Autism and Food. A Thread!

I’ve got a bit to say on this as I have 7 autistics in my home but it won’t cover every eventuality of course not.

Ppl talk about sensory issues for autistic people with food sometimes I’m not sure it’s fully understood what that actually encompasses!

I think that people quite understandably think the sensory issues are just about colour, taste and texture and of course many are with varying reactions and likes and dislikes to all of that but that’s not the full picture at all!

The sensory reactions can also be about the way food makes you feel as an autistic too! What do I mean by this? I mean it very literally! I don’t eat ANYTHING all day long and haven’t really since a child. I don’t eat breakfast EVER and nor do lots of my older kids.

The other issue is the bit in my brain that says “you are hungry” is kind of broken. I don’t feel hungry even though I must be! Same way I can need the toilet but not go because my brain forgets until I’m REALLY bursting!

I also quite like the feeling of being hungry! Hunger releases other chemicals in the brain and I quite like those they give me energy!

I get food hangovers too. I can feel terrible the day after eating something or going out for a meal. Not sick per se but bloated and uncomfortable and none of this has anything to do with the obvious reasons like taste texture and smell!

I’m also super funny about what food is served in! Eg I won’t eat from polystyrene containers. I like certain plates with a certain feel and shape and colour and it’s not all about what’s on the plate! I think that issue gets missed!

My son hates the smell of cling film and wouldn’t eat a sandwich wrapped in that and it has nothing to do with the sandwich at all!

Also where food is eaten can be an issue. My son doesn’t like eating at school & eats just enough to survive at school! I pack a llunch every day just for his teacher to see really! I know he won’t eat it but I still tick the box in case it gets misunderstood & I get in trouble!

Other issues can be overeating! I’ve got one child where the “I’m full” button is broken in his head. He would eat until physically sick if he didn’t have help so it can go the other way too!

I’ve also got kids who don’t like eating in front of people and that is the real issue and not what is on the plate at all!