Autism and food have a complicated relationship. When your special needs child refuses to eat a particular food, he’s not doing it to spite you. Children with autism have sensory sensitivities that impede mealtimes, meaning that they avoid food because of the smell, color, texture, and taste.
Related: How to Address Food Aversions in Autism.
But why should you choose organic food? Is it better than conventional food? What is the correlation between organic food and autism? All of these questions—and more—will be answered in this article.
What Is Autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurological condition that appears in the first years of a child’s life. Autism affects brain function, especially social interaction and communication skills. Some symptoms include a lack of interest in playing with other children, poor eye contact, or extreme sensory sensitivities.
Currently, there is no known cause for autism, but it’s believed that both genetics and the environment play a role. It’s estimated that 1 in every 54 American children has autism, with boys more likely to be diagnosed with ASD than girls.
Autism and Food
Caring for a child with autism is challenging on many levels, and healthy nutrition is no exception. People with autism often have narrow and restricted interests that affect eating habits and food choices. Children with autism avoid certain foods and have difficulty sitting through meal times—they might not get all the nutrition they need. A balanced organic diet will help autistic children learn better, manage their emotions, and process information.
Food aversion can lead to specific problems, such as:
- Strong food dislikes. A child with autism can be sensitive to taste, smell, color, and food texture. Because of this, they might limit or avoid some foods or even whole groups of food.
- Not eating enough food. Since kids with autism have difficulty focusing on a task for long periods of time, it might be hard for them to sit down and eat meals from start to finish.
- Constipation. This has several causes, from your child’s limited food choices to low physical activity. You can remedy it by increasing dietary fiber sources, drinking plenty of fluids, and exercising regularly.
What Can You Do About It?
Be Prepared to Pickiness
The biggest barrier a child with sensory sensitivities has to overcome is the taste, smell, color, and texture of foods. For a parent, it might seem impossible to get your picky child to try new foods; but there is hope.
One of the easiest ways is to tackle the sensory issues outside the kitchen. For example, you can go with your child to the supermarket and let him pick the food. Back home, research the food together and then decide how to prepare it. If your child doesn’t want to eat it, don’t worry. This way, your child will become familiar with new foods in a positive environment. Eventually, your child will become a flexible eater.
You can also read this article for more information: How to Overcome Picky Eating in Autistic Children.
Mealtimes Should Be Routine
A busy kitchen has bright lights, loud noises, and hundreds of smells that can overstimulate an autistic child. Even the way the furniture is arranged can disturb a child with ASD. The first step is making meals as predictable as possible and creating a routine. If your child is sensitive to something, try to remove it. Let your child pick their favorite food included in the meal, or let him choose his seat at the table.
Work with a Dietitian
A restrictive diet requires careful planning. A registered dietitian nutritionist can identify any nutritional risks based on how your child behaves around food. The dietitian can also answer questions about the effectiveness and safety of nutrition therapies. Always consult a dietitian before making drastic changes; a dietitian can guide your child to live healthily and instill good eating habits.
Why Go Organic?
Organic food has become popular in the last few years—many believe it’s healthier than conventional food. But it can also burn a hole in your wallet because of how expensive it is. Organic food is not sprayed with chemicals or preservatives and is easier for many kids with autism to digest and absorb nutrients properly.
Furthermore, organic food doesn’t contain harmful chemicals. Animals are raised in environments that accommodate their natural habitat. They graze on pastures and are not fed antibiotics or growth hormones.
Organic food is considered to be more nutritious than conventional food. Organic fruits and vegetables contain high levels of antioxidants and vitamins C, E, and K. Organic tomatoes also contain higher amounts of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cancer.
The benefits of organic food are:
Low in calories, which means that organic food doesn’t need artificial additives to fatten up.
They taste better. Many people claim that organic foods taste better, are fresher, and have more flavor than their conventional counterparts. This might be caused by the fact that organic foods are picked at peak ripeness.
Organic food at local farmers' markets is cheaper. Farmers don't have to pay for expensive chemical treatments. The products are sold directly to the consumer rather than through large retailers.
Contains fewer allergens. Common allergens (wheat, dairy, eggs, peanuts, shellfish) are found in conventional foods but not in organic ones.
In conclusion, if you want your autistic child to lead a healthy and nutritional life, then choose organic. Pesticides and herbicides used on traditional produce kill bugs, but also the bacteria in your gut.
Here is a list of organic fruits and vegetables:
- Spinach
- Nectarines
- Grapes
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Cherries
- Pears
- Tomatoes
- Potatoes
- Bell peppers
If you want to give your autistic child meat, then try the following:
- Organic
- No added hormones
- Free-range or grass-fed
Read: Pros and Cons of Organic Food.
Does Organic Food Cause Autism?
No.
There is a lot of misinformation going around about what causes autism. In 1998, a British study by a certain Dr. Wakefield linked autism to childhood vaccines that was later debunked by another study. Wakefield altered all patients' medical histories, which formed the basis of the original research. This became the bedrock of the vaccine denial movement.
Read: Can Vaccines Cause Autism?
Since the number of autism cases has skyrocketed in the past few decades, it's normal for people to look for causes. Researchers believe they found the reason: nothing. They claim that the rise in autism is a statistical mirage. While it's not reassuring, you won't find the answer on the Internet. Thousands of articles and organizations blame one thing or another, including vaccines, GMOs, Wi-Fi signals, chemtrails, and electromagnetic fields. Many headlines are meant to scare you, even capable mothers that blame the autism diagnosis for serving non-organic food.
There are many possible causes why there’s an increase in autism. Autism awareness might’ve also played an important role. But it’s important not to get taken in by wild claims and give in to the fears.
Should You Worry About Heavy Metals in Baby Food?
Most parents heard the news that 95% of baby food contains one or more toxic heavy metals. A study found that many baby food manufacturers have high amounts of lead, arsenic, or mercury in their products. It sounds concerning, but should you worry?
Heavy metals are part of the earth's crust, and it's almost impossible to avoid. Heavy metals enter the food supply from the soil, water, and even air. All of these get contaminated through farming, manufacturing, or pollution. The crops absorb heavy metals more than others, like fruit juice, rice, or sweet potatoes. Even if our bodies require heavy metals (iron or zinc), other metals can be harmful. You should also avoid food additives.
Over time, ingesting heavy metals can cause attention, behavior, and learning problems. Prolonged exposure to heavy metals can harm a child's brain development. Heavy metals in baby food also impact the kidneys and liver, so it's essential to select products that have low levels of heavy metals.
Is Organic Food Safer?
While organic food is produced in environmentally friendly ways, it doesn't mean it's better. Many organic products contain brown rice, a plant that naturally contains arsenic. However, organic food consumption among children is associated with higher scores on tests measuring working memory and fluid intelligence.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), you should limit your child's rice intake. Both organic and inorganic food contain similar amounts of toxic metals. You can start making food at home because you have more control over the ingredients. You can avoid potential contaminants from the packaging; also, it's a cost-effective option.
Get inspired by these recipes: Healthy and Delicious Organic Snacks That Your Kid Will Love.