Why Some Autistic Children Eat Only White or Beige Foods A Complete Guide to Understanding White Food Preference, Food Selectivity, and How Parents Can Encourage a More Varied Diet

Why Some Autistic Children Eat Only White or Beige Foods

A Complete Guide to Understanding White Food Preference, Food Selectivity, and How Parents Can Encourage a More Varied Diet

Table of Contents

• Quick Signs to Look Out For (For the Busy Parent)
• What Are White or Beige Foods?
• Is This Common in Children with Autism?
• Why Do Some Autistic Children Prefer White or Beige Foods?
• Sensory Processing Differences
• Predictability and Sameness
• Anxiety Around New Foods (Food Neophobia)
• Oral-Motor Challenges
• The Role of Routine and Repetitive Behaviours
• Why Eating Only White Foods Can Become a Problem
• Nutrients Children May Miss
• Common White and Beige Foods Nigerian Children Prefer
• What NOT to Do
• What You Can Do at Home
• When Should You Seek Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• For the Nigerian Home
• You’re Not Failing Your Child
• In Conclusion
• References

Introduction

It was Chidera's fourth birthday, and his mother had spent the entire afternoon preparing the food she hoped he would finally enjoy. There was jollof rice, fried rice, chicken, moi-moi, fish, salad, fruit, and a beautifully decorated birthday cake. As the other children happily filled their plates, Chidera walked quietly to the dining table, looked carefully at everything, frowned, and gently pushed the plates away.

He pointed instead to a loaf of sliced bread on the kitchen counter. "Bread." His mother smiled nervously. "Just try one spoon of rice first." He shook his head. "Chicken?" Another shake. "Moi-moi?" He covered his nose. In the end, while everyone else enjoyed the party meal, Chidera sat comfortably in a corner eating plain bread and a handful of crackers.

Later that evening, his grandma sighed and said, "This boy is simply too pampered. If you stop giving him bread for one week, hunger will teach him." But his mother wasn't convinced. This wasn't stubbornness or a child trying to get his way. It had been happening every single day for almost two years. If this story sounds familiar, then you are welcome.

Many parents of autistic children notice that their child seems to prefer foods that are white, cream, or light brown in colour. Bread. Plain rice. Noodles. Crackers. Chips. Plain pasta. Yam. Custard. Pap. Toast. Biscuits. Some children refuse almost everything else, especially brightly coloured fruits, vegetables, beans, eggs, meat, or richly flavoured meals. It is easy to conclude that the child simply likes white foods.

Interestingly, current research suggests that colour is usually not the real reason. Instead, many of these foods share characteristics that autistic children often find easier to tolerate. They tend to have predictable textures, mild flavours, familiar smells, and a consistent appearance. For many autistic children, these characteristics make the foods feel safer and easier to eat than foods that vary in texture, smell, temperature, or taste. (1) Understanding this difference changes the conversation.

Instead of asking, "Why is my child obsessed with white food?" we begin asking, "What makes these foods feel safe for my child?" That simple shift helps parents respond with curiosity rather than frustration. In this article, we will explore why some autistic children appear to eat only white or beige foods, what current research tells us about this feeding pattern, when parents should be concerned, and practical ways families can gradually encourage a healthier and more varied diet without turning every mealtime into a battle.

Quick Signs to Watch For (For the Busy Parent)

Your child may have a preference for white or beige foods if they:

• Consistently choose foods like bread, plain rice, noodles, crackers, toast, chips, or plain pasta while refusing most colourful foods.
• Reject fruits and vegetables even after repeated exposure.
• Become upset when favourite foods look different from usual.
• Prefer foods with smooth, dry, or crunchy textures.
• Refuse mixed meals such as jollof rice, stews, soups, or casseroles.
• Eat only foods prepared in one particular way.
• Become anxious or distressed whenever unfamiliar foods are introduced.
• Have a very limited number of accepted foods that have remained unchanged for months or years. (1)

These signs do not automatically mean your child has a medical problem. Many autistic children go through periods of strong food preferences. However, if the range of accepted foods continues to shrink, or if entire food groups are missing from your child's diet, it is worth discussing your concerns with your healthcare provider. (2)

What Are White or Beige Foods?

When parents talk about "white foods," they are usually referring to foods that are pale in colour and relatively plain in flavour. Examples include:

• White rice
• Bread
• Plain noodles
• Plain pasta
• Crackers
• Toast
• Custard
• Pap (Akamu/Ogi)
• Yam
• Irish potatoes
• French fries
• Semolina
• Garri (prepared as eba)
• Cornflakes
• Plain biscuits

Not every child accepts all of these foods. Some children eat only three or four of them. Others may eat only foods that are dry and crunchy. Another child may accept only soft foods. The important point is that these foods often share sensory characteristics that make them feel predictable and safe. (4) It is also important to remember that not every white food is unhealthy.

For example, plain yam, potatoes, milk, yoghurt, oats, and some varieties of beans may all be light in colour while still providing valuable nutrients. The concern is not the colour itself. The concern arises when a child's diet becomes so restricted that important nutrients are consistently missing.

Is This Common in Children with Autism?

Yes. Food selectivity is one of the most common feeding challenges experienced by autistic children. Research suggests that between 21% and 76% of autistic children experience significant food selectivity, depending on how it is measured and the population being studied. (1) Studies consistently show that children with autism are significantly more likely than their neurotypical peers to have restricted diets, refuse unfamiliar foods, and eat a much narrower variety of foods. (5) Many parents describe their child as having a "safe food list." These are foods the child trusts and is willing to eat every day. Anything outside that list may be refused immediately, sometimes before it even reaches the mouth.

Research has also found that autistic children often consume fewer different foods than children without autism, increasing their risk of nutritional inadequacies over time. Although not every child prefers white or beige foods specifically, many do develop strong preferences for foods that are predictable in texture, flavour, and appearance because these characteristics reduce sensory uncertainty. (5) It is equally important to remember that autism is a spectrum. Some autistic children enjoy colourful fruits and vegetables every day. Others may eat only five or six foods for several years. The diagnosis itself does not determine eating habits. Each child's sensory profile, developmental stage, medical history, and feeding experiences all contribute to the way they eat.

Why Do Some Autistic Children Prefer White or Beige Foods?

There is no single explanation. Instead, several factors often work together. If your child’s food preferences extend beyond white or beige foods, you may also find our guide on Why Many Children with Autism Are Picky Eaters helpful for understanding the different reasons autistic children may become selective about what they eat. Understanding these factors helps parents move away from blame and towards solutions.

1. Sensory Processing Differences

Perhaps the biggest reason is sensory processing. Many autistic children experience the world differently through their senses. The smell of fish that barely registers for another child may feel overpowering. The texture of mashed beans may feel unbearable. The sound of crunchy vegetables may even be uncomfortable. Food is an intensely sensory experience. Every meal involves:

• Taste
• Smell
• Texture
• Temperature
• Colour
• Appearance
• Sound
• Even the feeling of chewing.

When a child has sensory sensitivities, eating can become far more complicated than simply being hungry. Many white or beige foods provide something the nervous system appreciates: consistency. Bread usually feels like bread. Plain rice feels like plain rice. Crackers break the same way every time. Plain pasta has very little variation. That predictability reduces the amount of sensory information the child's brain has to process. Multiple studies have identified sensory sensitivity, particularly sensitivity to texture and taste, as one of the strongest contributors to food selectivity in autistic children. (5)

2. Predictability Feels Safe

Imagine eating food that surprises you every single bite. One mouthful is soft. The next is chewy. Another is spicy. Another contains onions. Another has meat. Another has vegetables. For many autistic children, that uncertainty creates anxiety. White or beige foods are often remarkably predictable. Every slice of bread is almost identical. Every cracker feels the same. Every spoon of plain rice is similar to the last. That consistency provides a sense of control. For children who thrive on routine and predictability in other parts of life, it makes sense that food would follow the same pattern. Researchers increasingly describe these foods as "safe foods" because they reduce sensory uncertainty and anxiety during mealtimes. (5)

3. Anxiety Around New Foods (Food Neophobia)

Imagine arriving in a country where every meal looks unfamiliar, smells different, and follows rules you do not understand. You would probably hesitate before trying something new. For some autistic children, eating can feel like that every day. Many children naturally go through a phase of picky eating during toddlerhood. However, for some autistic children, this reluctance towards unfamiliar foods is more intense, lasts much longer, and affects a much wider variety of foods. This is often referred to as food neophobia, meaning a strong reluctance or fear of trying unfamiliar foods. If your child also experiences constipation, bloating, abdominal pain, reflux, or other digestive symptoms, read 10 Signs Your Autistic Child Might Have a Gut Problem and What to Do for guidance on what to look out for and when to seek professional help.Research suggests that food neophobia is more common in autistic children than in their neurotypical peers and often contributes to long-term food selectivity. (2) A child who feels anxious about unfamiliar foods may:

• Cry when a new food is placed on the table.
• Push the plate away before smelling or touching the food.
• Become distressed if a favourite meal looks different from usual.
• Refuse foods simply because they have never seen them before.
• Insist on eating from the same plate or using the same spoon every day.

To adults, these behaviours can seem unreasonable. To the child, they often represent an attempt to reduce uncertainty. Many white or beige foods become safe foods because they have already been accepted. Every successful experience with these familiar foods reinforces the child's confidence that they are predictable and safe, making unfamiliar foods feel even more intimidating. (2) This also explains why simply saying, "Just take one bite," is often ineffective. Before a child can taste a new food, they first need to feel emotionally safe enough to approach it.

4. Oral-Motor Challenges

For some autistic children, eating is physically more difficult than parents realise. Chewing requires coordinated movements of the lips, tongue, jaw, and facial muscles. While many children develop these skills naturally, others experience oral-motor differences that make certain foods difficult to chew or swallow comfortably. (6) As a result, some children naturally gravitate towards foods that require less chewing, such as:

• Bread
• Plain rice
• Soft noodles
• Custard
• Pap (Akamu/Ogi)
• Crackers

while avoiding foods like:

• Beef
• Chicken
• Apples
• Raw vegetables
• Beans
• Certain fruits

Parents may assume the child simply dislikes these foods. In reality, the child may be avoiding foods that feel physically difficult or exhausting to eat. Some children also struggle with coordinating chewing and swallowing. Others become overwhelmed by meals that combine several different textures, such as fried rice with vegetables and meat or beans mixed with plantain. If your child frequently gags, coughs, chokes, or seems to struggle with chewing, it is important to seek professional assessment rather than assuming they are simply being picky. (7)

5. The Role of Routine and Repetitive Behaviours

One of the defining characteristics of autism is a preference for routine and predictability. Many autistic children feel more comfortable when daily life follows familiar patterns. This preference often extends to eating. Some children insist on:

• Eating the same breakfast every morning.
• Drinking only from one particular cup.
• Accepting only one brand of bread.
• Eating only one type of noodle.
• Refusing food if it is served on a different plate.
• Eating meals in exactly the same order every day.

These routines are not always about the food itself. Sometimes they provide stability in a world that can often feel unpredictable. Imagine discovering a meal that always tastes the same, smells the same, looks the same, and never surprises you. If predictability helped you feel calm, you would probably choose that meal repeatedly too. This explains why even small changes may lead to food refusal: a different biscuit brand. Bread cut into squares instead of triangles.

A favourite cereal served in a different bowl. To adults, these changes seem insignificant. To a child who relies on sameness, they may feel surprisingly overwhelming. Current evidence suggests that food acceptance in autism is influenced not only by taste but also by predictability, familiarity, and the child's broader need for routine.

Why Eating Only White Foods Can Become a Problem

Not every child who prefers white or beige foods develops nutritional deficiencies. Some children eat a limited range of foods but still receive adequate nutrition because they accept foods from several food groups. Others may have a narrower diet but continue to grow well because their nutritional intake remains balanced. The concern arises when a child's diet becomes so restricted that important nutrients are consistently missing over weeks, months, or years. If your child’s restricted diet includes very few protein-rich foods, you may also want to read our guide on Protein Deficiency in Children with Autism: Signs Parents Miss and How Nutrition Can Help to learn about the warning signs parents often overlook.Research shows that severe food selectivity can increase the risk of nutritional inadequacies, particularly when multiple food groups are excluded. (7) For example, a child whose daily meals consist mainly of:

• White bread
• Plain noodles
• White rice
• Crackers
• Plain biscuits
• Chips
• Plain pasta

may consume enough calories to feel full while still missing nutrients needed for healthy growth and development. This does not mean every child who eats mostly white foods is malnourished. Nor does it mean parents should immediately remove every preferred food from the child's diet. Instead, it highlights the importance of looking beyond how much a child eats and considering what they eat over time. If you’ve also wondered whether changing your child’s diet can actually improve autism itself, our article Can Diet Really Help My Child With Autism? What the Evidence Actually Says explores what the research tells us—and what it doesn’t. Healthcare professionals are often more interested in patterns than in individual meals. Eating plain rice today is rarely a concern. Eating only six or seven foods for several years deserves closer attention.

Nutrients Children May Miss

When a child's diet excludes several food groups, nutritional deficiencies become more likely. The specific nutrients depend on which foods are consistently refused. For example, children who avoid meat, fish, eggs, beans, and dairy products may consume lower amounts of:

• Protein
• Iron
• Zinc
• Vitamin B12

Children who rarely eat fruits or vegetables may receive less:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A
• Folate
• Fibre

Children who refuse dairy products may have lower intakes of:

• Calcium
• Vitamin D

Another important nutrient is fibre. Many preferred white foods are made from refined grains that contain less fibre than whole foods. When fibre intake remains low over time, constipation may become more likely; a condition that is already relatively common among autistic children. (8) This is why healthcare professionals assess the child's overall dietary pattern rather than focusing on one favourite food. Several nutritional deficiencies can occur together, making a comprehensive assessment especially valuable when diets become highly restricted.

Common White and Beige Foods Nigerian Children Prefer

Although every child is different, many Nigerian parents describe similar eating patterns. Common examples include:

• White rice
• Bread
• Plain spaghetti
• Instant noodles
• Pap (Akamu/Ogi)
• Custard
• Yam
• Boiled Irish potatoes
• Semolina
• Garri (prepared as eba)
• Cream crackers
• Cornflakes
• Plain biscuits
• Toast
• French fries

If you’re wondering how to build a more balanced diet around the foods your child already accepts, our guide, Best Nigerian Foods for Children with Autism: A Parent’s Guide to Healthy Eating, offers practical ideas for nutritious meals that incorporate familiar Nigerian foods.

Some children also accept foods that are technically not white but share similar sensory characteristics, including:

• Pancakes
• Plain chin chin
• Puff-puff
• Waffles
• Plain popcorn

Notice that many of these foods have several characteristics in common. They are usually:

• Mild in flavour.
• Soft or predictably crunchy.
• Low in strong smells.
• Consistent every time they are prepared.
• Easy to recognise.
• Easy to chew.

Again, this reinforces one of the most important messages in this article. The child is usually not choosing the colour. The child is choosing predictability. Understanding that difference helps parents move away from asking, "How do I make my child eat colourful foods?" and towards a much more helpful question: "How can I help new foods feel safe enough for my child to explore?" That shift in perspective often becomes the first step towards long-term progress. (8)

What NOT to Do

Discovering that your child eats only a handful of white or beige foods can be worrying. Many parents feel frustrated, anxious, or even guilty, especially when family members insist that the child is simply "spoilt" or "too picky." If you’re wondering whether certain foods can actually make autism symptoms worse, read Foods That Can Worsen Autism Symptoms and Evidence-Based Alternatives for Parents for a closer look at what the evidence says about food, behaviour, and autism. However, some well-intentioned responses can unintentionally worsen feeding difficulties.

1. Do Not Force Your Child to Eat

It is understandable to want your child to eat a more balanced diet. However, forcing a child to eat foods they find overwhelming can increase anxiety and make mealtimes stressful.

A child who is repeatedly pressured to eat may begin to associate the dining table with fear rather than comfort. Over time, this can make food refusal even more severe. Research on feeding interventions consistently supports creating positive, low-pressure mealtime experiences rather than using force or coercion. (9)

2. Do Not Suddenly Remove All Their "Safe Foods"

Some parents decide to stop buying bread, noodles, crackers, or rice in the hope that hunger will encourage the child to eat other foods. Unfortunately, this strategy often backfires. For many autistic children, these foods are not simply favourites, they are foods that feel safe and predictable. Removing every accepted food without gradually introducing alternatives can leave the child eating even less and increase anxiety around meals. (2)

Instead of taking safe foods away, think about using them as a bridge towards new foods.

3. Do Not Assume Your Child Is Being Stubborn

It is easy to interpret repeated food refusal as defiance. You may hear comments like: "If he is hungry enough, he will eat." "She is manipulating you." "You have allowed her to become too picky." While these comments are common, they often overlook the real reasons many autistic children struggle with food. Sensory sensitivities, oral-motor challenges, anxiety, gastrointestinal discomfort, and a strong preference for predictability all influence eating behaviour. Looking beneath the behaviour usually provides more helpful answers than focusing only on the behaviour itself. (6)

4. Do Not Compare Your Child with Other Children

Every autistic child has a unique sensory profile. One child may happily eat fruit but refuse meat. Another may enjoy vegetables but reject anything soft. A third may accept only ten foods. Comparing your child with siblings, cousins, or other autistic children rarely helps and often increases frustration. Measure progress against your child's previous progress, not against someone else's.

5. Do Not Expect Overnight Change

Expanding a child's diet is rarely a quick process. Many autistic children need repeated, pressure-free exposure before they feel comfortable tasting a new food. Sometimes progress begins with simply allowing a new food to sit on the table. That is still progress.

What You Can Do at Home

Parents often ask, "So what should I do instead?" The encouraging news is that small, consistent steps usually produce better long-term results than dramatic changes.

1. Observe Before You Change Anything

Spend one or two weeks paying close attention to your child's eating habits. Ask yourself:

• Which foods do they always accept?
• Which foods are refused immediately?
• Is it the texture, smell, temperature, or appearance that seems difficult?
• Are there patterns in the foods they prefer?

Keeping a simple food diary often reveals patterns that are easy to miss in everyday life.

2. Build on Foods Your Child Already Accepts

Rather than introducing completely unfamiliar foods, start with foods that are similar to those your child already enjoys. For example:

• If your child eats plain toast, they may eventually tolerate toast with a thin spread before accepting a sandwich.
• If they enjoy plain pasta, they may accept pasta with a very small amount of sauce before progressing further.
• If they eat plain rice, they may gradually tolerate tiny additions over time.

Small changes often feel safer than dramatic ones. (9)

3. Respect Sensory Differences

Instead of asking, "How do I make my child eat this?" try asking, "What about this food feels difficult for my child?" Is it:

• Too wet?
• Too crunchy?
• Too soft?
• Too mixed?
• Too hot?
• Too cold?
• Too strong-smelling?

Understanding the sensory challenge often makes it easier to identify suitable alternatives.

4. Introduce New Foods Gradually

Many feeding specialists recommend thinking of food acceptance as a journey rather than a single event. Progress might look like:

• Looking at the food.
• Touching it.
• Smelling it.
• Holding it.
• Licking it.
• Taking one tiny bite.
• Eventually eating a small portion.

Each step deserves encouragement.

5. Keep Mealtimes Calm

Children often notice parental stress. If every meal becomes a battle, everyone begins to dread eating.

Instead:

• Eat together whenever possible.
• Maintain predictable routines.
• Offer new foods without pressure.
• Celebrate small victories.

A calm environment helps children feel safer exploring unfamiliar foods.

6. Continue Offering Variety Without Pressure

A child may refuse a food twenty times before accepting it. That does not mean you have failed. Repeated exposure without force is one of the most effective ways to increase familiarity with new foods over time. (9)

7. Seek Professional Help When Needed

If your child's diet is becoming increasingly restricted or you are worried about growth or nutrition, seek professional advice early. Support may include:

• A paediatrician.
• A developmental paediatrician.
• A registered dietitian.
• An occupational therapist with feeding experience.
• A speech and language therapist experienced in feeding difficulties.
• A psychologist or behavioural therapist with expertise in paediatric feeding.

Because feeding difficulties often have multiple contributing factors, a multidisciplinary approach is frequently the most helpful. (9)

When Should You Seek Help?

Speak with your healthcare provider if your child:

• Eats fewer than about twenty different foods and continues to lose accepted foods over time.
• Refuses entire food groups.
• Is losing weight.
• Is not growing as expected.
• Frequently gags, coughs, or chokes while eating.
• Has persistent constipation or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
• Develops nutritional deficiencies.
• Suddenly stops eating foods they previously accepted.

A healthcare professional can assess whether the feeding difficulties are related to sensory processing, oral-motor skills, gastrointestinal concerns, nutritional deficiencies, or another underlying medical condition. (8)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does eating only white foods mean my child has autism?

No. Many typically developing children also go through periods of picky eating. Eating mostly white or beige foods does not mean a child has autism. However, food selectivity tends to be more common and more persistent in autistic children. (3)

2. Why does my child refuse colourful foods?

Usually, it is not because of the colour itself. Many colourful foods also have stronger smells, mixed textures, or less predictable flavours, making them more difficult for children with sensory sensitivities.

3. Should I stop giving my child bread and noodles?

Not suddenly. Preferred foods provide a starting point for gradually expanding the diet. Removing them completely can sometimes worsen food refusal. (2)

4. Will my child eventually outgrow this?

Some children become more flexible as they grow older. Others continue to experience significant food selectivity into adolescence and adulthood. Early support usually leads to better long-term outcomes. (2)

5. Can vitamins replace a balanced diet?

Vitamin supplements may be helpful for some children, but they should not replace a balanced diet unless recommended by a healthcare professional.

For the Nigerian Home

If you are raising an autistic child in Nigeria, you have probably heard plenty of advice. "Leave him. Hunger will teach him." Stop buying noodles." "When we were young, we ate whatever was cooked." Although these comments are usually well-intentioned, they rarely reflect what many autistic children actually experience. Your child is not refusing food simply to be difficult. They may be responding to sensory differences, anxiety, oral-motor challenges, gastrointestinal discomfort, or a deep need for predictability.

Changing the question from "How do I force my child to eat?" to "What makes eating difficult for my child?" often changes the entire approach to feeding.

Remember, nutritious food does not have to be expensive. Many Nigerian foods, including eggs, beans, moi-moi, fish, yoghurt, groundnuts, soy products, and sweet potatoes, can become valuable parts of a child's diet when introduced patiently and appropriately.

You Are Not Failing Your Child

If your child eats only white or beige foods, you have probably worried more than once. You may have cooked meals that went untouched. You may have wondered whether your child is getting enough nutrients. You may even have blamed yourself. Please don't. Feeding challenges in autism are often far more complex than they appear. Progress rarely happens overnight. Sometimes success looks like a child touching a new food for the first time. Sometimes it looks like allowing that food to remain on the plate. Sometimes it is simply sitting calmly at the table without becoming distressed. These may seem like small victories, but they are not. Every positive experience your child has around food lays another brick in the foundation for future progress. Your patience, consistency and willingness to understand your child's experience matter more than achieving the perfect meal.

In Conclusion

Many autistic children appear to eat only white or beige foods, but the colour itself is rarely the real issue. More often, these foods share characteristics that feel safe to the child, they are predictable in texture, flavour, smell, and appearance. Sensory processing differences, anxiety around unfamiliar foods, oral-motor challenges, and a preference for routine all contribute to this pattern. (6)

Rather than responding with pressure or punishment, parents can support healthier eating by understanding the reasons behind food refusal, introducing new foods gradually, respecting sensory differences, maintaining calm mealtimes, and seeking professional guidance when necessary. Most importantly, remember that feeding progress is rarely measured in giant leaps. It is built through small, consistent, compassionate steps. Every new food your child explores, every fear they overcome, and every positive mealtime experience brings them one step closer to a healthier and more varied relationship with food.

References

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2. Esposito M, Mirizzi P, Fadda R, et al. Food Selectivity in Children with Autism: Guidelines for Assessment and Clinical Interventions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023;20(6):5092. doi:10.3390/ijerph20065092.
3. Bandini LG, Anderson SE, Curtin C, et al. Food Selectivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Typically Developing Children. J Pediatr. 2010;157(2):259–264. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.02.013.
4. Cermak SA, Curtin C, Bandini LG. Food selectivity and sensory sensitivity in children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2010;110(2):238–246. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2009.10.032.
5. Taylor CM, Emmett PM. Picky eating in children: Causes and consequences. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2019;78(2):161–169. doi:10.1017/S0029665118002586.
6. Leader G, Tuohy E, Chen JL, Mannion A, Gilroy SP. Feeding Problems, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Challenging Behavior and Sensory Issues in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2020;50:1401–1410. doi:10.1007/s10803-019-04357-7.
7. Sharp WG, Jaquess DL, Morton JF, Miles AG. A Retrospective Chart Review of Dietary Diversity and Feeding Behavior of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. 2011;26(1):22–31. doi:10.1177/1088357610378293.
8. Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM; Council on Children With Disabilities, Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics. 2020;145(1):e20193447. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-3447.
9. Peterson KM, Piazza CC, Ibañez VF, Fisher WW. Randomized Controlled Trial of an Applied Behavior Analytic Intervention for Food Selectivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. 2019;52(4):895–917. doi:10.1002/jaba.650.

Article reviewed by Dr. Chisom Paschaline.