Categories: ASD and DD, Child-focused
By Charlotte Kerwin, M.S., BCBA, LABA
[This column was published in the West Springfield Republican on November 21, 2024.]
The holiday season presents opportunities to encourage children to explore new foods in a supportive environment. But this may be challenging for children who are picky eaters.
Both neurodivergent and neurotypical children may have strong preferences for only a few specific foods. Some may even only eat foods with certain textures or flavors, or when presented in a specific way such as a brand-name item still in its packaging. If your child only eats a limited number of foods, this behavior may be classified as food selectivity.
In addition to presenting nutritional and developmental concerns, a consequence of food selectivity that is less talked about is that it may limit social opportunities for children. Not being able to eat a wide variety of foods may prevent children from fully engaging in group meal activities with peers. It may also impact their ability to participate in family holiday traditions.
If your child is a picky eater and you’re worried about the upcoming holiday, here are a few tips and tricks to help them enjoy holiday events with your family:
Sit for family meals before the holiday
If you’re concerned about your child eating a meal during a holiday, chances are they are struggling to consume daily meals or try new things right now. In preparation for an upcoming holiday party or dinner, begin structuring mealtimes with your family and your child, and make sure they are positive events. This structure will help meals become more predictable, which may help your child feel safer trying new things.
Model positive behavior and trying new foods
During these structured meal opportunities, parents can begin modeling how to try new foods in front of their child. Making eating fun and enjoyable may peak your child’s interest. Talking about different varieties of food and incorporating them into your child’s routine without pushing them to eat anything may also increase their comfort around food.
Once your child feels more comfortable with the predictability of a structured meal, the holiday meal may go better. Even if they can’t try every food item, being able to sit with the family and feel comfortable during the holiday is a great first step. The same technique of enthusiastically modeling trying new foods and talking about food can be used during the holidays as well.
Involve them in meal preparation
As you prepare for the holiday meal, begin introducing your child (if age appropriate) to cooking and preparing the food. Playing with the ingredients and setting up the meal may pique their interest in trying something new. If your child is willing to touch, smell, or taste any of the ingredients, provide them with lots of praise and positive feedback for doing so.
Reward any engagement
Finally, using a reward or positive reinforcement for engaging with new foods is a great way to encourage children to continue to do so in the future. Does your child love any one specific food or toy? Consider offering them that top favorite item or snack if they’re able to try some of the holiday food. Using “first-then” language can help them understand the contingency – “First, let’s try some of potatoes, then, we’ll get a Hershey kiss.” If they aren’t willing to try the food, don’t punish them – praise them for continuing to stay at the table and continue to encourage them to be a part of the family tradition as much as possible.
Patience and Consistency
The holidays can be overwhelming even without the stress of special meals, so it’s essential to be patient. Consistently offer new foods during structured mealtimes and holiday gatherings without pressure. It may take several attempts before a child feels comfortable trying something new, so celebrate any small steps forward.
Keep in mind that while some individuals may benefit from mealtime structure and positive reinforcement for trying new foods, others may need more intensive treatment. Some cases of food selectivity are more severe and warrant assessment for a feeding disorder. If your child has feeding concerns that you think are impacting their overall health and nutrition, contact your pediatrician and/or consider seeking the support of a feeding clinic.
For more articles on the topic of picky eating and the holidays, please see below:
https://www.mayinstitute.org/news/acl/asd-and-dd-child-focused/preparing-your-child-with-autism-for-a-holiday-meal/
https://www.mayinstitute.org/news/acl/asd-and-dd-child-focused/tips-for-getting-picky-eaters-to-try-new-foods/
https://www.mayinstitute.org/news/acl/asd-and-dd-child-focused/tips-for-hosting-a-child-with-autism-who-is-away-from-home-for-the-holidays/
Charlotte Kerwin, M.S., BCBA, LABA is a Clinical Director at the May Center School for Autism and Developmental Disabilities in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
About May Institute
May Institute is a nonprofit organization that is a national leader in the field of applied behavior analysis and evidence-based interventions, serving autistic individuals and individuals with other developmental disabilities, brain injury, neurobehavioral disorders, and other special needs. Founded nearly70 years ago, we provide a wide range of exceptional educational and rehabilitative services across the lifespan. For more information, call 800.778.7601 or visit www.mayinstitute.org.