What is Same Food? Why Familiar Foods Matter

Autism shapes how we experience and interact with the world, including the everyday activities that make up our lives. Food is no exception. From choosing and obtaining ingredients to preparing meals and eating, our individual ways of processing, thinking and engaging all play a part.

Within Autistic communities, we share experiences and develop practices around food that can be understood as part of our culture. Our relationships with food may be deeply personal, shaped by sensory preferences, familiar routines, particular ways of preparing or arranging food, and the patterns or rituals that make eating work for us.

The term same food often describes a food someone returns to again and again because it feels familiar, enjoyable or reassuring. Its predictability may make it easier to approach and eat, whether because of its sensory qualities, emotional associations or place within an established routine. For some Autistic people, these foods become an important and regular part of eating, offering both pleasure and a welcome sense of consistency.

There is good reason to value this comfort. Feeling safe and sufficiently regulated can make a meaningful difference to our ability to eat and receive the nourishment our bodies need.

Image from Canva, by Garrett Aitken from Getty Images

You might also be interested in my co-authored book about an Autistic young person and their same food ‘Gabby’s Glimmers’ and my other food blogs such as ‘Context Eating: Why We Prefer Specific Foods in Specific Situations‘, ‘Why We Need Low Pressure Food Opportunities‘ and ‘How to Get Them to Eat: Rethinking Some Traditional Parenting Strategies‘

Same Food as Self-Care

To explore this concept further, Scott Neilson of Autistically Scott and I ran a workshop at the Autscape conference in 2023 called Same Food as Self Care. It was an interactive session inviting participants to reflect on how their same foods have supported them across time.

One of our prompts was:
“What words come to mind when you think of your same food?”

Here are some of the responses participants shared:

• “Safe”
• “Routine, safe”
• “Safe, happy, calming”
• “Comforting and safe”
• “Tasty, safe and happy”
• “Comfort food”
• “Calm, joy, cosy, hugged, relaxed and warm”
• “Safe, convenient, healthy, nurturing and nourishing”
• “Safe, happy, comfort, peaceful – but then sometimes after a binge, it can be guilt and shame
• “Safety, comfort and routine”
• “Security, stability, routine and calming”

One participant offered this reflection:

These responses reveal just how meaningful same foods can be. They’re not simply about preference or habit. For many Autistic people, they represent safety, regulation, joy, memory and connection.

Following Autscape, we’ve continued to run Same Food as Self Care as an online webinar via Autistic-led organisations such as Scottish Women’s Autism Network (SWAN) and Autistic Revolution. We invite you to keep an eye out for the next time we run this workshop and extend you a warm welcome.

Thank you for learning about the community,

Laura Hellfeld

RN, MSN, PHN, CNL

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Disclaimer: The information shared in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed healthcare provider for personalised support and care tailored to your specific needs.

Resources & Signposting

• Gabby’s Glimmers: An Affirming Story of an Autistic Child and their Favourite Food
• Context Eating: Why We Prefer Specific Foods in Specific Situations, Blog
• More on Context Eating: Understanding Food Preferences Without Pushing for Change, Blog
• Why We Need Low Pressure Food Opportunities, Blog
• How to Get Them to Eat: Rethinking Some Traditional Parenting Strategies, Blog
• Same Food as Self Care Autscape 2023 presentation
• Scottish Women’s Autism Network (SWAN)