معرفة خيارات الطعام والشراب

Parents have shared that having frozen, packaged, and canned foods available can be helpful when introducing new foods. These options can help with the predictability of colour, smell, texture, and taste, which is useful when introducing tooth-friendly foods like carrots.  Gently rinse tinned fruits and vegetables in a colander to remove excess sugar and syrup, and to reduce taste differences between brands. This can also make some options seem more similar to fresh versions. Offering both fresh and packaged versions can help children recognise and accept different presentations of the same food. For example, tinned fruits are often a slightly different colour and a different shape from fresh. They are also softer and more slippery and therefore provide a different texture experience too.  Fresh foods vary a lot in taste and texture, making them unpredictable. For instance, blueberries can be sweet or sour, and apples can differ in flavour and texture. Carrots can taste different depending on how they are cooked and their type and freshness.  Some autistic children prefer packaged foods because they are more predictable. Tinned or frozen fruits and vegetables can be more consistent and thus more acceptable. Dried fruits like apple rings or chewy mango strips are also good options and can be a gateway to introducing more tooth-friendly foods. However, due to their high natural sugar content, they should be consumed in moderation as part of a meal or snack.