Nutrition

Nutrition plays an integral role in living a healthy lifestyle. Many children and adults with autism face challenges that can make a nutritious diet especially difficult. Food sensitivities, gastroenterological issues and restricted or repetitive behaviors are just a few examples. The following resources can help you and your family overcome these challenges. 

Tool Kits from the Autism Care Network

Exploring Feeding Behavior in Autism: A Parent's Guide

Managing Constipation in Children: A Parent's Guide

Pica Guide for Parents

Additional Resources

The following is a list of articles written by top experts in the field of eating and nutrition and organized by topic. 

Selective Eating & Feeding Challenges

Helping Families with Feeding Issues

Autism and mealtime: A therapist’s top ten tips for success

Seven Ways to Help a Picky Eater

What Is It about Autism and Food?

Parent of Teen with Autism Seeks Help with Narrowing Food Choices

Child with Autism Won’t Eat Foods that ‘Smell’

Help! Our Adult Son Has Severe Autism and Extremely Narrow Diet

Parent Seeks Advice: Child with Autism Eats Only Candy & Chips

Parents Seek Help: Child with Severe Autism Eats Only Sweets

Encouraging Picky Eaters with Autism to Try New Foods

Parent Needs Help: 4-year-old with Autism Won’t Eat Solid Foods

Will eating-disorder program help with autism-related food aversions?

GF/CF Diet and other allergies/sensitivities

Study: Gluten/casein-free diet doesn’t improve autism symptoms (2015)

Follow-up Q&A with author of study on autism and gluten/casein-free diet (2018)

Unraveling Autism’s Gluten Mystery (2013)

Autism and the Gluten/Casein-Free Diet: When Can We Stop?

Obese Child with Autism Gaining Weight on Gluten/Casein-Free Diet

Can food allergies aggravate autism symptoms? 

Obesity/Weight-related challenges

Autism challenge: How to stop teen’s progression from chubby to obese 

Autism and Obesity: When Exercise and Healthy Diet Aren’t Enough 

Obese Child with Autism Gaining Weight on Gluten/Casein-Free Diet 

How Can We Stem Weight Gain Related to Behavioral Meds for Autism?

Pica

The Pica-Autism Connection: Help & Perspective in "Got Questions?"

Probiotics

Guidance on Probiotics

New findings on probiotics and autism: What you need to know

Supplements and Nutrition

For kids with autism, supplements often result in nutrient imbalances

GI Problems and Supplements

More Nutrition Resources

A Summary of Studies on Nutrition and Autism

Five Fabulous Tips to Help You Build Your Child's Foundation for Good Health

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 

Nutrition.gov