12th February 2018

According to research, children with special needs are less likely to take part in physical activity and more likely to have poor nutrition. The first objective is to provide them with a healthy nutrition and encourage them to join in any kind of physical activity that will enable their holistic growth.

Nutrition for children with special needs:

A healthy nutrition choice for a child with special needs is essential for the normal growth and development of a child. All nutrients required for activity, growth and development must be provided to the children with special needs. Young children with special needs can be guided by educators with training in nutrition in early childhood education in India to regularize their eating habits. The nutrition specialist is trained to review the child’s diet, eating behaviours, growth pattern and medical condition.

Feeding Challenges and Solutions

Include food that you know your child will typically eat in your meal plan. Set expectations with regard to how long your child stays at the table with your family, when the next meal/snack will be offered and what foods are available to your child between these meals and snacks. Most children with special needs will learn to eat with the family and will grow well.

However, there are some children, such as those with severe sensory concerns, where it becomes more challenging to guide them and that are when support from a feeding or behavioural specialist trained with special education teacher training in India is needed.

Getting them involved and make eating fun:

For some children, involving them in choosing foods and cooking may be helpful. It is helpful to expose your child to a variety of foods by having the foods present at family mealtime, having the child see others in the family eat and enjoy the food, and perhaps including a small amount of the food on your child’s plate with no specific expectation.

Including foods that are similar to what your child likes with slightly new/different tastes will also encourage them to expand their diet. However, some children can have very challenging eating situations and in these cases support of a feeding therapist with training in nutrition in early childhood education is helpful.
It is more than just about eating food:  

• Chewing/swallowing difficulties – give softer and more processed foods
• Intense aversions to certain textures, flavours, colours – do not set limits to variety
• Use of food for behaviour modification - rewarding the child with special needs with sweet treats from time to time
• Encourage your child to get involved with food preparation. They are more likely to try things if they help prepare the meal.
• Encourage your child to eat with other children.
• Provide your child with small amounts of the foods you are eating along with a food your child usually eats.
• Have a consistent routine at mealtime so your child knows what to expect.
• Before the meal, write a list of the foods that need to be eaten before going to the next activity. Share this with your child so they understand.