Christine McGuinness has shared a photo showing her kids' Christmas dinner of fish and chips and opened up about what it's like to be a parent of youngsters with food aversion.
Model Christine, who is married to Take Me Out host Paddy McGuinness, explained that their three children - Penelope and Leo, seven, and four-year-old Felicity - all have autism and it limits what they'll eat.
Sharing the snaps of her and Paddy's more traditional Christmas Day meal alongside plates of fish fingers and chips, Christine wrote: "Because autism doesn't stop for Christmas day!
Advert
"They like what they like and I want my children to eat so I choose my battles and I don't want one today!
"For anyone who may not understand this, food aversion can be quite common for those with autism.
"This isn't lazy parenting or fussy children, this is sensory issues due to their condition that limits what our children eat.
"I am delighted they are very slowly exploring new textures.
"I'm just happy they eat because there have been times they totally refuse.
Advert
"It may be basic and it's still all beige but they're happy and their tummies are full.
"For anyone with autistic children this Christmas... I hope you had a calm day, I feel your exhaustion and I hear your sigh of relief that the Christmas period is almost over."
Christine's followers praised her for her honesty, with one person replying: "So nice to read this. I needed to see this today. Sick of being called lazy or being told, 'Leave it front of them, if they are hungry, they will eat.'"
Another wrote: "I can totally relate, nuggets and fries for my daughter - I'm just happy she eats!"
Advert
While a third said: "Thank you for posting this. I work with children with additional needs and this is real life for so many families.
"I'm glad you've had a lovely relaxing Christmas day together. Merry Christmas beautiful family."
In an earlier post, Christine told her followers her three kids had been 'amazing' over Christmas and that the family enjoyed a 'surprisingly calm' day.
Advert
Featured Image Credit: Christine McGuinness/Instagram