As your child grows into adulthood, independence in daily life becomes more important, including the ability to make balanced food choices. But if your young adult with autism has a limited diet or strong food preferences, getting them to try something new can feel like an uphill battle.
Food isn’t just about nutrition. For your child, it involves comfort, routine, and sensory experience. So how can you help them expand their options in a way that feels safe and manageable?
The key is gentle encouragement, small steps, and a pressure-free approach. Here’s how to support your young adult as they explore new foods on their own terms.
- Start with What They Already Like
If your young adult only eats one specific type of chicken nugget, switching to a completely different food isn’t the best first step. Instead, start with small changes–a method known as “food chaining”.
Begin by introducing a different brand of the same food to create subtle variety without straying too far from what’s familiar. You can also experiment with slight modifications in preparation, such as baking instead of frying or adjusting the seasoning to introduce new flavors gradually.
Another effective approach is to focus on texture similarities. If they enjoy crunchy foods like crackers, you might try transitioning to dried fruit, which offers a comparable texture but different taste.
These gradual shifts make new foods feel less overwhelming and more like a natural extension of existing preferences, helping to build comfort and openness to variety over time.
- Give Them Some Control
Young adults thrive when they have a say in decisions, and food is no different. For many individuals with autism, control and predictability play a huge role in their comfort level, especially when it comes to trying something new. Instead of insisting they take a bite, let the make small choices:
- “Would you rather try this today or later this week?”
- “Do you want to eat it in the kitchen or the dining room?”
- “Would you like to pick a dipping sauce?”
By allowing them to have input, you’re making food exploration feel like a choice, not a demand. This approach not only increases their sense of autonomy but also builds trust, reinforcing that trying new foods doesn’t have to be overwhelming or unpleasant. The more they feel involved in the process, the more likely they are to approach new foods with curiosity rather than resistance.
- Introduce a “No, Thank You” Bowl
For young adults who feel overwhelmed by new foods on their plate, consider using a bowl for foods they choose to discard. If they don’t want to eat something, they have a specific place to put it and they don’t have to avoid the entire meal.
This approach helps in several ways:
- It encourages exposure without forcing them to eat it. Exposure, even without tasting, builds familiarity and reduces the fear of the unknown.
- It reduces anxiety by giving them an “out.” Many young adults with autism experience heightened anxiety around mealtimes, especially when faced with unfamiliar foods. Giving them the option to remove the food to a designated “No, Thank You” bowl allows them to feel in control of the situation.
- It keeps new foods in their environment, making them more familiar over time. Regular exposure to a variety of foods—without pressure—can help normalize their presence.
Even if they don’t try it today, just seeing and interacting with a new food is progress.
Encouraging a young adult with autism to try new foods takes time, patience, and a thoughtful approach. It’s not about making them eat something right away, but rather helping them feel comfortable enough to explore at their own pace. Even small steps—tolerating the food on their plate, touching it, smelling it, or simply being near it—are signs of progress.
Over time, those small moments of exposure can build into genuine curiosity and, eventually, a willingness to expand their diet. Remember, success doesn’t happen overnight, but every step forward, no matter how small, is a win worth celebrating.
Resources:
https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/sasd20.3.75
https://www.healthline.com/health/autism/how-to-eat-if-youre-autistic