Cheap Snack and Big Rewards
This last Sunday, July 22nd, the foundation held it’s free summer swim & BBQ at the Jerry Fox Pool. It was so mellow, everyone was having a great time. The BBQ was awesome and right in the middle of the table was a huge bowl of watermelon. Watermelon is one of the best snacks for autistic individuals.
It has been estimated that eighty percent of people with autism are lacking in: vitamin C, A, D, B1, B6, and B12. Under clinical testing, vitamin C improves symptom severity and sensory motor scores in patients when watermelon was added to their diet. Vitamin B1 deficiency is linked to delayed language development and vitamin B12 deficiency can cause vision loss. Both of these B’s are found in watermelon.
This juicy fruit is also high in magnesium. Magnesium helps the neurotransmitters that affect social reactions and emotions. So let there be watermelon at every party!
If you want to introduce watermelon to your children as a new snack, introduce it with their favorites. On that plate of a few chips, place a small slice of watermelon. Don’t feel upset if after three tries, they still don’t want to eat it. Sameness is a tried and true behavior of autism. You may want to make watermelon-lemonade as an alternative. On these hot days, you may get a convert very quickly.
I did a small quick survey of some of our families at the pool side. My findings: 70% didn’t mind the “feel” of watermelon in their mouth; 60% said their parents served it and they liked eating it; and 1 % of those interviewed wanted to know if watermelon would float in the pool.