6 tips to help your fussy eater with food texture aversion

Food texture aversion is very common amongst picky eaters, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder. this can make introducing new foods very challenging for parents.

Food aversions relating to textures can cause fussy eaters to reject foods, instigate gagging and reduce their nutrient intake. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) children with sensory sensitivity also tend to restrict their food, focusing on their safe foods and of manageable textures. 

Studies have shown ASD children with atypical oral sensory processing sensitivity will eat few veggies and healthy foods than those children with "normal" sensory sensitivity.

It has been highlighted, early intervention for sensory processing challenges in ASD children is critical for addressing mealtime picky eating behaviours. This is also the case with children who don't have a sensory processing disorder.

​The earlier you can help to improve the eating habits of your child and expand their food preferences, the better. If you do have a child with ASD, this is going to take time and you'll need to take a "start low, go slow" approach due to their hypersensitivities. 

6 tips to help your fussy eater with food texture aversion

Here are 6 tips that can be useful in helping your picky eater to overcome their food aversions and encourage new foods of a variety of textures into their diet.

1. Use a neutral plate

For many children, trying new foods of different textures can be overwhelming and this is heightened for children with a sensory processing disorder. Seeing a mix of crunchy foods, soft foods, slimy foods and different colours on a plate all at once can cause great anxiety and result in power struggles at the dinner table. 

One way to calm the sensory overload, particularly if your child also struggles with visual sensitivities, is to serve their food on a neutral plate. Ditch the bright colours and cartoon characters and instead opt for a plain coloured plate. 

2. Separate the foods 

Picky eaters and most children with sensory processing disorders struggle to eat foods combined in one bowl. Some children's texture issues extend to not wanting their food to touch other foods, especially if it's not a favourite food. 

Rather than drizzling sauce over their nuggets or mixing your broccoli, cauliflower and carrots together, keep the foods (especially new foods) separate. 

3. Consider the portion sizes 

Consider the portion sizes of your child's meals in relation to their texture or food preference. For example, if your 4 year old loves crunchy foods, make sure these textures dominate the plate and add only small amounts of soft food.

When serving different foods, make the portion size small in comparison to your child's food favourites. Overcrowding a plate with a variety of food and textures can be overwhelming. Remember, they can always ask for more.  

4. Create a play scheme

Young children with sensory processing issues can benefit greatly from sensory-based play to help breakdown the fear and anxiety surrounding different textures.

You can customise the sensory play based on your child's eating behaviour. For example, you may want to set up a sensory bin with a variety of different textures including food and non-food items. 

For those who find touching food problematic, they could use a chopstick to touch and play with the food on their plate to explore the different textures from slimy and squishy to solid foods.

5. Discuss the textures 

For older children, conversations can help improve their eating habits and break down fear surrounding textures and new foods. 

Chat about the different sensations eating or touching the food brings. How does it feel? Is it soft or hard? Does it make a sound? 

Create connections between the foods and positive experiences. For example, you might help highlight where the child saw or tasted the food for the first time such as their friends birthday party or on a great holiday. 

For some extra fun, make a game out of the texture exposure. Who can squish the most peas in 10 seconds? Who can crunch their carrots the loudest? 

6. Experiment with food chaining 

Food chaining is a concept that allows you to make small changes to your child's favorite foods and preferred textures. First, you need to identify what foods your child likes and the food textures they tolerate. 

Then you build a food chain that allows you to use foods with similar flavours and textures to transition to a new food. 

I'll discuss the food chaining method in more detail in an upcoming blog. 

If you're struggling with texture aversion and sensory issues, schedule a complimentary Wellness Discovery Call. We can discuss your struggles with your child's picky eating habits and some possible strategies that may help expand their diet and reduce the mealtime battles.

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