Contents:
- Medical Video: Reinforcing New Foods
- How to introduce new foods to children with autism
- Provide vitamin and mineral supplements for children
Medical Video: Reinforcing New Foods
Indeed, not all foods can be given to children with autism. Wrong giving food can actually aggravate the condition of children with autism. Not to mention children with autism are usually more picky about food. For example children do not like food with certain colors, textures, or aromas. This is certainly not easy when parents want to introduce new foods to children with autism.
In fact, the habit of picking food can limit children's nutritional intake which can then inhibit the growth and development of children. In addition, it can also cause weight problems and health problems. Therefore, it is important for parents to keep trying to introduce new foods to children, so that children's food choices become more diverse.
How to introduce new foods to children with autism
Introducing new foods to children with autism is quite difficult. Not necessarily the food is safe for children with autism. Some foods can cause symptoms of intolerance or allergies in children with autism.
For that, the first thing you have to do is make sure the food is safe for the child by consulting a doctor. The doctor will check if there are medical reasons that should make the child not eat certain foods.
Once permitted by a doctor, you can take the following approaches to introduce new foods to children:
- First, start introducing the texture and color of the new food to the child
- Make sure children often see, touch, and smell the food several times before starting to want to taste it.
- Introduce one new type of food every time, don't go too much at once.
- Offer food at room temperature (not too hot or cold).
- Don't force children if they don't want to taste new food.
- It takes several times for the child to taste new foods until he likes them.
If the child does not want to taste the food, you can slip the new food on the child's favorite food, such as in bread sandwichor omelet. This encourages children to taste the taste of the new food first. If the child's tongue is familiar with the taste of new food, it is easier for the child to be able to taste it again and again until he likes and doesn't refuse again.
Provide vitamin and mineral supplements for children
Understandably if you are worried about your child's intake of vitamins and minerals due to the limited selection of children's food. You might have tried many ways to offer a variety of new foods to your child, but the child still refused.
Providing vitamin and mineral supplements may be needed to reduce your anxiety. In addition to helping meet the needs of children's vitamins and minerals, vitamin and mineral supplements may also increase children's appetite. This is because the intake of certain low nutrients, such as zinc can reduce a child's appetite.
It is important to remember, before giving a vitamin and mineral supplement to a child, you should first consult this matter with your doctor. The doctor will determine what type of supplement is needed and how many doses.
