loud sounds, such as if there is music playing. During my sister's hen night years ago, the restaurant we went to had the tables we sat at surrounding the cooker, and the chef began flipping potatoes, trying to get them into people's mouths, and I had to ask him specifically not to. When there were people drumming, it was too much for me, and I had to put my hands over my ears. The chef spoke to my mum and asked what the problem was. My mum told him I'm autistic, and thankfully, he at least seemed to understand it. - I used to be bullied a lot while I was in school, and used to comfort eat because of it. Also, while I was at my paternal grandparent's house when I was a child and when my brother, sister and paternal cousins were children, my paternal Nan was often too lazy to make anything for us to eat, and so would say, 'just help yourself' with no limit to it. She also allowed us to bake all the time, and of course, people wanted to eat it all too. This was before I understood the link between diet, exercise and weight, and partly as a result, became overweight. I also wasn't all that active as didn't want to go to school because of the bullying, so my mum would have to drive right up to the school to drop me off, rather than parking a little away and walk, as I otherwise would have been even later than I was. - there's been times I've been distracted while eating, like watching the television or looking stuff up online meaning that I have a tendency to overeat. Sometimes it's been so bad I've resorted to making myself sick afterwards, or I've purposely eaten to the point where I know I'll be sick in order to feel better afterwards. - I've got quite a sweet tooth, and find it difficult to resist sugary foods like chocolate, biscuits and cakes as well as ice cream. - also, whenever I've managed to lose some weight, I can never keep it up. No matter how much weight I lose, I always gain it back.

My son started getting really rigid about food. He used to eat everything and just stopped. So we did sensory play with stuff that resembles the foods he dislikes. Like playing with foam soap cuz he freaks out over mashed anything. Lol. I also put food in his hand and to his lips so he's not surprised. There's still foods he doesn't like but at least now he tries them. Green beans?? Still hates them! 😆 But if we're at a family or friend's for dinner he won't sit and eat cuz he's too excited about the environment. But it's OK. We just plan on taking a to go plate. Thanks for sharing Dan! So helpful!

I’m a parent of two kids with ARFID, my oldest child is ASD/ADHD and impacted most severely. Coincidentally, my son HATES chicken nuggets, LOL! In fact, he hates chicken in general. He is affected by taste, texture, packaging, smells, colors, etc., but he also has ZERO interest in food and eating. Eating is just an interruption for the stuff he would rather be doing. Hunger doesn’t register. Thirst doesn’t register. My daughter is the total opposite from him in terms of sensitivity, willingness to try food, triggers, and types of foods she is willing to eat. It is so hard to manage, and impossible to please everyone. I have to make 3 different meals for every single meal, and at least two different eating environments. They won’t each what each other eats (no foods in common), they won’t eat what my husband and I eat (no foods in common), and we can’t eat what they eat (dietary restrictions…the fact that I have been basically picking off their plates for years to reduce my meal workload and stress level has created a mild obesity and pre-diabetes problem for me, and my husband has a bunch of food allergies). I’ll add that I have ADHD, and am being tested for autism soon. So we are all pretty sensory sensitive and anxious over at my house. I would love to hear some suggestions on how to manage feeding multiple sensitivities across folks in the same household. Some day we will all eat together at the same time…or I just need to let go of the “family meal” concept.

For my kid the big issue is smell. If he doesnt like the smell while the meal is being cooked he wont eat, even if he likes the food being prepared. So i have to cook meals that are not to smelly. He could probably live on chicken nuggets. But we have to keep trying, dont give up! And i think its important to not asume that they wont like something just bc. Good video dan!

I was diagnosed with Autism 1 year ago and as a result are still learning about myself.

I have never been diagnosed with autism, but I do have sensory processing issues and anxiety. I was such a chicken nugget kid :) I still like them now, but I actually feel like I have been able to learn to enjoy my heightened senses around food. I have become a bit of a foodie. I love to try new restaurants and recipes. I recently went to a mostly plant-based diet. But I definitely still have vegan nuggets in my freezer ;)

I think i may be on the spectrum. Thank you dan for these helpful tips. Wish you the best

I'm an autistic mom of an autistic child. Really enjoying your channel! Oh and my son and I hate breaded/crumbed food haha.

I am on the spectrum. Thanks for the 3 Tips , Dan !!!!!!!

