Nutritional Management of ASD in Children Aged 2-4 Years
ASD, or autism spectrum disorder, is a developmental disability resulting in a variety of impacts on communication, social behaviour and learning. ASD can become evident in your kids even when they are still infants, resulting in differences in how the disability proceeds depending on their positioning on the spectrum.
Repetition is pretty common when it comes to children with autism. Whenever these children or even adults get used to a certain stimulus or find satisfaction or comfort in an action or behaviour, it is likely that they will keep repeating it. Interestingly, this also extends to nutrition and what their preferences are when it comes to eating.
Understanding these preferences is important, but it is also important to ensure that your children are getting enough nutrients into their bodies. Many foods and diets have also been found to be helpful in managing some of the symptoms associated with ASD, so it is worth knowing about these for your children.
Correlation between Nutrition and ASD
There are several correlations and connections between nutrition and autism spectrum disorder. Understanding these will make it easier for you to manage your children’s eating routines and certain symptoms. Go through some of these points of connection below.
Taste and texture are some aspects of a certain kind of food that may keep children with ASD away from those foods.
Behavioural elements are often involved when it comes to feeding children with autism. Tantrums, aversions, unavoidable habits or complete avoidance are likely to occur during mealtimes.
Some kinds of foods, especially dairy, might affect children with autism more than neurotypical children. Stomach aches and indigestion are common here
Consuming only certain kinds of food can end up causing other issues in children with autism, such as food intolerance, obesity, malnourishment, heart issues, weak bones due to low calcium levels2 and others.
The focus of your child might shift from the food to another stimulant much more quickly as compared to other children. This might make it tough to bring their attention back to finishing the food.
Your child might need to take some medications for managing some of their behaviours, some of which might result in side effects like a reduction in their appetite. If they eat less, this might impact their growth and health as they continue to age.
Nutritional Management of ASD in Children Aged 2-4
It is clear that there are a variety of issues that can occur when it comes to the nutritional intake and eating habits of children with autism. Those falling within the 2-4 age bracket are even more probable to exhibit some severe reactions given that it might just be the beginning of you and your child’s experience with autism, especially in light of a recent diagnosis.
This age is often when some behaviours might become clearer than before, requiring particular attention. The development of speaking, social interactions, engagement with strangers and the potential start of pre-schooling might require you to seek immediate support and intervention.
By keeping some of the following points and actions in mind, you can obtain support for nutritional management of ASD in your children.
Work with a Nutritionist
A nutritionist or dietitian will be able to understand what your child with ASD should be eating. After understanding your child’s behaviour and eating habits, they will be able to construct a
plan with the necessary ingredients and foods in place for you to try feeding to your child. It will also become simpler for you to manage your child’s gastrointestinal problems better.
Nutritionists also often have experience when it comes to eating restrictions and preferences, making it possible for you to have some options in various food groups that you can work with for your child.
Consider Alternative Diets
It is possible that your child might not enjoy certain kinds of foods or might exhibit more severe reactions when it comes to some kinds of food. In this sense, it might be worth considering some alternative diets, such as those that eliminate gluten or casein from your child’s meals entirely3.
These diets might help manage stomach issues, but they do not generally have any associations with other symptoms of ASD itself. Moreover, limiting this kind of intake might result in their inadequate availability in the body, resulting in hindrances in growth.
If you do want to consider alternative diets, speak to your child’s doctor and nutritionist for some guidance.
Look for Patterns
When you are dealing with a child with autism, especially a younger one that cannot communicate clearly enough yet, you must look for patterns in their eating personalities. What they eat, when they eat it, what circumstances they look for it in, how they eat it, how they react and how their behaviour changes as a result of it are all important elements you should make a record of.
Knowing and being aware of these patterns will help you identify some focus areas that you can speak about with the doctor and nutritionist to figure out how to move forward.
Ensure Sufficient Nutrient Intake
Given that children with autism are picky and cautious eaters, you will need to figure out some foods that can ensure that they are getting enough nutrients in their bodies4. Experiment with some kinds of foods on the advice of the nutritionist to see what your child enjoys and whether or not a certain food impacts their behaviour.
