Children With Limited Diets
Another challenge that often presents itself in children with Autism is the fact that many of them have limited diets. Children with Autism often have very few foods in their diets and tend to eat the same foods and then "burn out" on them. They sometimes limit their diets to specific textures or colors and are resistive to trying new foods. Kay Toomey, Ph.D. from Colorado Pediatric Therapy and Feeding Specialists, has put together an approach to feeding called the "SOS approach".
The SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) feeding strategy is a non-invasive, developmental approach to feeding. It focuses on increasing a child's comfort level exploring and learning about the different properties of food including texture, smell, taste and consistency. The SOS approach allows a child to interact with food in a playful, non-stressful way. It consists of around 32 steps of a hierarchy beginning with the basic ability to tolerate food in the room, in front of him/her, touching, and eventually tasting and eating foods. Parent education and involvement is an important part of this approach. A therapist works directly with the group of parents. They watch each feeding session to learn this approach to feeding, physical signs and "body language" to tell when the child may be overstimulated, and how to set up home programs. Feeding groups are done one time per week for 12 weeks.

Feeding groups using this approach are currently available at The Therapy Place. For more information, contact Lynn Kopfmann, OTR/L at (952)885-0418.

AUTUMN
School has started, the weather is getting cooler, and the holidays are fast approaching. What a better way to relax and warm up than drinking a nice cup of hot chocolate? The following is a gluten free casein free recipe from Special Diets for Special Kids by Lisa Lewis, Ph.D. for you to try:

Hot Chocolate Mix
4 cups DariFree, Better Than Milk or Rice Moo
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sugar (preferably vanilla sugar)
1/8 tsp. salt
Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. To use, place 3 tablespoons ix in a cup. Add a small amount of boiling water and stir to dissolve mix. Fill cup with boiling water.