Omg ! my boyfriend eats chicken nuggets all the time . He will only eat certain foods . Onions 🧅 set him off !!! I’m glad u made this video it helps me understand him better !!!

Environment IS everything!!! So true!! My 7 year old has taught me that! Is not what he is eating it is WHERE he is and how frustrated he is overt the meal!

super super helpful I appreciate you

I have HFA (High Functioning Autism) and my food issues are taking a toll on my physical, mental, and social health and wellbeing

My little brother is severely autistic and limitedly verbal. This is a very interesting video for me.

My lil bro and i are autistic and our maternal grandparents who raised us got a ton of flack from members of our family in denial over us being autistic and the tactics our grandparents would take with us. The chicken nugget thing made me laugh though. I can't really eat them anymore but they used to be a go to. Right now its the poppers from burger king for me but when we were kids my grandparents always made sure we had corndogs for my lil bro. I was allowed to mix my food as long as i ate it. I have a nerve disorder so i eat all my meals out of bowls and things like spaghetti freak me out be cause i can't cut the noodles and most people won't break them before boiling them. My bf has helped me alot with being able to eat out cause i could end up staring at a menu for an hour with no idea what to get. So to help with trying new things we say "tonight is the night of bad decisions!" I know its silly but it helps with the anxiety lol sorry this is long x.x" but food is such a huge social thing so much more could be said/shared n.n im def. sharing this vid tho :3 stay spiffy

I am an adult on the Spectrum and I've struggled with food issues my entire life. My main issue is texture and the culprit most often is meat/animal fat. I CANNOT stand the texture of animal fat and i can only eat very lean meat. Even then I've often been told I "dissect" my food while I eat. It get to the point where if I'm eating something with an odd texture that I can't tolerate, it turns my stomach and I will completely lose my appetite. This often causes me to order "safe" food that I KNOW I will enjoy with no problems when I'm out eating in public, which is typically a meat-free option. The "environmental" factor never occured to me but it totally applies to me as well. I feel better trying to eat foods that I have to pick at while in my own home or feel more in control cooking my own meals. However, I try to mask and avoid my sensory issues as often as I can when dining out in public or with people who are not my immediate family or my Spouse.

My son is on autism spectrum and has ADHD..he just keeps saying random words again and again . I really really struggle with him.. he doesn't communicate either 😢.. when I saw this guy I literally can not say he has autism. . He's so good at conversations and stuff.❤

This is so true!! I only like cold ham sandwiches when I am hiking. Any other time it's repulsive

my father destroyed my relationship to food as a child by forcefeeding me. he would push the food into my mouth and force my mouth closed. I remember always being incredibly anxious at the dinner table and I wouldn't be allowed to leave until I had finished a majority of the dish, which would take what felt like hours. the acoustics in kitchens are also usually more echoey and that makes me uneasy. this had a backlash when i grew older and started overeating and using sugar as an anxiolytic. i have a much less problematic relationship to food now when I've figured out what satiates me the right way, and I love to eat healthy food, and usually raw vegetables or heavily cooked ones are the best. I don't like when they are undercooked, as they just get watery and strange, and the sugars havent caramellised yet to give them some depth of flavour. cooking has become one of my interests now that I've figured out my aesthetic preferences and I have full control over what I put in my body.

I'm a parent with a kid with ASD he's 4 and has very active asthma. His diet inflames his system and produces mucus which agitates his lungs which sends him into an asthma attack. He literally eats pasta no sauce just butter and salt( has to be spiral shaped), he will eat French fries but not potatoes in any other form, he will eat chickpeas and a couple other beans at times, and plain white rice with with butter and salt, won't eat it any other way or with anything else. He will eat snacks like crackers, popcorn, granola bars, tends to try snacks that are crunchy but is very Leary of trying anything new. I'm so concerned about his nutritional well being. My sister said to give a food to try and don't feed him any preferred food until he essentially breaks down and eats what you have him... It worked for her son who is level 3 autistic who only ate popcorn, fries, chicken nuggets and Pop tarts.. He was having health issues and finally she chose a weekend and gave him spaghetti. He cried and cried and wouldn't eat it until finally, on the second or third day he broke down and ate it and now he eats anything you put in front of him. I am at my wits end and idk what to do. I don't want him to be stuck in this habit of eating things that are inflammatory to his system

So I just discovered this video and I LOVE the comment about Chicken Nuggets because I HATE the texture of cooked chicken, but I freaking LOVE chicken nuggets!!!