Healthy eating in childhood helps to set up good habits for life. This is especially important for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have an increased risk for excessive weight gain, selective eating and nutrient deficiencies.

Throughout each day, children should eat from all 5 major food groups:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Grains
• Meats and beans (or proteins)
• Dairy

There are different vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins and fats in each food group. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created the My Plate educational resource to help guide you in balancing your family’s diet. Following My Plate also helps you with appropriate portion sizes based on age. It’s OK if your child only eats a few foods in each food group, as long as those foods are consumed on a daily basis in a balanced way.

Healthy eating begins with a regular meal and snack schedule. Most people—adults and children—need to eat every 2 and a half to 3 and a half hours. This schedule typically includes breakfast, lunch and dinner and two to three snacks. An average meal should last between 15 to 30 minutes, but not more than 45 minutes. This general timing helps to ensure that children are hungry for the next meal.

Generally, a meal has foods from three different food groups, and a snack has foods from two food groups. Ideally, one of these foods should always be a fruit or vegetable. It is also important to give your child the correct serving size. The nutrition facts panel on food labels can help you determine the recommended portion size. Many children with autism benefit from a visual schedule. Consider creating one for meal times.

It is important to limit snacking between scheduled meals and snacks. Grazing, or eating small amounts of food throughout the day, isn’t healthy. At an identified meal or snack time, portion out the correct serving size and put into an appropriate container, such as small bowl or baggie. Reducing grazing also means limiting access to sugar-sweetened beverages, such as juice and soda. Caloric drinks should only be offered as part of a meal. Juice should be limited to no more than 8 ounces a day, and soda should be avoided.

Establishing healthy eating patterns for children with autism helps set them up for better health outcomes through life. If you have concerns about your child’s nutrition, speak to a registered dietitian. Read more about tips for structuring meals, or visit our Strong4Life blog.

We recognize that every child is unique and that the content of this article may not work for everyone. This content is general information and is not specific medical advice. We hope these tips will serve as a jumping off point for finding the best approach to helping a child with autism. Always consult with a doctor or healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about the health of a child. In case of an urgent concern or emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away. Some physicians and affiliated healthcare professionals on the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta team are independent providers and are not our employees.