Autism and Sugar Cravings

Many children love sugar and find sweet foods pleasant and comforting. But when sugary foods are all your child will eat, this becomes a problem. It is particularly difficult to dissuade children with autism or other sensory processing challenges from foods they are comfortable with. In this post, we cover reasons behind sugar cravings and ways to incorporate healthier foods into daily meals.

Why do people with autism crave sugar?

For children who crave sensory stimulation, sugary foods can be particularly enticing—sometimes to the point where they do not want to eat anything that isn’t sweet! After all, we wouldn't crave sweet foods if they didn't stimulate our senses and provide us with pleasure.

Additionally, scientists have found evidence that a gut bacteria imbalance can cause sugar cravings, particularly for people who recently completed a round of antibiotics.

How to incorporate healthy foods into a sugar craver's diet

If your child with autism experiences intense sugar cravings, here are a few ways to ensure nutritious foods are a part of their diet: 

1. Try replacing sugary sodas with sparkling water and a splash of your child’s favorite fruit juice.
2. Take your child’s favorite sweet foods and chop them into smaller pieces. These can be added on top of healthier foods so that your child can taste their favorite sweet foods while ingesting something more nutritious. 
3. Have your child try different fruits. Fruit can help curb the need for processed sugars.
4. Make smoothies which incorporate both fruits and vegetables. Your child will taste the sweet flavor while still ingesting vegetables.
5. Experiment with sweet-tasting vegetables such as carrots sweet potatoes for a meal component that is sweet and nutritious!
6. If your child enjoys cookies, cakes, muffins, or other baked goods, try making homemade versions that utilize bananas or applesauce instead of refined sugars. There are also many recipes which incorporate carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, and even chickpeas and black beans into a healthier sweet treat.
   
   

Does heavy sugar consumption cause autism?

The idea that consuming large amounts of sugar (or any other food) causes autism or other developmental challenges is a myth. Dietary choices do not cause autism.

We hope this post helps you feel empowered to try incorporating new foods into your children's meals! If you are seeking additional guidance regarding issues with feeding, do not hesitate to contact us.