A Comparison of Nutrient Intake and Eating Behaviors of Boys With and Without Autism

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to compare the nutrient intakes and eating behaviors of boys with and without autism. Parents of 20 boys with autism and 18 controls aged 7–10 years completed an eating behaviors questionnaire and 3-day food record. There were no differences in nutrient intake between the groups. The control group consumed a greater variety of foods; boys with autism based food choices on texture to a greater degree than the boys without autism, and more parents of boys with autism indicated difficulty getting their child to eat (P < .05). Thus, eating behaviors differ between boys with and without autism.