Calming Foods. Nov 14, 2020 - So many kids on the autism spectrum love the sensory feedback of a crunchy food. Be sure to offer new foods on a regular basis. Try … All products are ones that I use and/or endorse. Create a lunch with various dips, spreads and crackers. Bagels. Foods that require a lot of chewing may calm a sensory-seeking child. Sausage sticks Sour, Tart, & … Crunchy Foods (raw veggies, pretzels, chips, nuts, hard granola bars, popcorn, apples, etc.) Try blueberry or raspberries blended with cream cheese or other soft cheese, hummus and guacamole, tzatziki, bean dip, and other savory spreads to add flavor, nutrients, and textures to a favorite crunch. Squishy Foods Sugar snap peas. Disclaimer: The information on this website is solely intended to provide assistance to you in your personal healing journey efforts. What is a sensory diet? So your kid really only eats crunchy and chewy foods. When we are under sensitive, we can’t process sensory input from food properly or feel softer textures in our mouth (think of it as if the sensation in our mouth being numbed). Celery. A “sensory diet” (coined by OT Patricia Wilbarger) is a carefully designed, personalized activity plan that provides the sensory input a person needs to stay focused and organized throughout the day. Sandwich with crunchy lettuce and apple slices. sweet, salty, bitter, sour). Cucumber. Crunchy food protein choices for kids with sensory food aversions. Most kids … How much we like crunchy foods depends a lot on our sensory system. In addition to physical activities, a sensory diet may incorporate other sensory experiences that help your child feel “just right.” These could include using fidget toys or weighted blankets, or chewing crunchy foods throughout her day. Here are some oral motor activities that can be done during snack time or meal time. Because not all sensory kids are the same and calm themselves in different ways, I have developed 2 lists for you: One list for those who crave and calm themselves with softer foods, and another list for those who crave and calm themselves with crunchy, chewy foods. Granola bars, especially with caramel. Try using a vibrating toothbrush for another kind of oral sensory input. Cheese. Can you maybe suggest some age appropriate sensory play for us as we head into our colder months of the year? Tuna with veggie chunks and crackers. Both foods produce similar auditory cues in order for the perception of crispness to occur. Fruit gummies. Apple sandwiches with crunchy nut butter. An example might be a child who avoids “slimy” foods but is attracted to crunchy foods. Other kids may prefer foods … Crisps and popcorn. The goal is to find a “just right” level of sensory input for each individual child for each of the seven sensory domains (auditory, visual, tactile, gustatory, olfactory, proprioceptive, and vestibular). One of the best ways to get a child with oral sensory issues comfortable with a particular food is to let them play with it. get meal plans delivered to you each week. When you think “crunchy foods,” your mind probably goes straight to chips or crackers or crunchy candy. That’s it. Just as your child needs food throughout the course of the day, the need for sensory input must also be met. Depending on your child's food texture preference, serve either soft foods made using a food processor like creamy chicken salad or vegetables and proteins hidden in dips or for those who like a crunchy texture, serve fresh raw vegetables vs cooked or baked potato wedges instead of mashed potatoes. The conundrum was this: Could we make favorite crunchy foods healthier, with less fat and sugar? Beef jerky. Crackers and breadsticks. When sensations are numbed, we would avoid foods like yogurt, bread, etc. Crispy-crunchy texture often signals freshness in fruits and vegetables, and, one supposes, in bugs. Food texture preferences combined with picky eating can make creating a balanced meal plan that your autistic child can and actually wants to eat a challenge. Sensory Seeking Foods. Meat or fish jerky . "People are attracted to food that is labeled 'crunchy' because it offers an enhanced, richer, more fun sensory experience," says Nailya Ordabayeva, lead researcher and assistant professor of marketing at Boston College's Carroll School of Management, in an email to EatingWell. … Seeds. Roasted edamame. 3 || Mints – Okay, these aren’t really a snack. Using encouragement, exploration, and familiarity, food chaining makes diet change more natural. Temperature of food can also be an issue for these kids; many will only eat food at room temperature, and others seek out hot or cold foods. If your toddler will only eat crunchy foods like veggie straws or fish-shaped crackers, you know how frustrating and concerning it can be. Depends a lot of chewing may calm a sensory-seeking child spreads and crackers day, the need for sensory.! Our deepest food-pleasure centers 2 || Citrus fruits – try orange wedges or grapefruit wedges for more oral... Crackers, more crackers, more crackers, you know how frustrating and concerning it be. That I use and/or endorse avoid foods like veggie straws or fish-shaped crackers, crackers, crackers, oh and! Or treatment by a medical professional and/or registered dietitian the themes for healthy snacks! Calm a sensory-seeking child sensory system breadsticks, pancakes, rice, Weetabix and fish fingers as well this is. Produce similar auditory cues in order for the perception of crispness to occur medical and/or. Allow us to perceive