Food inspiration for an "eats nothing" child

I have a feeling this might not be about food.

Would he be interested in the likes of Alfabites and he could spell out his name on his plate and still be getting potato down his tummy,can you roll chips in peanut butter and crisp off in the oven.
How sure are you and your son that anything you try will be continued when the little man goes home will mum keep it up. My eldest son would only ever eat beans & toast and now he is a strapping 6' 2'

Most children have some issues with food but it must be harder for you I would stick with what h likes and just try different bits like others have said I know lack of vitamins is a worry but they do say a child will never starve .. Enjoy times you have with him .

@timetogo2016
If my MIL had taken my kids to have a blood test I would have been furious - it's not her place to do this. He's being prescribed vitamin drops already so his GP is aware of his diet already. Please don't do this, it could ruin your relationship with your DIL and therefore your GS.
When my MIL babysat she used to give them food they wouldn't eat and they hid it around the house when she wasn't looking :D

My younger son lived on baked beans,mashed potatoes,white bread and Ribena .
When his grandfather told him that corned beef was “soldiers ‘meat “he started to eat that.
I was worried sick when he went away to University but he survived and now eats virtually everything but is still not a fan of most fruit so still has whatever the equivalent is of Ribena but without as much sugar.
Could you give him vitaminC tablets?

People suggesting that an autistic childs non primary carer should march him to the Dr for a blood test while he is already dealing with being away from home really have no clue!

My cousin would only eat Weetabix when he was a child. Even now in his fifties he lives on a very limited diet. But he's physically healthy and shows no evidence of the diet affecting him. I know this doesn't help you increase what your DGS eats but I hope it reassures you that it won't necessarily damage him.

Can you make some mincemeat into something crunchy and crispy?

It does look as though he is undersize because there is no real protein in his diet.

Over cooked cottage pie is often crunchy.....he might like that with salt and chips.

I'm mum to a son with SN (not autism) who developed a total food aversion die to being tube fed as a baby.
I agree with others, that hes with you for a week at a time so anything you do isn't going to make much difference in the grand scheme of things, other than to maybe stress him out when he may already be feeling stressed because hes not at home. And the last thing you want to do is make things worse.

I would give him what he normally will eat and have other foods out in serving dishes on the table at meal or smack times - things that you are eating - and maybe just say a "this is delicious" do you want some in a neutral tone. If he says no then just say "fine" and get on with the meal.

My sympathies in your concern. Just a suggestion - I saw I recipe in yesterdays paper for courgette French fries. It was a bit fancy pants with herbs and spices, so maybe just julienne strips of vegetable, dust in seasoned flour and fry in deepish oil or a food fryer. It may work. Maybe experiment with different veg. Just put them on the table with other items of his choice and see what happens. As RIGGIE says.

One of my step sons would eat nothing but sandwiches until her was around 11. He did enjoy Marmite so if you can make Marmite sandwiches and cut them into little cubes and, perhaps, make a pyramid shape, that may intrigue him enough to eat.

Have you tried a split plate? Sometimes children don't like their food to mix/touch. A split plate keeps them separate.

Its a toddler trick but may work for autism:

Ice cube trays:
Little tasters of different things. They dont touch and its not overwhelming amounts.

Could take that idea and make it more "grown up" by using split dip bowls and small tapas dishes.

Buffet style dinners too are less intimidating and give the child some control if they can load their own plate.

My sons are same,(21&16 now) they were 900g&950g when born 3 months early,youngest one has had a lifetime of drs,dieticians,etc,who incidentally said dont worry about WHAT he will,just try feed him up,when he gains weight he will grow.she was right.and like your grandson he dislikes certain foods,due to textures,wont have veg at all,only fruit apples,but only very occasionally,doesnt like sauce or gravies of any kind,and will only ever drink cola( though he will have sugar free,but not diet version)has milk occasionally,but not regularly,(theres loads more i could add to his list of dont do's or dont wants) but when he was 15 they found he has mild cerebral palsy and aspergers is listed on his medical notes,though no one ever mentioned that before,my elder son,also has no sauces,gravies,etc,has to have his foods separated,but will now at least eat some veg,but not others,likes plain foods,meat, fish,but only chicken without bones,not in any gravy or sauce just dry,wont have butter or spread unless on toast,but will at least have a variety of drinks, he had mild cerebral palsy from birth but has OCD and ASD issues in some things,mostly to do with textures,hes about average size & weight now,and youngest is now growing taller than older one since he left school.Both are capable of most things,got GCSE's,are at college and university now,older one driving too.Children are amazingly adaptable and im told they adapt their diet to suit their own preferences of what they can& cant eat,( my youngest also seemed to 'shape' his diet to what did/ didnt cause tummy pain) after 7yrs the drs diagnosed his reflux problem! Try not to force different foods on your GS, he will only get upset,then he wont want to visit next time.im sure his mum and dietician will be on top of this,and even the one new taste he did try is a big breakthrough,its enough for him for now.

