Fighting over food

Kit was a 5-year-old child with autism who went to the House. Kit was very picky about food, due in part to the nature of autism (where change can be difficult) and the fact that Kit’s mom was a Japanese and he grew up eating Japanese-style food and not to the usual Malaysian fare. When unusual food was placed before him, Kit would throw a major temper tantrum. The House was insistent that Kit learned to eat various types of food. So during lunch, another teacher would be in charge of making sure Kit ate what was set before him. Since his mom usually packed lunch for him, usually Kit would have no problems with his food. However, when he sensed that something was not right with his food, he would throw a major tantrum. Because of the House’s policy, many times a piece of the undesired food was placed in his mouth, Kit would refuse to eat and swallow it but the teacher would not allow Kit to spit it out. The battle over that one piece of food would last through lunch and sometimes till afternoon lessons began. Kit would continue to hold that piece of food during lessons, and of course, he could not concentrate on his lessons at all during those times.

These food fights were happening too often. It was a very stressful time for both teachers and students. In the end, both parties lost. Precious time was spent on fighting a losing battle. Kit’s tantrums during meal times did not decrease, many a times, afternoon lessons were unfruitful, and teachers were very stressed out.

Kit’s parents had experienced times when they went out to a restaurant for dinner together, and Kit would freak out when some strange food was brought to their table. That caused tremendous embarassment to his parents and his parents were very reluctant to bring Kit out for meals together. So I do understand the House for trying to get Kit to eat as many different types of food as possible, but there is a better solution.

What would I do differently now?

Kit was a strong and healthy boy for his age. He was not malnourished, in fact, he was taller than most kids his age. Most people have some type of food that they absolutely hate, and no form of praise or force could make them eat it. And that is OK. So Kit is entitled to reject foods that he does not want (since his health has not been affected by his choices) and the teachers have no right to force him to eat anything.

Even without a functional behavioral assessment, it was obvious that Kit’s temper tantrums, both in the House and the restaurants, had an escape function. He was using his temper tantrums to avoid having to eat the undesired food items. So Kit should be taught a more appropriate and efficient form of escape. He could be taught to indicate that he did not want something, by either shaking his head or maybe by pushing the undesired food to the side. Since nutrition was not a problem here, the parents and teachers would have to respect Kit’s wishes and not force it down his throat. When Kit learns to communicate his wishes appropriately, and when the adults learn to listen and respect his wishes, I am sure meal times would be more pleasant for everyone.

I have learned since then to carefully pick and only fight battles that I know I can win (Sun Tzu’s Art of War), and fighting over food is a losing battle. Ultimately, it is his mouth and his decision to swallow the food. And as a teacher, you can only go so far as to persuade a child to do that, anything more would be abusive.

Buzzwords for this intervention:
Functional communication training (FCT)
Self-determination