My whole life, I’ve been told I’m picky, and before I learned about aversion to certain textures, I agreed. After I was diagnosed, I learned I didn’t like the texture of the food. From the slimy textures of bananas to the sponginess of cake, and my list goes on.
Even as an adult, when I went to a restaurant that I knew nothing about, I would play it safe and get something familiar like chicken strips and fries. As I got older, I tried new foods, even making it my resolution to try something new every week. Most things I did not care for, and sometimes I would just simply like the flavor of the food.
I think for a child with autism, going to a new restaurant is a bit scary and overwhelming. The pressure to try something new and knowing that other people didn’t understand your aversions. My eyes would light up at the sight of chicken nuggets/strips and fries on the menu. I also would go through phases with my food. I could eat a food for a week straight, and then all of a sudden not want anything to do with that food; it probably drove my family crazy.
There is also the chance that the place you are eating at does not have a kids’ menu or at least is kid-friendly, and when that happens, you have to prepare. Try something new or do not eat. I once went to an Indian restaurant, and they had nothing I liked. I had to sit there and sip a Sprite. But there is also the first time I tried Chinese food, which had so many types of chicken, and it became my favorite food.
Texture isn’t the only thing we have to worry about; there is the taste, whether it be sour, sweet, or spicy, and there could be aversions to that too. I don’t think autistics try to be picky; we just have a hard time, and I think if the world understood that better, there would be a lot fewer meltdowns.
