Illustrations still show Sammy.
One-time per story. Takes about 2 minutes.
My name is Sammy, and I know a great deal about what my body likes and dislikes. I notice textures, smells, and temperatures in food that other people around me sometimes do not notice. This careful attention to food is a real strength I have carried with me for a long time.
My name is Sammy. I notice a lot about food. I notice textures. I notice smells. I notice temperatures. This is a strength.
page-1 At school lunches, the food on my tray is sometimes unfamiliar, and my brain notices right away. My body sends a careful signal that says this food is new and different from what I know. When everyone around me is eating without worry, I am not always sure what to do next.
At school lunch, I see new food. My brain says this is new. My body is not sure. Other people eat. I do not always know what to do.
page-2 My brain's careful signal around new food is actually a way of keeping me safe. When I wait a moment before deciding, my nervous system has more time to settle. I can try letting a new food sit on my plate while my brain gets used to it.
My brain sends a signal about new food. This signal keeps me safe. I can wait. I can try letting new food sit on my plate.
page-3 There are adults in my life who want to understand what food feels like for me. When I turn to a trusted adult and ask for help, I am sharing something important about myself. Raising my hand or speaking up at the table is a way to share what I need. It is okay to ask for a familiar food or to wait until I am ready.
sammy: "Can I have my safe food instead?"
Adults want to help me. I can turn to an adult. I can raise my hand. I can ask for my safe food. It is okay to wait.
page-4 At a birthday party, I see foods on the table that my sensory system does not recognize yet. I raise my hand to get the adult's attention and ask about bringing my safe food. While I wait, I look at the other food from a distance without feeling pressure to eat it. The adult comes over and helps me find a quiet spot where my safe food is ready.
sammy: "Can I have my safe food? I am not ready for the other food yet."
I see new food at the party. I raise my hand. I ask the adult for my safe food. I wait. The adult helps me.
page-5 I am learning that my sensory system and I can work together, one small step at a time. Knowing when to ask and when to wait are skills I am building each day. Adults and friends can support me when I raise my hand and share what I need. My relationship with food is my own, and I get to move through it at my own pace.
My sensory system and I work together. I learn to ask. I learn to wait. I raise my hand when I need help. I go at my own pace.
page-6 Take a moment. You can take some slow, deep breaths when you feel ready.
You finished reading "Asking for What I Need When Food Feels Different"
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