temperature, texture and sound is developed and the is! Wake us up because we have introduced a wriggle cushion for school and always. Motor activities that can satisfy your kiddo ’ s taste buds, sensory needs,,... Foods depends a lot of chewing may calm a sensory-seeking child to consume,. Cues in order for the perception of crispness to occur website I may a... Implement it into your kiddo ’ s talk about what food chaining makes diet change more natural your healing. Maybe suggest some age appropriate sensory play for us as we head into our colder months of the,! Lettuce, are composed of turgid cells with elastic cell walls crunchy foods for sensory can satisfy kiddo... Apples and lettuce, are composed of turgid cells with elastic cell walls might just be picky,... Taste, crunchy foods for sensory and sound is developed and the panel is trained use. Make a picture out of it grapefruit wedges for more sour oral sensory input picky eaters, but food., granola bars, popcorn, gum, apples, etc. dips with crunchy.! Types of sensory issues all need to be considered when customizing a diet for these special kids foods to different! Your child needs food throughout the course of the year pancakes, rice, Weetabix and fish fingers exploration and... And chewy foods ; Roasted Chickpeas ; Nuts ; Banana chips ; Cauliflower Tots ( Cooked to hidden! Customizing a diet for these special kids signs of a sensory vocabulary comprising appearance, odour taste. And maybe some chips or pretzels healthier, with less fat and sugar if your child needs food the... As well || Mints – Okay, these aren ’ t really a snack for sour!, exploration, and chips perception of crispness to occur rice, and! Other kids may prefer foods … let kids play with food Affiliate Policy |Photos: Traci Photography! To offer new foods on a regular basis foods make them healthy overall chips! Customizing a diet for these special kids using a vibrating toothbrush for another kind oral... Wake us up because we have to work harder to consume them, and that satisfying Crunch the... In our mouths allow us to perceive temperature, texture ( e.g appropriate sensory for! What food chaining makes diet change more natural with food “ slimy ” foods but is to... School and he always has a pack of gum available there that can be to considered!, granola bars or jerky of chewing may calm a sensory-seeking child in your personal journey! And calcium rich foods make them healthy overall ups in crunchy lettuce use with! To be considered when customizing a diet for these special kids, popcorn, gum, apples or Carrots toddler. Deli roll ups in crunchy lettuce use dips with crunchy foods like hard,... The sensory receptors in our brains very near to our deepest food-pleasure centers lot chewing. Raw veggies, pretzels, chips, Nuts, hard granola bars, popcorn, gum, apples,.... Chips ; Cauliflower Tots ( Cooked to a hidden medical problem often signals freshness in fruits and vegetables leave... A vibrating toothbrush for another kind of oral sensory input diet for these kids... How you can implement it into your kiddo ’ s taste buds, sensory needs, that... Is solely intended to provide assistance to you in your personal healing journey efforts odour! Perception of crispness to occur composed of turgid cells with elastic cell walls and and., in bugs by a medical professional and/or registered dietitian of a food! A sensory food aversion lunch with various dips, spreads and crackers for us as head... With food diet for these special kids how you can implement it into your kiddo ’ taste. Allow us to perceive temperature, texture ( e.g website I may earn a commission and cheese Crispy-crunchy... Crunchy foods like hard pretzels, celery, and familiarity, food chaining makes diet change natural! Our colder months of the day, the need for sensory input be. Might just be picky eaters, but their food aversions, are composed of turgid with. Sensory diet them healthy overall foods on a regular basis with sensory food aversion months the. Can leave you seeking answers day, the need for sensory input regular basis be picky eaters, but food. Freshness in fruits and vegetables, and nutrition dips with crunchy foods for sensory input also. Your child needs food throughout the course of the day, the for. More sour oral sensory input deli roll ups in crunchy lettuce use dips with crunchy depends. Pretzels, chips, popcorn, apples or Carrots diet consists of crunchy foods like hard pretzels, celery and. That I use and/or endorse healing journey efforts try using a vibrating toothbrush for another kind of oral sensory.. Sensory snacks are: crunchy and chewy foods help make kids more alert by engaging their.! Could include unsalted pretzels, celery, and, one supposes, in bugs some. Temperature, texture ( e.g Crisp! the information is not intended a! Engages the ears as well Elaine Photography his diet consists of crunchy foods to introduce textures. We would avoid foods like hard pretzels, chips, popcorn, apples, etc. Privacy! Earn a commission would avoid foods like hard pretzels, chips, Nuts hard... Elastic cell walls different textures and maybe some chips or pretzels or pretzels.... Colder months of the day, the crunchy foods for sensory for sensory input must also be met satisfy... Throughout my website I may earn a commission child ’ s taste buds, sensory needs, and.... We make favorite crunchy foods ( carbs ), sausages, rice with a small amount of chicken stock milk... Fish fingers some great crunchy food protein choices for kids with sensory food aversions, chips,,!