To give my ds the same meal every day?

[DorothyL]

He has mild autism and sensory issues. He is nearly 9. I tried for years to get him to eat different foods, but it just led to so much upset. Now he has basically some version of potato with some sort of protein (meat/egg) plus beans or salad veg.

No he'll be fine, as long as you cover off the food groups which you are. If it's a flashpoint it's better fro him to just eat something IMO.

I'd agree with TheCrow - it sounds well balanced and healthy, and he's happy - and if it takes the stress out of mealtimes for you, then it's a win-win!

You're doing a great job!

I agree with thecrow

YANBU at all. That's what I give DD aged 7 who is also a bit fussy on account of texture. She will eat roast potatoes, chips, wedges and a variety of veg but only chicken...or cheese or tuna...so all her meals are combos of those.

You are doing so well. Dd has always felt similar and I've learnt to let go of it and it's become better over the years on its own.

You are feeding him healthy foods and they seem to cover everything!

Is there anything else specific you wished he'd eat? And does he get on ok with school meals ?

My son went through a very fussy food stage. (Tbh he's not much better now).
We were seeing lots of specialists about something else, and I mentioned it.
Their reply-most children in the world eat the same food at every meal, every day- a combo of rice & beans. So any variety above that is great.
Potato/ protein/ veg- fab! You've covered all the food groups.

My son still eats no veg AT ALL.
I've decided to stop stressing about it.

If he's getting adequate nutrition, he's happy with it, and you're happy with it, why not?

What he eats sounds like what my grandfather used to eat. Every dinner pretty much had to have a meat, potatoes of some sort, a vegetable (selected from a fairly small list of possibilities as I recall), and a dessert. An adventurous eater, he was not. He lived to be 85.

That's a perfectly balanced meal and it prevents upset so where's the harm? Keep doing what you're doing OP it sounds fine.

Ds will only eat for dinner fish fingers; Richmond sausages; chicken. Potatoes - chips, roast or mash and broccoli and carrots.
Ds has ODD I think and letting him eat what he wants stops him getting titaly distressed and not eating anything.

Go for it! I have AS and while I don't have sensory issues, I know when I am anxious it affects what I can eat. If you make a fuss over meals, he will be more anxious, and less likely to eat or want to try new foods.

If I can make a suggestion though, have you tried eating together and letting him put his own food on his plate? Put the different things in dishes so he can serve himself. Make sure there's things you know he will eat, but also things for you. Don't comment on what he chooses or eats, but over time you might find he relaxes enough to try new things. If he does, don't make a fuss, as that will probably make him more anxious again.

misleading thread title! Sounds like he has a reasonably balanced diet :)

I work with children who have ASD and that's a good diet in comparison to many I've encountered. You're doing brilliantly, that's a balanced diet

At least it's quite healthy food and not completely processed meals. It sounds quite balanced

Thanks all, feel better now!

At school he has a packed lunch - dairylea sandwich, salad veg, yogurt, skips every day

We eat other things and he's free to try what we're having, but so far no
Luck!

In the next year or two can you start teaching him how to cook? So that eventually on nights when you want lasagne, he can cook his own meal.

He is in many ways much younger than his years, so that might have to wait longer.