Re: spitting out food/meats - long

[Guest guest]

Betty wrote:

> Evan used to would not eat any meat that was not

> ground. I still have to

> cut his meat in small pieces for him but at least

> now he is eating meal like

> roast where before he would not. He used to chew

> the meat and spit it out

> but he would eat ground meat. Could this be a

> sensory problem?

>

and phillipmom said:

>

> > My son hates to eat meats, will eat chicken

> nuggets with ketchup.

> > However, he will chew on certain meats and spits

> it out.

My son was diagnosed autistic at the age of 19 - one more layer peeled! His

seizure control started at the age of 21. One of the things we thought was

part of autism and seizure was his body running out of energy to move. He

would just stand in the middle of anything, he couldn't even talk! The

seizure doc wondered if he was showing signs of --- Parkinson's disease!

The research suggested that 'something' messed up at times between the brain

synapses and the muscles, resulting in his muscles not getting the message. I

was also trying to move him into GF/CF. Finding foods that he could eat out

of a sandwich has been hard! That is when I realized that his main meats were

'pre-chewed' ground beef, hot dogs, pizza, fish. Almost all my attempts at

chicken nuggets failed. We also remembered that he was very late in being

able to cut his food, like at 17!

Looking at this through the idea of his muscles not being able to work, not

having the strength to work, gave us lots of new ideas! Maybe he didn't have

the strength to chew? Maybe the act of holding the knife and fork, and

applying the pressure just right to cut was too much work for his brain to

hold together? Hmm?

So i grind all his meat. Now pork and chicken are edible. He isn't thrilled

with it, but he can eat it. I'm figuring out how to cook in quantity and

freeze, and now I can cook up a chuck of meat, grind it, and freeze it in

portions. His range of protein choices is at least doubled!

And the problem I have with chicken nuggets? I use legs and backs - dark

meat. He likes the white meat - it is easier to eat. The packaged nuggets are

formed chicken meat! And he will not eat fried chicken.

One other fact that has emerged for us. Food coloring is definitely a factor

with his muscle weakness. By accident I figured this out. Jeff is now able to

tell when he has had too much food coloring! When he is food coloring free,

he doesn't have his muscle shut downs. (We call this the 'Tinman syndrome')

Margaret S.

avoiding wheat, oats, barley, rye, and regular milk

http://members.xoom.com/MagsSchwa " >Special Needs Info -

website by and for special needs families

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