Yes, you read that right: The Pizza Smoothie. Here at Teen Autism, we pride ourselves on being beyond innovative. We boldly eat what no one has eaten before. In this house, neither child has ever requested the typically well-loved staple, macaroni and cheese, for dinner. But a pizza smoothie? Bring it on.

I try to explain to Neil that texture has quite a bit to do with why we like certain foods. Take away the texture, and that changes how we respond to a food. Appearance counts for a lot, too. Change the appearance and texture of a favorite food, and it might not be so appetizing.

But he’s adamant that – for him – it’s not about the texture or appearance. “It’s all about the taste,” he says.

And so, down the hatch it goes. He drinks the whole thing and claims to enjoy it. But, smile notwithstanding, I’m not so sure.

We’ll see what happens the next time we have pizza for dinner.