As the mother of a child on the spectrum, the most offensive and annoying statements I get are: “He’s just a picky eater,” or “he’ll eat when he’s hungry.” In reality, he is not a picky eater and no amount of hunger will encourage him to consume a food he is averse to. Sensory food aversion vs picky eating — let’s talk about it.
Navigating Picky Eating & Sensory Food Aversion
In the realm of culinary preferences, the human palate is as diverse as the cuisines it savors. Yet, nestled within a person’s tapestry of tastebuds, lies a curious conundrum: the distinction between being a picky eater and struggling with sensory food aversion. While picky eaters often get dismissed as a child being stubborn, sensory food aversion is a more complex issue to sidestep. On the surface, however, these issues can sometimes look the same. So, how do we begin telling them apart?
Food Sensory Issues
.Picture this: One person refuses foods of certain textures or flavors, while another person recoils at the mere sight or smell of a specific food. Is this person just being a difficult picky eater, or is it possible there is a deeper sensory issue at play here?
Examples Of Sensory Aversion
Someone experiencing sensory food aversion will refuse to eat certain foods for reasons that often go beyond flavor preferences. My son, for example, finds the texture and appearance of white and creamy foods such as ice cream, sour cream, whipped cream, and mashed potatoes extremely off-putting. In fact, he is so disgusted by the texture that even watching someone else consume those trigger foods can make him physically sick.
A picky eater, on the other hand, simply doesn’t like the way something tastes. Someone with sensory food aversion has one or more of their senses telling their brain that the food is harmful or unsafe for consumption. From my son’s point of view, he feels as though I am trying to present him with poison. Additionally, If I push him too hard to consume a triggering food, I run the huge risk of him throwing up every single time he is presented with a new food. This, in turn, makes future food introductions even more complicated.
Pick Your Own Battles
Feeding a child when their entire body tells them a certain food is “not safe” because of the texture, color, or smell is incredibly difficult. For children struggling with this issue, there is the option to utilize certain therapies to help expand their palette. Unfortunately, not all families have access to these resources.
When it comes to my family – I, am a mother who believes in the pick your own battle approach to parenting. I also believe in doing everything I can to improve my son’s quality of life. If, my son’s entire body tells him a certain food is “not safe” for him… Why would I force him to consume it?
Do you have a kiddo at home dealing with food sensory issues, Arfid, or similar struggles? Tell us what helps your family cope in the comments.
[Feature Photo From Pexels, Edited Via Pixlr]
