Comment on Find what you like and stick with it
captainlezbian@lemmy.world 10 hours agoFinding nutritious safe foods is vital. People super into weights often eat a pre portioned amount of rice and chicken and all the spinach they want, and my autistic wife enjoyed doing that when she did it. Texture is huge but so is familiarity. For western autistic people safe foods tend to be heavily processed “kid foods”, make sure your kid’s idea of comfort foods isn’t that.
Also encourage him to be brave and try new things with the safety of it not being commitment to the food, and as he’s older talk to him about what he likes and doesn’t about things and check in before trying something new when he’s old enough to. My wife has days where she has the mental energy to try something new, and days where she doesn’t. Additionally if I can describe what it’s like it takes less energy for her to try. And don’t pull the “it’s just like chicken” thing, go more “these fried mushrooms are tender and slimy with a strong umami taste, kind of like soy sauce but not as salty or fermented tasting”
wabasso@lemmy.ca 9 hours ago
Thank you! Good highlight on “without commitment”.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
Yeah it’s vital that agreeing to try something new doesn’t feel unsafe. If the kid doesn’t like it a parent can eat it, it’s fine. And that’s not just for autistic kids, but it is especially for them. Adventurous behavior, especially in children, is associated with it feeling safe to push outside one’s comfort zone. That can mean trying kimchi or it can mean trying the monkey bars. Encouraging adventurous behavior is also good. You want the kid to be comfortable leaving their comfort zone and entering the growth zone. Food is just one element of it.
I’ve had to help autistic adults learn that they can just try new things, fail, and be ok whether it’s setting up a doctor’s appointment, new foods, or new skills. Many people, but especially common in people diagnosed with autism as children, are raised where if something doesn’t go right the first time they’re scolded or punished or fussed over or whatever else discouraging behavior and it results in people who struggle to leave their comfort zones, which is crippling as an adult.