Lockdown stress and the lack of a school routine are fuelling a rise in eating disorders among children with autism.
Joanna Neeson, who runs food sensory workshops for children with eating disorders
That’s the view of specialised nutritionist Joanna Neeson, who works with autistic children through the Wyse Bites programme.
It offers workshops in schools where picky eaters are encouraged to feel, play, smell and taste new foods.
Problems get worse
Neeson, 49, said many parents who have not been able to get out during lockdown have seen their children’s eating problems get worse.
Families have not been able to buy the brands their children enjoy.
Neeson added: “Another mother told me that she gets a certain type of milk for her child and she had to try to order from Australia.”
Stressful mealtimes
She said mealtimes were becoming acutely stressful and children sense the anxiety.
Neeson, from Cookstown, in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, runs workshops to steer youngsters away from unhealthy, processed foods. She also encourages parents to cook with their children.
From unfussy to highly picky
Shauna Scullion with her children, one of whom has restricted her food choices since the lockdown
Shauna Scullion, 31, from Cookstown, is a mum to two children with autism. They are Charlie, 10, and Caramae, seven.
Scullion says Caramae was an unfussy eater before lockdown.
But she believes the absence of school, combined with lockdown stress, have seen Caramae’s food choices become extremely narrow.
She said Caramae now eats only spaghetti hoops from a small tin, chicken nuggets and broccoli.
Way of exercising control
Scullion believes her narrow choices are a way of exercising some control in a situation where she has none.
Charlie’s eating habits have always been focused on food such as chicken nuggets, bread, pancakes and porridge.
His habits have remained unchanged.
Crowdfunding
Neeson is crowdfunding to organise more food sensory programmes for special needs children.
By 4 July she had raised more than £1,000 towards a £3,000 target.
You can view her page using this link: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/improving-health-with-food-sensory-sessions
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Published: 6 July 2020