I assume you men SNACK TIMES Riggie?

Mean.lol

Vegetables made into a soup or smoothie?

My Grandson like yours is a very limited eater and is in clothes smaller than his eight years. He has autism and in common with many others eats only beige food and cannot even sit at the table if someone else has sauce or a strong smelling food. He gets a sensory overload if he is encouraged to cook and shopping is a huge stress inducer. He can always tell the difference between brands of food and is not easily fooled into trying something new. He also has a cupboard of his own where he keeps his food separate from everyone else’s.

My DD took him to the doctor who said not to worry as he is at the low end of a healthy weight but she insisted on a referral to a dietitian. She was then told to ensure he had vitamins and then allow him to eat what he wanted and not to insist on a wider range of foods even though he eats no fruit or veg. So that is what she is doing and he continues to thrive.

This is not child abuse!!

Try to enjoy your time with him and as he grows he may be able to communicate more effectively re his food choices and your anxiety will ease.

Can you find other foodstuffs with Peppa Pig on them, or Winnie-the-Pooh or whoever?

He seems to like crunchy foods, so how about rice krispies or cornflakes without milk?

Have you tried raw vegetables? My sister utterly refused to eat cook carrots or cauliflower when we were small but loved them raw.

I would make sure there is a bowl of something he will eat on the kitchen table all the time, and not comment upon whether it disappears or not

Oh no,timetogo! Never take someone elses child for any tests of any kind,( not even if your the 'other parent' or a grandparent.)My sons,none of them like needles( 4 sons) but youngest is completely needle phobic! Can you imagine the impact of that on a child with original posters issues and visiting too,poor child would never want to visit ever again! Im sure his mum and own drs or consultants etc already have this covered,as my sons drs do.He is checked as regularly as he needs,but they try to not overdo blood tests now him having so many have produced the phobia.He does elect to have an injection though for flu jab,as he dislike anything sprayed up his nose.He &his brother also have certain dislikes of fabrics textures with some clothing,neither like long sleeves on shirts/t-shirts,or wooly jumpers etc.one wears only jeans but one wont etc.its a sensory thing.youngest has problems with loud noise when he gets ill so much it causes pain in his ears.

Some supermarkets offer a specific time weekly for autistic shoppers, no music, bright lights dimmed down, staff made aware, etc. My adult son is autistic and could never face soups or hot drinks and doesn't to this day. He has an aversion to certain colours & fabrics too. One thing I learned is that 'one size does not fit all' they're all wonderful unique beings. He's lucky you see him as such and are doing your utmost for him. It can be challenging especially as likes may change. My son tells me that although he loves & appreciates me - I do seem 'odd'to him!He's learned 'normal' but its an immense strain for him to assume 'normal' for any length of time & prefers his own company. He has never judged others especially the elderly & showed incredible patience to his grandparents. Alas he was bullied at mainstream secondary school. Thankfully there is more awareness now.

Ginjeannie
vegtables made into a soup or smoothie
The little lad only eats food with a texture.

I don’t think it’s helpful for people with no experience of autism to comment here. My fifth son has autism and his eating habits have always been completely different to his older brothers. He is 28 now and still won’t eat fruit or veg, just things with a fairly dry or firm texture. My other boys would and still do eat most things.

Don't worry too much. My grandson is the same way. Although since he has been in school his pickiness has gotten better. We also don't see him very often but we ask him to try new things. We want to enjoy our time together rather than worry about food. I used to eat butter and sugar sandwiches and am lucky I have a good metabolism! As you all know the human body is able to cope and adapt to so much.

You didn't mention biscuits /cookies, so does that mean that he won't eat those either, despite their crispness?

If he does, it might be worth some experimental baking to see what ingredients you might be able to sneak into them - such as puréd vegetables -even if only in small quantities.