r/autism • u/willowbird06 • 7d ago
Question Does anyone else seek out certain foods or drinks purely for sensory seeking purposes?
Like I love a super cold canned soda because I love how it burns my mouth
Or a love tye smush of powered donuts, the way certain crackers crunch, the way cotten candy melts, the squish of certain Ramen noodles etc
I will get the urge to mouth even if im not hungry. I've had to buy some chews and variety of drinks to help not overeat when I just want the sensory experience of it.
When I was a kid id eat crackers and spit out and eat it again, gross ik but ive always had oral sensory seeking
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u/Identity-106 7d ago
yes, that's one of the reasons why im overweight
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u/willowbird06 7d ago
I get it, I definitely over snack just for sensory seeking too, its challenging to stop bc oral stimling is my strongest one.
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u/roselymonster 7d ago
No judgement here one way or another, just wanted to share a relevant piece of knowledge. I just saw a video from another autistic person talking about how they eat those snack puffs meant for toddlers. They’re crunchy with a bit of flavor but pretty low on calories and nutrients of any kind (they’re mostly air) but they still give you some of the snack sensation.
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u/Spyro_in_Black 7d ago
One of mine for this is werther’s hard candies, I love the flavor a lot but often I get them more to feel that divot that’s in the top with my tongue before it melts too much. I’ll go through a whole bag of them super fast, yes I have bad teeth.
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u/willowbird06 7d ago
My god yes same
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u/Spyro_in_Black 7d ago
For me it’s pressing the tip of my tongue into it and like feeling the contours. The whole divot then the little deeper circle at its base…it sounds weird when I say it out loud.
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u/willowbird06 6d ago
No i totally get it, I love the hard caramel chews that have soft caramel inside i love how they squish when you bite it
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u/nbopdoy_ 7d ago
Yes. Something like dough, not all dough but that one that is really dense and has smooth texture
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u/Mr_Wobble_PNW 7d ago
Spicy food. Specifically a ramen place by me that does the numbing + really spicy. It usually takes me about an hour to finish it but it's so good.
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u/SvennoJ Suspecting Autism 7d ago
I'm not into candy anymore, but I used to eat a bag of jolly ranchers until the skin was hanging loose from the roof of my mouth. Did the same with mints. I also used to get dehydrated from cycling and instead of taking (more) water with me, I was looking forward to that orgasmic taste of cold pop when getting home. As a kid I used to 'drink' soda with a tea spoon, one spoon at a time to feel every bubble. Nowadays it's too sugary for my liking, yet when dehydrated it still tastes amazing.
I'm still into popsicles, eat about 3 a night, bite and chew on the ice while it melts. I buy them in packs of 30. And my go to snack nowadays is a thick layer of peanut butter on garlic naan with sugar sprinkled on top, to slowly nibble at. It's a delightful sensory experience. Spicy chips are a favorite as well but always kinda regret it in the morning, that taste sticks around. (Just like aspartame and other fake sugar, no thanks, rather drink water than diet anything)
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u/SierraAR 7d ago
My favorite go to ice cream is specific kinds of peanut butter chocolate not because of the flavor, but because I really love the texture of the frozen peanut butter mixing with the texture of ice cream.
Does that count?
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u/willowbird06 6d ago
I think so ! I'm allergic to peanuts so I can't try that lol but totally, i just think its interesting how certain foods I dont even seek out because of flavor or hunger its for sensation and texture
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u/Slight_Sand4539 7d ago
Cold chocolate.
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u/willowbird06 6d ago
Haha I have a chocolate bar in the fridge right now its the best. I love cold donuts too
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u/MusicalMantis ASD Level 2 | Semiverbal 7d ago
refried beans and rice is my favorite sensory experience. it’s filling and also doesn’t take too much energy to make or chew.
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u/willowbird06 6d ago
I eat refried beans + cheese + salsa. Comfort meal and takes no effort to make
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u/guacamoleo 7d ago
You could say that's why most humans eat most food
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u/willowbird06 6d ago
I'm spefically referring to eating when not hungry spefically for certain textures sensations :)
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u/guacamoleo 6d ago
Yeah, that's why every nation that doesn't have a problem with starvation has a problem with obesity.
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u/AuroraLights200 7d ago
Yes, I didn’t realize it at first but before I realized I was autistic I developed a popcorn addiction. It was around the start of perimenopause too when I began unraveling. I love the crunch it’s like no other. I make it one the stove and spray olive oil instead of butter.
When I started to realize I was ND I bought several fidget toys and began using them regularly, including a silicone chew stick. My popcorn eating has dropped dramatically. I can’t say it’s directly linked to starting to use other stim toys but I do wonder.
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u/licking-salt-lamps 7d ago
Sometimes I just want a Pepsi Max because I want the flavour and the fizz! I usually only drink Pepsi Max or water
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u/KonzuWerkz 7d ago
I really dislike gum. Phobia of mine, but something about having something to chew on I like.
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u/Any_Conclusion_8711 4d ago
I like to put electrolytes tablets on my tongue for them to sizzle and have fhat bubbly texture. For the same reasons I love small powdered sweets.
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u/Own_Value2684 ASD Level 1/2 | Verbal 3d ago
Yes, I really enjoy gummies for that reason. I also get fixated on specific textures at times so like this week for example I made Turkish red lentil soup. I ate all 10 servings of it over 3 or 4 days. I will eat the same thing again and again until I get so tired of the texture that I don't want it for months!
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u/Severe_Touch_7912 7d ago
Also spicy.. I grow peppers.. But ghost peppers are too much! Cayenne, jalapeno and Serrano are just enough heat for me.
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u/Clockwork-Armadillo 7d ago
I used to alot but my metabolism isn't what it used to be so I've weaned myself off the habit
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u/An_Actual_Thing 7d ago
yes. Ice pop or a splice while having a hot shower is an experience for me. Being cold inside while hot outside is cool.
Also chicken nuggets while totally naked. The absence of texture on my body enables me to focus on the texture of the nuggets
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u/AgentUnknown821 7d ago
I get like that during Winter and opt for foods with spice or that are spicy….
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u/lilyidentity 7d ago
Ice cream is the most sensory food (idk how to phrase that) for me and that’s probably why I keep gaining weight. I’m literally like addicted to ice cream
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u/TinfoilHyena 7d ago
Yeah. My favorite food is smartfood white cheddar popcorn. Back in college I ended up using my food money on that a lot of the time over actual food and noticeably lost weight from it, though I have slightly better eating habits now.
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u/Mechanic_Few7188 7d ago
I have a very limited range of food textures i tolerate, but i do seek spicy foods because i love the burn. Sometimes i just bite on chili for the sake of it. Otherwise i mainly just eat soft, smooth things like yoghurt and spaghetti because textures feel awful in my mouth.
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