Dyspraxia and Eating

[Dyspraxia22]

My daughter is 18 and was diagnosed at 5 with dyspraxia.
She is left landed and cutting food has always been difficult and awkward for her .

Over the years I have tried to get her to cut her food but she just eats food without cutting it for example fish or sausages and only uses a fork .

I am worried she will get bullied as she is hoping to go to university in September and if I say anything she gets defensive . Her eating habits are very plain and she won’t use a knife at all . If we go to a restaurant she won’t cut up her food either . Any tips would be really appreciated

[Tom fod]

Is she intending to study at a Russell Group University that holds lots of formal dinners?

Possibly a higher priority is DSA and getting support for learning in place.

Being on her case about it all the time is unlikely to accomplish much.

[FrankieSoup]

As someone who is 36 and who has never used a knife (and often not a fork), I can honestly say it’s been something that’s ever been commented on - at either of the universities I’ve attended. Even if it is an issue, I’m not sure it’s your issue to “fix” - your daughter is 18 - a legal adult- and it’s “her body her choice”. I think as a parent, it's easy to forget how old 18 actually is because our babies will always be our babies, but I'm sure your daughter is going to be a responsible, capable person, and I'm sure the others at uni will see her for who she is.

[EmilyyNics]

When having Dyspraxia and eating when you wear your best top and suddenly you get stains down your top. Also when the stains is hard to remove from your top and having to redo this to get it back to perfecto again!

[FrankieSoup]

I relate so hard to this - my family calls the stains ‘dinner medals’.

[JuliusRowe]

Maybe my answer is a bit late, but I'd like to share my thoughts. First, you may consider seeking advice from a dyspraxia specialist or occupational therapist, who might be able to offer some practical tips and techniques to make cutting and eating food easier for your daughter. Additionally, you could try introducing different utensils or adaptive equipment, such as a rocker knife or a cutting board with spikes to hold the food in place. Finally, if you're worried about the inconvenience when eating out, one way to avoid this is by choosing restaurants with a good reputation and a high level of service, like [Unauthorised commercial url removed by Admin]. They will understand and respect any challenges you may have with cutting or eating food and will ensure you feel comfortable and at ease during your meal.

[Joe Suarez]

Instead of expressing concern directly about her eating habits, try having an open and non-judgmental conversation about it. Ask her if there's anything specific about using a knife that bothers her or if there's a reason she prefers not to use it. Additionally, you might consider suggesting alternative cooking methods that don't involve extensive knife usage, such as an easy honey lemon chicken recipe that requires minimal chopping and is deliciously simple to prepare. This way, you can encourage healthier eating habits without making her feel pressured or criticized.

[Chikkerty]

Hey @Joe Suarez, your advice on approaching eating habits with dyspraxia is spot on. It's crucial to have open, non-judgmental conversations to understand her challenges and preferences better. Suggesting alternative cooking methods, like the honey lemon chicken recipe, is a great way to encourage healthier eating habits without causing discomfort.
In addition to alternative cooking methods, incorporating beef bone broth into her meals can be a nutritious and delicious option. It can be a great addition to soups, stews, and other dishes that require minimal chopping and knife usage.