The holidays are approaching and there will be lots of tasty dishes on the table. While you may be excited for seasonal dishes and fun new recipes, your special needs child may not be so thrilled to taste the golden deliciousness of grandma’s famous apple pie. In order to make the most out of your holiday meal and encourage your child to try at least one holiday food, you must allow yourself two things: time and patience. I encourage you to develop a plan at least a few weeks before your big meal.
To begin, let’s make a list.
First, what foods does your child currently eat or not eat?
Second, are there any particular reasons that you avoided certain foods in the past other than the child’s non preference such as food allergies or oral motor difficulties? If possible consult your pediatrician or occupational therapist to rule out health related or oral motor issues.
Third, let’s compare. Does your child prefer foods that have similar taste or texture such as sweet and crunchy, similar color such as those belonging to the beige/brown family, or even foods from your usual place such as Baker’s square? Does your child prefer foods at room temperature, cold, or hot from the oven? It is best to categorize foods to your child’s exact preference.
Fourth, choose a food. You should choose a food that is similar to your child’s already preferred foods as stated above. Start with generalization across types within the same food. For example, chicken nuggets, chicken strips, holiday baked chicken. Also generalization across same food from different restaurants or different store brands. Then vary within one category while keeping other categories the same – for example, different texture, same temperature, very similar taste – like going from apple sauce to apple pie.
Next, find a highly preferred reinforcer such as candy or an Ipad. Limit this reinforcer to feeding time, and feeding time only. Also, create a First/Then visual and give specific instructions: First _____, then______. 
Lastly, get everyone near and dear on board. This will require effort and consistency from everyone who could possibly serve the meal, so your child learns to eat from grandma, aunts, uncles, whomever. You may also want to keep a data sheet of some sort to keep track of progress day by day.
A systematic desensitization feeding protocol (you can use this Feeding Data Sheet) will involve gradually introducing and exposing the child to new foods in small steps with low demands as to relax the child and limit the anxiety and behaviors that will mostly likely occur with larger portions and high demands.
I have to warn you, the following behaviors might occur, but do not lose hope: Vomiting (gagging), screaming and crying, throwing food, and my favorite, requesting to go potty. Explain how to tell the different between behaviors emitted for escape and for sensory and systematic desensitization is addressing sensory needs.
I would recommend allowing the child to watch you prepare the food i.e cutting a slice of apple pie. If your child likes the taste of Bakers Square warm apple pie that has a crumbly type and cinnamon center, I would suggest you purchase a different brand but with as much identical taste, texture, and appearance as possible. Get that Ipad and First/Then schedule handy.
First place a crumb sized piece of apple pie in front of your child. If your child does not run away, or exhibit any of the above behaviors, let’s move on. Prepare first/then visual. First touch apple pie, then Ipad. Have the child touch the piece with their finger. If successful, allow 2 minutes of Ipad. Then move on to having the child pick up piece and bring to the teeth or lips. Next, have the child taste the small piece of apple pie. If successful, gradually increase the piece sizes of apple pie. You may be able to do this in one sitting, or over the course of a few days. The key is to be consistent and patient. For a younger child, having an older sibling or peer model the behavior can be great and comforting. Remember to reinforce! Allowing your child enough time to become comfortable with the food is extremely important before introducing different brands, different restaurants, and even preparing your own apple pie at home. If by your holiday meal your child is still not desensitized to grandma’s famous apple pie, it may be a success in and of itself for your child to just tolerate the smell of the pie and sit at the table with the family and eat his applesauce.
Be sure to keep at your feeding plan though. There’s plenty more holidays for grandma’s pie. Good Luck!
Check out this blog post by Josh, an adult with autism, about his experience trying new foods:
“Trying the Turkey” by Josh
For help with Feeding Issues check out our Feeding Therapy page:
