Food Refusal and Avoidant Eating in Children, including those with Autism Spectrum Conditions: A Practical Guide for Parents and Professionals

by Gillian Harris, Elizabeth Shea

Many autistic children have a restricted dietary range, and this book provides parents with advice and training on how to support them to achieve a healthier and more balanced diet. Now described as Avoidant or Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), it is due to sensory hypersensitivity, and it can impact the child's health, their family life, and their social life.

Based on successful training packages the authors provide for parents and professionals, this book enables the reader to understand restrictive eating and work with children, gradually increasing the range of food a child is able to eat. It includes 'box outs' with case studies, points of interest and action points to make this an accessible read full of tips and strategies.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder

232 pages, Paperback

Published July 19, 2018

About the author

Gillian Harris is a designer who teaches feltmaking workshops and sells a range of innovative felted bags from her website. Gillian lives in Surrey, England with her husband and two daughters

Reviews

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very useful, informative guide for parents of "picky eaters". Sometimes there is way more to it than fussiness; avoiding certain foods is perceived as a matter of survival for these kids and should be taken seriously. The interventions are helpful and make sense, but I don't see how ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) can be managed or improved without professional help as well.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because my teenage daughter has ARFID.

There are two parts to the book. The first half explains where food sensitivity comes from. I found it a bit difficult to wade through, especially when focusing on toddlers. My daughter is well past that part of life although I do recognise signs from when she was little. However, it can be helpful to understand why children develop food sensitivities.

Part 2 is about what to do about it. I skipped the chapter on younger children and focused on the chapter about teenagers. I feel that I already understood a lot of this but it was helpful to have it validated. I do feel that they didn't quite understand PDA, but I was glad that they included a (rather small) section on PDA. I also found the section on eating disorders helpful because they did look into anorexia for my daughter and decided that it was ARFID instead. I am also glad they included a bit about transition to adulthood.

Overall, it's probably the most scientific book on ARFID. It also looks at ways that parents can treat food refusal and debunks myths. It's validating to know that even though friends and family say you are getting it wrong doesn't mean that you are. I wish I had this book when she was a lot younger but better late than never. If you are struggling with your child, just remember, follow your gut instinct, not what the crowd says. You will figure it out. I wish you well.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was certainly an informative book that gives a lot of details behind the diagnosis, but unfortunately lacks in treatment. Suggestions