Autism and Picky Eating: A Complete Guide to Food Selectivity

Understanding why your autistic child is a selective eater and evidence-based strategies to expand their diet while keeping mealtimes positive.

Reviewed by Jennifer Harbour, M.S., BCBA

•Published: January 18, 2025

If mealtimes have become a source of stress in your home, you're not alone. Research shows that up to 70% of autistic children have significant feeding challenges, compared to about 25% of typically developing children. What parents often call "picky eating" in autism frequently involves complex sensory, motor, and anxiety factors.

This guide, informed by the CDC's autism resources and feeding therapy research, will help you understand why your child is selective and provide practical strategies to support healthier eating patterns.

We've Been There: Mealtimes in Our Family

"Food selectivity was one of our biggest challenges after our son's autism diagnosis. For years, his diet was limited to just a handful of foods, and mealtimes were incredibly stressful for our whole family. Through working with feeding specialists and applying behavioral strategies consistently, we gradually expanded his food repertoire. It took patience, but progress was possible – and that experience shapes how we support families at Buzz ABA today."

– The Monico Family, Founders of Buzz ABA

Why Autistic Children Are Selective Eaters

Picky eating in autism goes far beyond typical childhood food preferences. Understanding the underlying causes is essential for finding effective solutions:

Sensory Sensitivities

The most common factor in autism-related food selectivity. Children may be sensitive to:

Texture: Mushy, crunchy, slimy, or mixed textures may be intolerable
Taste: Heightened sensitivity to bitter, sour, or complex flavors
Smell: Strong or unfamiliar food odors may be overwhelming
Temperature: Preference for only hot or only cold foods
Appearance: Specific colors, shapes, or presentations may be required

Need for Sameness

Many autistic children strongly prefer routine and predictability. This can manifest as:

Only eating specific brands
Foods must be prepared exactly the same way each time
Extreme distress if a familiar food looks slightly different
Eating the same meals repeatedly

Oral Motor Differences

Some children have differences in how their mouth muscles work:

Difficulty chewing certain textures
Weak oral muscles affecting eating
Hypersensitive gag reflex
Difficulty coordinating chewing and swallowing

Anxiety and Control

Food and eating can become sources of anxiety:

Fear of trying new or unfamiliar foods
Past negative experiences with certain foods
Food as one area where child can exert control
Social anxiety around eating with others

Understanding ARFID

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a feeding disorder that's significantly more common in autistic individuals. Unlike typical picky eating, ARFID involves:

Signs of ARFID

•Eating fewer than 20 different foods
•Nutritional deficiencies or need for supplements
•Weight loss or failure to gain weight appropriately
•Significant interference with social functioning
•Dependence on oral supplements or tube feeding

If you suspect ARFID, seek evaluation from a feeding specialist or team experienced with autism.

Evidence-Based Strategies for Expanding Diet

1. Food Chaining

Gradually introduce new foods by building on accepted foods:

Identify properties of foods your child accepts
Find new foods with similar properties
Make small changes to accepted foods over time
Example: French fries → sweet potato fries → roasted sweet potato

2. Systematic Desensitization

Reduce anxiety around new foods through gradual exposure:

Tolerate food on the table
Tolerate food on plate
Touch food with utensil
Touch food with finger
Smell food
Kiss or lick food
Bite and spit out
Chew and swallow small amount

3. Positive Mealtime Environment

Create conditions that reduce stress around eating:

Remove pressure to eat specific amounts
Offer new foods without commenting or watching
Include at least one accepted food at each meal
Keep mealtimes consistent and predictable
Consider sensory aspects of the dining environment

4. Food Play and Exploration

Allow interaction with food outside of mealtimes:

Cooking and food preparation activities
Sensory play with food (when appropriate)
Grocery shopping and food selection
Growing vegetables or herbs

How ABA Therapy Helps with Feeding

ABA therapy offers structured, evidence-based approaches to feeding challenges:

ABA Feeding Interventions

•Functional assessment: Identifying the specific factors driving food selectivity
•Positive reinforcement: Rewarding food exploration and acceptance
•Systematic presentation: Structured approaches to introducing new foods
•Parent training: Teaching families to implement strategies consistently
•Data collection: Tracking progress and adjusting approaches

Practical Tips for Parents

Do

✓ Offer variety without pressure
✓ Model eating diverse foods yourself
✓ Praise any interaction with new foods
✓ Keep mealtimes calm and positive
✓ Be patient—change takes time
✓ Consider supplements if needed

Don't

✗ Force or pressure eating
✗ Use food as punishment or reward
✗ Compare to other children
✗ Make mealtimes a battleground
✗ Expect overnight changes
✗ Ignore nutritional concerns

When to Seek Professional Help

Consult a feeding specialist or your child's healthcare provider if:

•Your child eats fewer than 20 different foods
•Weight loss or poor growth is occurring
•Nutritional deficiencies are present or suspected
•Gagging or vomiting occurs frequently
•Extreme anxiety around food or eating
•Entire food groups are eliminated
•Family functioning is significantly impacted

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are autistic children picky eaters?

Autistic children often have heightened sensory sensitivities that make certain food textures, tastes, smells, or temperatures overwhelming. They may also prefer routine and sameness, resist new foods due to anxiety, or have oral motor differences that affect eating.

Should I force my autistic child to eat new foods?

No, forcing or pressuring children to eat typically backfires, increasing anxiety around food and worsening selectivity. Instead, use gradual exposure techniques, keep mealtimes positive, and celebrate any interaction with new foods as progress.

Can ABA therapy help with picky eating?

Yes, ABA therapy can be very effective for addressing feeding challenges in autistic children. BCBAs use systematic approaches including gradual food exposure, positive reinforcement, desensitization techniques, and parent training to expand food acceptance.

Start Your Child's Journey Today

Buzz ABA provides comprehensive, evidence-based ABA therapy in Concord, Manchester, Nashua, and surrounding NH communities. Our neurodiversity-affirming approach helps children thrive.

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