Food

I feel pretty safe in saying that there is a large portion of children with autism that have a fascination (for lack of a better word) with food. Some children, and Matthew is one of them, seem to want to eat all the time. I really don't think that Matthew knows when he is full and he does not eat out of hunger. I believe it is just a love of food and habit that gives him the munchies. Seriously, Matthew would eat or drink 24/7 if I would allow it. He is forever asking for some kind of food or another. This little knack with food can cause it's own trouble. It makes it very hard for me to accomplish anything when I am home alone with the boys. You turn your back, and Matthew will make a beeline for the fridge or pantry! This has resulted in more messes than I could possibly count. Gotta love when he sneaks fruit cups out of the fridge, takes them to his room and opens them on his bed. Or what about a whole block of Velveeta smashed and smushed all over his room?!!!! Oh yeah, it happens. Trying to put in a load of clothes or even make a pit stop in the potty room has to be strategized to keep from having a bigger mess on my hands! Just this very morning, I was trying to get the playroom picked up and vacuumed and had left my early rising wonder on the couch with his daddy. (It was still EARLY.) Well, Daddy dozed off, unknowingly to me who had the vacuum buzzing, I turned and looked and Matthew had the whole new pack of hot dogs, had managed to rip it open (the kid has razor sharp teeth...I know from personal experience) and devoured half a hot dog before I could even holler at Jason! He will continue to ask for food and there are times that I have to make him stop eating, even though it's much easier to give in because he will wear you out with trying to make you get him something. But...eating too much results in it's own little disasters!!

It seems like the boy could drink a gallon an hour!!! Even more often than asking for food, he is asking for a drink! For him to realize that I mean NO when I tell him he can't have anymore to drink, I set his cup on top of the fridge and tell him, "No more!" Oh yeah, it makes him livid, but it serves the purpose cause he quits asking. Again, it's a visual thing that he knows I mean business when the cup goes up.

Many children with autism are also picky eaters! Often times they will pick out an item or two that they prefer, and that is ALL they will eat. Even funnier than that is that some are label eaters. I don't mean that literally, all though Matthew has given more than one food package a try :o) I mean, they will only eat a specific brand of food. I know one little guy who will eat spaghetti, but only if it has Ragu's Mama's Secret Garden Sauce....he can smell it and tell the difference! Matthew will look at the bologna labels and if given the chose, he will pick the Field's bologna! Matthew does not like pizza, french fries or cheeseburgers...I know...completely un-American :o) He has eaten these items before, but it is like a fluke...he'll do it once and no more.

It's also funny to watch Matthew if he thinks someone is going to take away his food, or better yet, eat it! Get ready for a fight to the finish! I have seen him sneak up and ambush Jacob and snatch a sandwich right out of his hands!! Not so pretty after about 2 seconds and Jacob realizes he's been robbed, but hey, at least I know Matthew can be so sneaky and conniving.


Food works as a wonderful bribe reward. I mean, I am talking about the boy who learned to walk for mini M&M's!! Matthew will work hard for one of his favorite snacks :o)