Health Tips and Sensory-Friendly Recipes for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disorders

Why it is Important to Focus on IDD and Food

Maintaining a healthy diet is difficult to do for everyone but people with IDD, have more setbacks than the average person does. Some of these disadvantages are things like: sensory sensitivity to textures, mobility issues, lack of muscle mass, and higher susceptibility to conditions such as diabetes. In the blog, we will provide recipe ideas that someone with IDD may enjoy and find easier to eat, snack ideas, tips for trying new foods, eating aid products, and more! We hope you are able to find some useful information to take away from this!

Featured Recipes

Crunchy Foods

Apples
Carrots
Kale chips
Roasted Chickpeas
Nuts
Banana Chips
Cucumber
Peppers
Whole Grain Crackers
Plain Popcorn
Trail Mix
Grapes
Rice cakes

Soft Foods

Applesauce
Watermelon
Bananas
Sweet Potatoes
Pasta
Cooked veggies like carrots, squash, peppers, etc.
Soups
Nut butter
Boiled eggs

Sour, Salty, Spicy, or Cold

Curries
Meatballs
Lemons/ limes
Tart cherries
Green apples
Pickles
Pretzels
Nuts
Ramen
Baked french fries and sea salt
Seasoned veggies
Ice chips
Popsicles

Tips

Down Syndrome Eating Habits and Possible Risks

Individuals with Down syndrome have a higher prevalence of obesity. This can be caused due to one of their symptoms of having low muscle tone which leads to a naturally higher amount of fat in comparison. On top of this, they have higher chances of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases as well due to hypothyroidism, lack of activity, and poor diet.

To help people with down syndrome prevent obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases there are multiple ways to help. They should be eating small, but frequent meals, varieties of fruits veggies, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy; Limit extra snacking or switch them out with healthy alternatives, drink lots of water and fewer drinks high in sugar, strive for at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, Help them get involved in the process like grocery shopping, menu planning, offering suggestions on what to eat, help prepare food, set tables and wash the dishes.

More Recipes! (click to view)

Physical Difficulties eating and Aids

Not only can people with IDD have issues keeping a nutritional diet, but some people physically have much difficulty to be able to eat their food with normal utensils. These are some ideas to help aid in these physical difficulties