Mealtimes can be tough when your child is autistic or has ADHD. Here are 5 tips to try

Clare Dix; Stella Boyd-Ford

doi:10.64628/AA.k9vqkyvmx

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Mealtimes can be tough when your child is autistic or has ADHD. Here are 5 tips to try

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Mealtimes can be tough when your child is autistic or has ADHD. Here are 5 tips to try

Clare Dix and Stella Boyd-Ford

The Conversation, Vol.18 June 2024

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64628/AA.k9vqkyvmx

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Abstract

Nutrition and dietetics

autism

nutrition

ADHD

food preferences

disability coverage

Gathering as a family for a meal can serve several purposes: from social connection to nutrition. But this can also make eating and mealtimes tricky to manage when someone in the family is neurodivergent. Many autistic children and children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) display what has been called “abnormal feeding behaviours”. Children may develop these behaviours as a way to cope with the complex task of mealtimes. The skills involved in mealtimes such as recognising feelings of hunger and thirst, completing tasks in a set order, processing all kinds of sensory input, using fine motor skills, and interacting socially can be challenging. With meals occurring up to six times a day, the whole activity can become daunting. But not getting enough to eat can have a negative effect on behaviour, learning and health. So, what can you do to help your child get what they need at mealtimes?

Details

Title: Mealtimes can be tough when your child is autistic or has ADHD. Here are 5 tips to try
Authors: Clare Dix - The University of Queensland
Stella Boyd-Ford - The University of Queensland
Publication details: The Conversation, Vol.18 June 2024
Publisher: Conversation Media Group
Date published: 2024
DOI: 10.64628/AA.k9vqkyvmx
ISSN: 2201-5639
Copyright note: © The Conversation Media Group. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Grant note: Stella Boyd-Ford has previously recieved funding from the Department of Health and Aged Care through a Preventative Health and Chronic Disease Grant. Clare Dix receives funding from the Department of Health and Aged Care through a Preventive Health and Chronic Disease grant to create the Grow&Go Toolbox.
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991243699702621
Output Type: Magazine article

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