Food texture issues?

Hi there,
I'm sorry to hear you are struggling with food textures. I think it's very common with people who have autism. It's definitely sensory related and can be challenging to overcome. My son, Keegan, has autism and has struggled with food textures off and on throughout his life (he's 28 now). There were certain foods he loved as a toddler that he couldn't tolerate as a teenager. Now, as an adult, he's eating foods like salad and ice cream, which he hated before. Have you thought about reaching out to a Speech Language Pathologist? They specialize in feeding so they may have some ideas for you. I know with Keegan, we did a lot of oral sensory work to decrease his sensitivity. Good luck!
Kerry

Yeah I know it's common. I have strange food texture issues. I used to love bananas in my cheerios when I was a kid, now I only eat them if they are frozen and chocolate coated lol. But Banana Bread, muffins and cereal don't bother me. I still do have some... I will eat cooked veggies as long as they aren't mushy. It took my parents forever to get me to eat mashed potatoes when I was little. They kept saying "it's just the inside of a french fry" and it worked. The funny one for me was when we were in Ireland. We went to an Italian restaurant for dinner, and I ordered Risotto. My Mother said "Since when do you eat Risotto?" (I haven't lived in the same state as they do since 2009) I said "Since I ordered it at the restaurant in the Canada Pavillion in Epcot" However, she still doesn't get why I eat fried Gator tail LOL

@kjs831
My 49 yr old son has had same food texture issues as you since he was a little guy! Are you also very high functioning? You seem like it to me.

I'm good at writing. There were a lot of low functions (for lack of a better word) on my Autism Eval. I actually wasn't diagnosed until I was your son's age, I'm 52 now. I live in Florida and was taking part in vocational rehab to try to find a job. They made me undergo a full Psych Eval last year, because they considered my Autism Eval out of date. I don't understand why people still don't get that Autism doesn't go away. The psychologist who did my psych eval last year, said I have a very low IQ and do not possess the skills and capacity to learn and keep new skills in order to have a job. I'm fighting and SSDI denial, Social Security thinks because I have worked in the past that i should have no reason to not work. What they don't understand cause they haven't looked at my entire life, is that I've been bullied at every job I've ever had.

@kjs831
First, I never thought about it before I read your post, but I love toasted bread and dont like "soft" bread. That is probably why i think thin and crispy pizza tastes better than chewy and bready. Many foods I like is because of the texture more than flavor. I like that extra dimension when eating. I'm 70. It has shifted during my life, and I go with the flow.

The only thing I might be concerned about is if it has happened with a lot of your foods. That might signal some sort of vitamin deficiency or something that might cause it. Getting a typical blood panel will show if anything is out of whack.

My tastes changed dramatically last year because of chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer and the imbalances with digestive enzymes. It's slowly gotten back to "normal" over the year, but it was distressing when I couldn't eat some things I had previously liked.

@kjs831
Not trying to tell u what to do, but, if I were u... I would get rid of that Psychologist! It's clear, your thinking skills, thought processes, & writing are well above average. Factoring this in, there's, no question in my mind, these tests & psychologist are wrong! Please don't think less of yourself! Like my high functioning son, also with above average verbal skills, lwho will be 50 soon, it's just hard for you to blend in to a large social environment. One on one, he is great! I'll bet you are too! Never forget, you are God's amazing child!

@h16027

I wasn't a patient, he is the Psychologist that Vocational Rehab thinks is good for Psych Evals. His credentials aren't even those that match as qualified to do the exams. But as much as I hate what he wrote, and that it is true, my hope is that Social Security will see that and grant me SSDI

Sure. I completely understand & get it. Take care.

@kjs831 I wonder if everyone has this situation, but we may notice it more if we are on the autism spectrum? We notice details more clearly, our senses are highly tuned, etc.

I used to really like cottage cheese and the health benefits of it. Now I cannot stand the texture! Same for apples. Crispy is good, slightly soft, a no-no.
Ginger