Eating and Autism: How the Senses Shape Mealtime

Have you ever taken a bite into a food, but all you can think about is how weird it felt in your mouth and couldn’t get around the taste? In the end, you just swallow it in one gulp to get it done and over with. Maybe it was too slimy, dry, or just had a strong taste. Now, imagine if that happened with lots of foods - every single day.

For many people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), eating is more than a routine task. It’s an extremely sensory experience that dictates whether they enjoy their meal, or whether they are completely put off by it. You may have thought that they are just being picky, but it’s actually the opposite. The brain simply processes sensory information differently, which means their experiences with food is different to those who are neurotypical.

Why Do Senses Matter While Eating?

If you think about the mealtime and eating experience from start to end, it is truly a multi-sensory experience that involves the 5 main senses, and more. Let’s break it down.

Texture

when you start cooking prep, you experience how the ingredients feel with your hands, and when you start eating, you experience that texture in your mouth. Now, think about what textures you enjoy, and what you don’t. Notice how different that changes your eating experience!  

Smell

You turn the stove on, drizzle some oil, and slide your aromatics into the pan. There is often an immediate waft that envelopes the kitchen, and those smells can be pleasant to some, but overwhelming to others. You may not have considered it, but these smells usually create our initial judgement of whether we would enjoy the food or not.

Sight

Think about the times when you visit a cafe or a restaurant, and you receive your plate of food. What is the first thing that comes to mind? The plating - how it looks. Have you ever received your food and thought “this is not what I expected?”. For many people with ASD, even small differences in colour, shape, or presentation can determine if they are even willing to accept the food on their plate.

Sound

Just like how everyone has their personal tastes in music, or how ‘zen’ we want our workspace to be so we can focus, the sounds in the places we eat can influence how we enjoy our meals. The sound of chewing, clattering plates and utensils, and background noises can be distracting or even distressing.

Touch and proprioception

Some individuals with ASD may struggle with using cutlery, feeling food in their mouth, understanding how to chew, or even recognise their hunger and fullness.

All of these factors are processed differently for someone on the autism spectrum, which can make eating a stressful or even impossible experience.

Two Different Experiences - Hypersensitivity and Hyposensitivity

A key factor to highlight is the fact that not everyone with ASD experiences food the same way. Sensory processing differences generally fall into two categories.

Hypersensitivity

Some people have heightened senses and experience the world more intensely. Imagine your headphones turned up at the highest volume, or wearing an itchy sweater 24/7.

With food, hypersensitivity can look like:

• Avoiding crunchy, mushy, or mixed-texture foods (such has yoghurt with toppings).

• Feeling sick when exposed to certain strong smells.

• Having an aversion to strong tastes (often bitter, spicy, or sour flavours).

• Having a repertoire of ‘safe’ foods, and only sticking to these because they are familiar.

Hyposensitivity

On the flip side, some people don’t feel sensory input strongly enough, so they seek out intense experiences.

You may notice that they:

• Have a preference for crunchy, chewy, or even spicy foods so they can get a stronger feedback.

• Eating large bites or foods or stuffing their mouth to get more sensory input.

• Not noticing when they are full, or even when they are hungry.

Whether an individual is hypersensitive or hyposensitive, their eating habits are not about them being picky or difficult - they simply experience food and the world around them in a different way.

How can you make mealtime easier?

I would like to acknowledge that mealtimes can be challenging, but not impossible. There are practical, proven strategies that can make eating more enjoyable for the individual with ASD and their family, making the whole experience less overwhelming.

Some overarching strategies include creating a routine, gradual food introduction, ways to reduce sensory overload, and working with allied health professionals. Every individual is unique, and management plans often involve their special needs, as well as how it fits into their family unit. It is important to receive tailored strategies to support each individual.

Watch our Webinar For More Insights!

We’ve only covered the tip of the iceberg here, and there is so much more to explore! If you are looking for professional insights, practical strategies, and real-world advice, watch our webinar, “How Senses in Autism Affect Eating.” Whether you are a parent, caregiver, teacher, or simply interested in this topic, this session will help you understand the “why” behind eating challenges - and what you can do.

This sensory experience in ASD is exactly what we will explore in our webinar “How Senses in Autism Affect Eating.”

For more help for a NDIS Dietitian, reach out to our team.

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