FOOD SELECTIVITY IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
INTERDISCIPLINARY INTERVENTIONS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING HABITS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.57108/iesj.2026.6-1.3Keywords:
autism spectrum disorder, selective eating, eating habits, interdisciplinary interventionAbstract
This study investigates selective eating in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), focusing on interdisciplinary interventions that aim to promote healthier habits. Through an integrative literature review, of a qualitative and bibliographic nature, Brazilian and foreign publications between 2020 and 2024 were analyzed. The survey included research on table manners, the nutritional and social repercussions of this dietary rigidity, as well as the therapeutic tactics applied by multidisciplinary teams in various settings. The data reveal that selectivity is not an isolated event, but a significant phenomenon that limits the child's nutritional repertoire and generates strain on both their social participation and the routine of their families. It is evident that emotional, sensory, and even socioeconomic factors weigh on this scenario, proving that purely dietary guidelines alone cannot solve the problem. The best results appear when care combines nutrition, speech therapy, psychology, pediatrics, and occupational therapy, focusing on gradual changes in routine long-term impact of these actions, especially in contexts of social vulnerability and within the public health system.
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