Throwing food

[Kurly]

Hi ds (3 likely ASD) throws his food. His diet is restricted to three or four foods and even those he will often initially throw before eating.

He will also pick apart food and eat tiny bits.

The problem apart from wasted food is that dd who is younger is starting to copy him as she thinks its a good game!!!

Has anyone else experienced this and got any advice.

Hi Kerly- dd2 is 4.5 and does the same, we had an OT come to the house to watch her eat, dd2 picks food apart, throws food, smears food and chews it up and spits it out. Dd2 will then eat it off the floor (so its not that she doesn't like the food). We were advised to make dd2 her own place mat (so food should stay on the mat), we were also told to give her a sensory diet using food with strong flavours (which is imposible if you have a fussy eater).

Luckily dd2 is the youngest, dd1 does not copy but she does laugh at her which makes dd2 worse.

You could try puting one item on his plate at a time, when he's eaten it add another. Sometimes having too much on a plate can put a child off.

Sorry i can't be much help, dd2 has improved slightly and i find she's worse if she is tired. When we are at home (weekends), i feed her a cooked meal for lunch when she's not as tired.

Thanks will try putting one thing on the plate at a time.

If I am honest I am scared of doing anything much because his eating is so bad. Its not unusual for him to go a couple of days without eating luckily he does drink.

Did you find the OT much help?