Nutritional Guidance for Teens and Adults With Autism

Nutritional Guidance for Teens and Adults on the Autism Spectrum

Nutritional guidance for teens and adults with autism is essential for supporting their overall health and well-being. Individuals on the autism spectrum may have unique dietary preferences, sensitivities, or challenges that require specialized approaches to nutrition. This guidance focuses on promoting healthy eating habits tailored to meet their specific needs, ensuring adequate nutrition while considering sensory sensitivities and food aversions that may affect dietary choices.

Navigating the nutritional needs of individuals with autism involves understanding the potential impact of diet on behaviour, cognition, and physical health. By providing structured meal planning, dietary modifications, and education on balanced nutrition, caregivers and healthcare professionals can empower teens and adults on the autism spectrum to make informed food choices that support their developmental and metabolic needs.

This introduction sets the stage for exploring practical strategies and considerations in nutritional guidance, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to health that encompasses both physical and behavioural aspects. By fostering a supportive environment and offering personalized dietary support, individuals with autism can achieve optimal health outcomes and improve their quality of life through nutritious eating habits.

Start the gluten-free, casein-free diet with your teenager or adult

It is not impossible to change, even though it may be difficult. Education is the first step in making dietary adjustments. Assume that your teenager or adult is competent and involve them in the educational process about healthy eating. Empowerment may lead to an openness to trying something new.

• Learn about the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free diet for Autism.
• Change your family’s diet.
• TACA has written an article about The Top Reasons for Implementing a Gluten-Free and Casein-Free diet.
• Plan! It takes time to achieve a healthier diet.
  • Create a food diary of the foods that your family eats.
  • Label the foods that are already GFCF.
  • Choose a few food items that can be easily modified to GFCF.
  • Do not forget to choose a new recipe or food for your family this week!
  • Just because an item is GFCF does not mean that it is healthy. Whole foods that are not processed are best.
  • Trial and error will occur. If you break down the change into smaller steps, it will be less daunting.
• You will discover more foods that you love as time goes on!

Try new foods

Make mealtimes enjoyable by incorporating creative presentations of food and involving your child in meal preparation. Offer a variety of colourful and nutritious options without pressure, allowing your child to explore new flavours and textures at their own pace. Creating a positive and relaxed atmosphere around meals can foster curiosity and willingness to try different foods, ultimately promoting a healthy and balanced diet.

Here are some ideas for making new foods interesting!

• Movie Night with Themed Food
• Cooking party with friends or family where everyone participates
• Host an edible party
• Create a themed bar in the style of a buffet
  • Build a protein Bowl
  • Create your own pizza
  • Popcorn bar flavoured with different flavours
  • Salad bar
  • Taco bar
  • Baked potato bar
  • Breakfast food bar
• Creatively present the food.
  • Charcuterie board
  • Muffin Tins
  • Snacklebox
  • Fruit or veggie platter
  • Turn meal into kebabs.
• Offer a “taste platter” that contains only 1-2 bites.
• Combine a new dish with your favourite.
• Instead of using traditional silverware and plates, use different appetizers or food picks.
• If your child is an extremely picky eater you may want to look into underlying medical conditions that might be causing the problem.
  • TACA’s article on Autism and Picky Eating.

IEPs (Interim Transition Plans), Transition Plans and Food Allergies

The federal law requires that schools accommodate food allergies by providing proper documentation. Develop an environment to support dietary restrictions in partnership with your IEP Team. Learn more about Tips to Include Dietary Restrictions in Your Child’s Individual Education Plan.

• Communication is the key!
  • Always provide documentation of food allergies or restrictions.
  • Also, you can work with the teacher to provide healthy alternatives.
  • Download this FREE tip sheet to help teachers understand the GFCF Diet at School.
• Create a curriculum that includes cooking and menu choices.
  • Goals can include:
    • Cooking skills
    • Kitchen safety
    • Meal planning
    • Grocery Shopping
    • Checking ingredients on labels and allergens
    • Calculating measurements
    • Read and follow recipes
    • Time management
    • Restaurant staff should be informed of allergens
    • Allergic reactions: How to recognize the signs
    • Self-assessment for allergen reactions
    • What to do if you are exposed

Learn to Cook and Enjoy Life!

Life skills are crucial for teens and adults, preparing them for independence and success. It’s beneficial to start developing these skills early to ensure your child gains confidence and competence before reaching adulthood. Reinforcing Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals at home provides consistent support and reinforcement, helping to build foundational skills that will serve them throughout their lives. Create your list to help your child learn how to cook independently.

• Cooking together with your family
• Find ways to involve your teenager or adult.
• Use visual aids. Use visual supports.
  • Pictures of the steps
  • Lists
  • Video Modeling
• New skills can include
  • Gathering ingredients
  • Measuring
  • Pouring
  • Mixing
  • Set the timer
  • Butter knife for cutting soft foods
  • Fruits and vegetables should be cleaned.
  • Microwaves
  • Practice picking up things with a potholder

Budgeting for Food and SNAP Benefits

• Planning is key to creating healthy meals on a budget.
  • Make a meal plan.
  • Create a shopping list, and then STICK TO IT.
  • If you don’t follow your healthy meal plan, or if you “wing it” at the grocery store, your budget is likely to be exceeded.
  • Teach your children how to compare prices.
  • What is the difference between unit price and total price?
• Benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP).
  • The federal government offers a program to supplement the budgets of families for healthy food.
  • SNAP benefits may be available to people with disabilities.
  • You must apply to your state for SNAP benefits.
    • Find your state SNAP benefit resources here.
  • SNAP also provides educational materials on healthy eating.
  • You can also read about how to eat a GFCFSF diet on a budget.

Self-Advocacy & Self-Determination

Adulthood is not complete without the ability to advocate for yourself. Our teens and adults need to know how to express their needs when it comes to food allergies and healthy eating.

• Above all else, make sure the person understands their rights to advocate for an individual-centered plan.
• You can, for example, practice at home:
  • Label Reading
  • Food allergen lists can be requested from restaurants
  • Communication with restaurant staff regarding food allergies
  • You can order food online
  • Find GFCF and allergen-free options at the supermarket

• Students with food allergies are also protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • Learn more about how to manage food allergies on campus with Food Allergy Research and Education’s Access Service Guide for Students With Food-Related Disability.
• If your teenager or adult is participating in a program for job training or independent life skills, the instructor should be aware of their dietary requirements.
  • The food service industry should be open to all.
  • Allergies to food can be accommodated at work
    • Learn more about food allergy and employment at the Job Accommodation Network.
  • Make sure that the Independent Living Skills Programs meet each individual’s nutritional needs when teaching cooking independently.
  • Work in partnership with each individual to help them adopt a healthy lifestyle.
  • Ask staff members and caregivers if they can cook.
    • Create a schedule of training to help them learn how to shop and cook according to their dietary requirements.
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AACI is important to take into account the communication styles of users.
  • Provide the vocabulary that they will require.