French fries and kids with autism
By ellovire
@ellovire (409)
July 21, 2011 5:27pm CST
It's weird and it's been bothering me. Five years ago, I met a couple who has a child with autism and their child would eat nothing except french fries. Breakfast, lunch and dinner--all french fries. When they go out and dine, it's still french fries. Sometimes they have to bring frozen fries, ask the restaurant crew if they can have their fries cooked there and they have to explain the child's situation.
Now, I have encountered again a child with autism that eats nothing except for, again, french fries. When I talked to their teacher, 8 out of her 10 autistic students eat french fries and nothing else.
What is it with french fries that children with autism love? Or is this case just a coincidence?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
22 Jul 11
I think it's just coincidence. My oldest, who is autistic and a very picky eater, eats plenty of different foods, not just french fries. So, it definitely depends on the kids...and very possibly the parents.
Happy mylotting!
@ellovire (409)
•
25 Jul 11
Maybe it is really just coincidence. Maybe french fries is the most convinient food to give so these parents with autistic children did not try hard to introduce other foods. It's sad that these autistic kids are missing out a lot when it comes to diet and proper nutrition.
@aprilmom (172)
• United States
22 Jul 11
I don't like that when parents let there little kid just keep eating the same thing over and over again. Parents who do this only do this to not deal with there child. They do not want to deal with the fussing, crying, and the struggling. I am poor and eat a lot of the same foods that are cheap very often. For example macaroni and cheese which is less than a dollar a meal. My boyfriend has been worried about my eating and what I eat and how it could effect my unborn baby. Other day he stopped by after he got done with work and on the way home, and he brought me food cause he was worried. He is such a wonderful boyfriend :).
@ellovire (409)
•
25 Jul 11
I do agree with what you said, that parents should not give in with the fuss and cries of their children especially when it comes to food and nutrition. Nutrients from food is one of the needs of the children and it is essential in their growing years. Variety of foods with nutrients can be found in the market, and though it is really hard to introduce new foods every so oftenm, parents must not stop trying unitl thier children get used to it.
Congratulations by the way on having a wonderful boyfriend.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
21 Jul 11
I've never heard of that. I think it may have to do with the parents just giving in so they don't have to deal with the tantrums. I know several autistic children and they eat more than just french fries. Some are a little bit picky eaters but so are a lot of kids lol. That can't be healthy for them to eat nothing but fries.
@ellovire (409)
•
22 Jul 11
I also agree with you that maybe parents just avoid introducing new food because the autistic child might throw tantrums. I also agree that kids with autism should be given the right nutrition they need. These children have special needs, and their nutrition must also be guided.
@kaylachan (57697)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jul 11
Sounds to me like a bit of bad parenting. While autusim is not an easy thing to live with, the parents aren't teaching their children to eat a proper meal. It sounds to me, that the parents are afraid to disipline their kid. Though both stories don't seem related except for the fact both children ate nothing but frenshfries. The food itself is easy to eat, and easy to handle and easily diagested for most. Thus the desire to eat them.
Not eating else, is a combination of poor parenting, and fear from the child to try anything else out of their comfort zone. Since most of thease children can't talk, they can't express how they feel. Therefore, stems the fear of trying something new. It is up to the parent to introduce their child to new foods, and get them to eat something other than fries. No human can live off of fries alone. It's just not possible.
@ellovire (409)
•
22 Jul 11
The couple I know, who by the way are friends of mine, did everything to introduce other food aside from french fries. But the child would resist, and istead will not eat at all. It's like choosing between the child not eating the whole day and giving in to what the child wants to eat. It's a tough decision, I guess. Maybe it's just that the couple was scared of the child ending up not eating at all.
