As a mom to a wonderful, nonverbal son on the spectrum, I’ve learned to celebrate every small victory. One of our biggest wins lately has been discovering a super frugal feeding hack for one of his favorite foods — Chinese lo mein.

If you have a child with autism, you know how hard it can be to find foods they’ll actually eat — and stick to. My son’s diet is very limited, and keeping up with his “safe foods” can get expensive fast. For example, one of his go-to comfort foods is bacon. So when I realized I could make his favorite noodles at home for almost nothing, it was a total game changer.

Preferred Safety Food: Chinese

My son absolutely loves Chinese food — especially lo mein noodles and chicken fried rice. I used to buy six-packs of veggie lo mein from Sam’s Club for $15, which wasn’t terrible, but it added up quickly. Between him and his little sister, we could go through two boxes in a week.

That put me in a bind. How could I lower our grocery costs without cutting back on his limited diet? Turns out, the answer was sitting in my pantry the whole time.

The Discovery: A Feeding Hack

One day, I realized that what my son truly loved about lo mein wasn’t anything fancy — it was the noodles and soy sauce. That’s when it clicked: I could recreate it using something simple and affordable.

Enter the humble spaghetti noodles and soy sauce. We often get spaghetti noodles from local food pantries, which means they’re free most of the time. Soy sauce costs less than $2 a bottle and lasts for ages. So I decided to give it a shot — and it worked beautifully.

The Process: Feeding Hack in Action

Here’s how I make it:

1. Boil the noodles: Cook spaghetti noodles as usual. Drain and set aside.
2. Add soy sauce: In a large pan, heat a bit of oil. Add the noodles and pour in soy sauce (I use Happy Belly Soy Sauce), adjusting the amount based on taste. Toss until coated and heated through.
3. Optional add-ins: If your child allows variety, you can add veggies, eggs, or protein. My son prefers his plain, but I’ll sometimes make a second pan with steamed veggies and chicken for the rest of us.

The Result: Did It Work?

Honestly, I didn’t expect this to work. My son is incredibly particular about his safety foods and rarely accepts substitutes. But to my surprise, he inhaled his first plate. He loved it so much he even asked for more — in his own way.

Now, it’s a weekly staple in our house. I cook two pounds of spaghetti at a time and store it in the fridge. When he wants noodles, he goes right to the fridge and brings me the container. It’s become one of our easiest and happiest food routines.

The Savings

This small change has made a huge difference for our budget. Since we often get pasta for free and soy sauce costs less than $2, our weekly cost dropped from $30–$45 to almost nothing. The savings are significant — especially for something he eats daily.

Why I’m Sharing This

For parents of children with autism, finding foods our kids will eat can feel like winning the lottery. But when those foods are pricey, it adds unnecessary stress to an already heavy load. That’s why I share hacks like this — because even small victories can bring real relief.

This simple noodle trick has made feeding my son easier, cheaper, and less stressful. And honestly, that peace of mind is priceless.

A Message to Fellow Parents

If you’re navigating similar challenges, give this hack a try. It’s affordable, easy, and might just become your child’s new favorite meal. Most importantly, remember this — you’re doing an amazing job. Celebrate every small win, even if it’s just a plate of noodles and soy sauce. Those little victories matter more than you think.

Thank you for reading our story. I hope it inspires you to find your own creative solutions and keep celebrating the milestones — big or small — along the way. You’ve got this, mama.