Most of us autistics have super senses, prefer sameness, and have “safe” foods. Food aversions and limited diets are certainly a thing. There are four of us in my family and I usually end up making four different meals every day and I don’t mind because I love to cook.
My daughter won’t eat anything cold or wet. My son won’t eat potatoes or anything mixed together. My husband won’t eat anything hard. And I won’t eat wheat or most meat or anything fried.
We don’t shame anyone for their eating habits here. I feel seen and understood now, but growing up, my parents were not understanding at all, and dinner times were a constant source of stress and confusion for me. I was laughed at for my “weird” food choices, both at home and at school. My parents expected me to eat everything on the plate and wouldn’t allow me to leave the table until I did. I slept at the dinner table most nights, and was very underweight most of my life.
I’m more than happy to make their “safe” foods, and also challenge them to try different things, when they’re up for it. They’ve expanded their palettes a great deal as they have gotten a little older, and I am so very proud of them.
I enjoy sitting down and having dinner together, even if that means cooking four different meals. It’s not about what we eat, but about the fact that we are eating together. It feels good to be a family like that.
Cooking and Autism
