Traveling with autistic kid who is picky eater

[Anonymous]

We are traveling abroad over break to somewhere that generally has good food but different food from at home. My child is an insanely picky eater. It's doubtful that we'll find his three preferred foods and even if we do, it won't be exactly the same as he's used to. Any ideas for how to keep him fed for 12 days? We were thinking of bringing a container of peanut butter with us, but it seems awkward to go into restaurants with our own food.

[Anonymous]

What are his preferred foods?

[Anonymous]

I would take the peanut butter and feed him at the hotel befoe or after.

[Anonymous]

You know what's more awkward? Your kid freaking out all the time because they are hungry.

Personally, I would either ship ahead or being with me enough non perishables so my kid could eat what they wanted.

Your kid might surprise you and eat new things. But don't believe the people who are about to reply to your post and say no child will starve themselves. They don't know anything about autism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are his preferred foods?

PBJ, grilled cheese, sushi. Also most fruit, but you can't live on fruit for 12 days. He'll also eat some bread, but gets inflexible and mean if he doesn't eat something with protein. No meat or beans.

[Anonymous]

My child is insanely picky and we always travel with a container of pb and bread. We will take his sandwich in restaurants with us, but buy him fries (or some other side he will eat).

[Anonymous]

Do what you have to do. The cheese/ bread combo is pretty easy in lots of restaurants. Maybe buy a bunch of those Justin's packs to be a little more subtle. And pita bread or wraps?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are his preferred foods?

PBJ, grilled cheese, sushi. Also most fruit, but you can't live on fruit for 12 days. He'll also eat some bread, but gets inflexible and mean if he doesn't eat something with protein. No meat or beans.

I assume you aren't going to Japan.

I'd bring the PB and J, but think about keeping it in the hotel, and serving it there.

Some of that depends, in my mind, on what other issues you're dealing with. For some kids, being able to tolerate sleeping somewhere new, hearing new sounds, new smells will be overwhelming, and I'd do whatever it took to make food unoverwhelming, even if it meant being "rude".

For other kids, learning to eat out, to find something on the menu, and to handle waiting for preferred foods is a totally reasonable goal, and I'd do the PB and J for "snacks".

[Anonymous]

I have a grilled cheese kid too... usually you can find it or someone to make it somewhere. Maybe buy a small skillet if the hotel has a fridge, pam, cheese, bread and make it in the room? Will he eat plain rice or pasta? We found our picky eater will sometimes be a bit more flexible when traveling. Feed before you go into a restaurant, not there. We have done that many times or do two meals. Not idea but a fed kid is far worth a power struggle.

[Anonymous]

You are lucky that at least one of his preferred foods travels well! I would pack peanut butter, jelly and a loaf of bread. That plus fruit will at least keep him from starving and provide protein.

I have two very picky eaters and my rule on trips is as long as they eat something,I'm not going to stress about nutrition. Traveling is stressful enough!

[Anonymous]

Would he conceivably drink protein drinks like Boost? That's been our savior. We also pick a cuisine or restaurant at least once a day that will offer something DS will eat -- Asian for white rice and edamame for instance. But we also bring a small pack of crackers and a boost in my purse just in case and so he will eat something. Probably not something you want to do at a super fancy restaurant, but then again, we don't eat there with kids anyhow.

We also look at the menu and see if there is something that he would eat if it were offered alone and usually restaurants will accommodate. My guess is most places that serve sandwiches would be happy to make a grilled cheese even if it's not on the menu. My vegetarian relatives do something similar.

This is a medical need so you do what you need to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would he conceivably drink protein drinks like Boost? That's been our savior. We also pick a cuisine or restaurant at least once a day that will offer something DS will eat -- Asian for white rice and edamame for instance. But we also bring a small pack of crackers and a boost in my purse just in case and so he will eat something. Probably not something you want to do at a super fancy restaurant, but then again, we don't eat there with kids anyhow.

We also look at the menu and see if there is something that he would eat if it were offered alone and usually restaurants will accommodate. My guess is most places that serve sandwiches would be happy to make a grilled cheese even if it's not on the menu. My vegetarian relatives do something similar.

This is a medical need so you do what you need to do.

Just to add -- the focus for vacation is just to keep him reasonably fed, not nutrition. One or two weeks of mediocre nutrition isn't going to be the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

Where are you going OP? Maybe someone from that area can advise how to order something acceptable even if it's not on the menu. But yes, bring a jar of PB.

[Anonymous]

Also, ask for a fridge in your room and go to the grocery to get basics he will eat. No need to pack all of your food it you’ll have a corner market.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely pack your brand of peanut butter, jelly (triple wrap it in bubble wrap if you can't get it in a plastic container), and even your bread -- the container store sells plastic shoe boxes that would work. Just popping over to the corner store for American brands you are used to will be tough.