Heather Bedard, C.H.E.
There is a program or philosophy of food introduction developed by Dr Lucy Cooke by the name of Tiny Tastes. The program begins by introducing foods NOT during mealtimes and allowing the child to pick which food they will be trying first. When the child tastes the food (which can be any level of tasting from eating a pea sized amount to just licking) a reward follows. In a study done in a school environment, all of the children responded well to a sticker reward, but it is important that the reward is not food related and that the child must earn it. This goes on from 10-14 days at which time another food is introduced. Results from this program have been shown to be long-lasting and most children expand their food repertoire considerably
It is important to keep in mind when changing new diets for autistic children, or implementing new methodologies, that it is difficult to really understand the efficacy of different changes in diets and supplements because progress is often due to the combination of changes parents or caregivers are making at any given time. In many cases just one supplement or dietary change doesn’t make a huge difference. Different sets of parents can be giving the same supplement with various different diets which makes it hard to pinpoint exactly which element is producing the change. There haven’t been very many studies done to prove the efficacy of certain diets or supplements but there are many testimonials by parents who have experiences differing from relevant study results.
Because autistic children likely suffer from gastrointestinal issues, diets that are anti-inflammatory are often extremely helpful. Foods included in a diet like this would be more plant based and lower in fat and animal products if possible. Due to the high usage of antibiotics many autistic children suffer from leaky gut which causes sensitivity to gluten and casein (dairy). Eliminating gluten and dairy from the diet can cause a noticeable change in behaviors as stomach pain is reduced and brain inflammation triggers subside. Other helpful diet changes should include foods rich in antioxidants as well as eliminating processed foods and artificial dyes and preservatives which can increase inflammation.
Combining a program like Tiny Tastes with dietary changes like eliminating gluten, casein, and artificial dyes can be really beneficial for your child. Tiny Tastes is a wonderful first step in encouraging your child to eat foods they may not normally gravitate to in a low-pressure, positive environment.