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.
We have compiled the resources below to help you and your family work to overcome these challenges.
Tool Kits from the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network
Exploring Feeding Behavior in Autism: A Parent's Guide
Managing Constipation in Children: A Parent's Guide
Advice from the Experts: Through the years we have asked some of the top experts in their fields to share helpful information on topics related to eating and nutrition. The posts are organized by topic below.
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
New findings on probiotics and autism: What you need to know
Supplements and Nutrition:
For kids with autism, supplements often result in nutrient imbalances
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