For instance, feeding foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are likely to improve symptoms of stress and anxiety on a temporary basis. Similarly, various vitamins and minerals can help calm your child down and improve their sleep quality.
Opting for foods rich in such nutrients will help result in better management of ASD along with sufficient nutrient intake.
Improve Digestion
Indigestion is a major issue in children with autism, so you will need to maintain a diet that serves to reduce these symptoms. Probiotics, fruits, fibrous vegetables, liquids and other such foods should help you out here.
However, note that there are several differences in how the digestive systems of children with autism react to some foods. Different children further have different reactions; there is no monolithic effect here. Form a personalised diet plan with the help of a dietitian.
Manage Blood Sugar
As with most children, children with autism are also quite likely to enjoy foods that may end up increasing their blood sugar levels. For children with autism in particular, a habit or repetitive behaviour might end up forming if they enjoy a high-sugar food or drink too much, making it difficult for you to help them get rid of it.
High blood sugar often also leads to hyperactivity5, a common symptom of ASD. Changes in attention, memory, processing and responsiveness also tend to take place.
Managing this right from the start with children aged 2-4 can go a long way. Avoid refined or processed foods as far as possible.
Mix Ingredients
If there are some kinds of food that your child absolutely refuses to eat and even throws tantrums when you try to introduce them, it might be a good idea to mix the ingredients in a form that they are more willing to consume. For instance, you can mash them up and mix them with foods they like so that they enjoy eating their meal without much fuss.
This is also a good way to ensure that your child ends up eating a balanced meal with all kinds of nutrients in place.
Look Out for Sensitivity
Apart from gastrointestinal sensitivity, you will also need to look out for other forms of sensitivities, including allergies and reactions. These are likely to occur in children with autism, although it might be tough to catch such sensitivities at such a young age.
Nonetheless, if there is something that does not suit your child, avoid feeding it to them until further notice.
Maintain a Routine
Routines are highly effective for children with autism. If you have an ASD diagnosis for your child aged 2-4 years, this is good for you given that you can start helping them manage the disorder from an early age.
Forming a routine around their meals will make it easier for them to get used to the process, resulting in improved eating practices that may extend to when your children grow up a bit more.
Opt for Supplements
Supplements with certain vitamin and mineral concentrations are often a must for children with autism. Figure out which ones you should feed to your child and create a routine around feeding these too.
Alternatively, you can also provide these to them in a form that is more welcome to your child, such as powders mixed with a drink or in the food.
The Bottom Line
It can be tough figuring out what and how to feed to children aged 2-4 with ASD. Given the sensitivities and strictness of patterns involved, it is necessary to delve deep into meal plans and mealtimes while also ensuring that your child finishes most of their food. While alternative or special diets can work well for some children, they also pose the risk of insufficient nutrient intake, resulting in potential deficiencies.
Making it a point to work with a nutritionist and having a diet and meal plan in place will help you improve your child’s growth and development while also managing some of their symptoms better.
References
1. Adams, James B, et al. “Gastrointestinal Flora and Gastrointestinal Status in Children with Autism – Comparisons to Typical Children and Correlation with Autism Severity.” BMC Gastroenterology, vol. 11, no. 1, 2011, doi:10.1186/1471-230x-11-22.
2. Sharp, William G., et al. “Feeding Problems and Nutrient Intake in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Meta-Analysis and Comprehensive Review of the Literature.” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol. 43, no. 9, 2013, pp. 2159–2173., doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1771-5.
3. Cekici, Hande, and Nevin Sanlier. “Current Nutritional Approaches in Managing Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review.” Nutritional Neuroscience, vol. 22, no. 3, 2017, pp. 145–155., doi:10.1080/1028415x.2017.1358481.
4. Zimmer, Michelle H., et al. “Food Variety as a Predictor of Nutritional Status among Children with Autism.” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol. 42, no. 4, 2011, pp. 549–556., doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1268-z.
5. Prinz, Ronald J., et al. “Dietary Correlates of Hyperactive Behavior in Children.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, vol. 48, no. 6, 1980, pp. 760–769., doi:10.1037/0022-006x.48.6.760