People with autism typically have difficulties with nutrition.

It's possible that they have an obsessive preference for one food over other types, or maybe they have certain eating habits.

When they are picky about eating certain foods, it directly affects their intake of the right nutrients.

When they don't take in the right nutrients, it will affect their health and cause them nutrition issues.

Employing certain strategies can help to expand an autistic person's diet.

Feeding therapy for autism can help to mitigate these issues.

Autistic people can benefit from a more healthy diet if they participate in feeding therapy, which aims to improve the person's relationship with food and eating.

Through food exposure and tasting, you can also expand an autistic person's diet.

Don't overwhelm them with too many new foods at a time.

Take it one at a time.

By implementing a new mealtime routine, you can expand an autistic person's diet.

They normally feel at ease trying new foods once a new pattern is formed as long as the routine is in place.

Read on to discover ways to expand an autistic person's diet.

Feeding Therapy for Autism 

Extreme rigidity and heightened sensitivity to touch, smell, and taste are common characteristics of autistic people.

As a result, autistic people may be very picky about the meals they will try.

An autistic person's diet can be expanded and their negative feeding behaviors modified with the help of feeding therapy.

Feeding therapy is incorporated into a patient's overall treatment plan, which may include speech and language therapy, behavioral therapy, or occupational therapy.

Autism feeding therapy is carried out by trained and qualified specialists with the support and assistance of parents and caregivers.

Even if you might like the idea of giving them more variety in their diet, you should keep in mind that intestinal inflammation is a genuine occurrence.

Many of these people deal with chronic inflammation of the digestive tract and dietary sensitivities.

Because of challenges with interoception or communication, we may miss the underlying cause of challenging behaviors.

Such challenging behaviors include sleeplessness, irritability, and hyperactivity in people who are experiencing uncomfortable feelings in their abdomens.

Improve Food Preference Through Taste Exposure 

Over the period of weeks, expose the person to a modest amount (i.e., a tiny bite size) of each new meal.

It's advisable to introduce new foods one at a time.

Select new foods strategically.

Begin with those that are nutritionally similar to those already in the person's diet and those that they enjoyed eating before but no longer do.

Add in some of their favorites, and you could get them to try something new.

You can get them to try out new things by promising them servings of their favorite meals in between.

Make trying it out a suggestion rather than a demand.

Please encourage them to try new foods when they are ready, but don't force them.

Keep in mind that this could take several days or even weeks.

Don't Be Strict on Cutlery 

The goal is not good manners if your fussy, autistic eater refuses to eat anything you put in front of them or consumes very little of it.

Furthermore, forcing autistic people to eat at a table is ineffective.

Getting them to eat is the objective.

Eating utensils offer some sensory input that could not be pleasant.

In order to figure out the utensils they prefer, let them try out the options available. Compare the metal and plastic cutlery.

Metal cutlery is awkward to use because of its weight and thinness.

Plastic utensils, on the other hand, are Lightweight.

Trying out Chopsticks can be entertaining for them too.

They could even be allowed to eat with their hands instead of using cutlery.

Encourage them to use their hands as utensils if that's what they are comfortable with.

Some autistic people have sensory sensitivities and might eat certain meals because of their texture or the nature of the meal. 

Establish a New Mealtime Routine

Establishing a new mealtime schedule is a key objective when working with autistic people who exhibit food preferences.

To achieve this goal, one must replace the individual's present limited-variety mealtime pattern with an organized meal plan and adhere to it consistently.

One strategy is to serve the new food in very little pieces at first and then gradually increase the size of the bite.

In most cases, once a new habit has been formed, the individual will feel more at ease trying out new meals.

Get them involved in making the meal.

Giving a person with autism the opportunity to help prepare their own meals and snacks can help them feel more independent and boost their self-esteem.

Consistency is essential if you want to help them develop a healthy connection with food and eating.

Use Positive Reinforcements

Acknowledge their efforts by heaping on the praise.

An important thing you can do is compliment them on every element of their improvement.

When they exhibit the appropriate eating behavior, you can positively reinforce it by giving them a food incentive (praise, toys, screen time, a favorite pastime).

Long-term, it's beneficial to praise and encourage their openness to trying different meals and eating situations.

However, bribery in the open can backfire.

While they might consume it, the idea is to teach them to love healthy foods and appreciate their significance in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Dessert and treats can be a part of meals and snacks, but they shouldn't be used as bribes.

Conclusion

Picky eating and other behaviors that negatively impact health are particularly common among people with autism.

By gradually introducing new foods in familiar ways, you can help expand an autistic person's diet.

These strategies can help to expand an autistic person's diet: feeding therapy for autism, improving food preference through taste exposure, offering different types of utensils or simply no utensils at all, establishing a new mealtime routine, and positive reinforcements.

Resources 

https://www.elemy.com/studio/autism-and-diet/feeding-therapy/

https://www.verywellhealth.com/getting-autistic-children-to-eat-more-260158

https://asatonline.org/research-treatment/clinical-corner/improving-food-selectivity/

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/food-selectivity-autism-expanding-your-childs-palate-0805134/amp/

https://autismawarenesscentre.com/food-glorious-food-expanding-the-diet-of-individuals-with-asd/

https://www.autismspeaks.org/expert-opinion/autism-and-food-aversions