Eating Issues

Many children go through phases of picky eating, and for most, it’s just a passing thing as they learn to accept new foods. However, for autistic children and their families, overcoming eating challenges can be more difficult.

Many autistic children and young people face some form of difficulty with eating. This can range from selective eating to more severe conditions like anorexia or ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Over two-thirds of parents with autistic children report that their child is hesitant to try new foods, and behaviours like eating non-edible items or extreme food selectivity can make providing adequate nutrition a struggle.