You have read it all. Put your child on a gluten free diet. Take away coloring or sugar or carbs. All of these are well intended options but there is no medical evidence behind them.

The real thing we as parents of autistic children that realize is our child normally are picky eaters. This, in my mind means how do we get them to eat – not what they cannot eat.

We need to work with their pediatricians. First find out if your child is deficient in anything. Then make changes to help. Multivitamins have changed since my youth with Flintstones multi vitamins. I did see them in the store though. There are many options. Drinks, gummies, food or pills give our kids many other options than we had. Try what works, it cannot hurt your child. There are other ways too. My kids were low in iron. I now cook on cast iron pans for everything. I even learned how to make fried eggs on a pan that is not non-stick. I add iron to the foods that he will eat without anything – no pills, no anything.

Another thing that could be the problem is sensory issues. A lot of children, not just autistic ones, have a problem with the feeling of food not the food itself. It could be the softness of scrambled eggs that is the issue, not eggs itself. It could be the smell, the feel or the taste. They will not try new foods because, whether they know it or not, they are trying to protect themselves from another sensory issue. They will limit themselves to food that they believe are safe. Make a list of the foods and liquids that your child currently accepts and likes. Organize these by sensory properties such as taste, texture, color, or smell. For example, does your child eat mostly foods that are crisp or crunchy? Foods that have a strong taste? Foods that are bland? Foods that are sweet? Foods that are soft and smooth? Foods with similar colors? You need to be a detective. Once you find what your child likes to eat, try to introduce food with the same sensory properties. It could help.

Food is always confusing for all children and parents. I wish it could be the magic wand or the end all be all. The real answer is we do not know. Food has changed significantly over the years. What we eat today is very different and prepared very different than what we ate as kids. I, personally, believe there is something there but I do not believe it is everything. Only time will tell.