ObjectiveDuring this research, we have tried to study eating disorder into the autistic disorder. Actually, we can often observe autistic children feeding themselves in a specific way. They usually eat only 3 or 4 different kind of food. They may also show specific behaviours during mealtime including food or not. Some of them seem needed to cover themselves with food while eating. Some others demand to sit precisely at the same place around the table. From these observations, we wondered if those behaviours had a kind of meaning or if we could at least propose a reading which would make sense. We questioned the link between the global state of the autistic child and his eating behaviour through two hypothesis: (1) eating awake for autistic children primitive agonies. Feeding ourselves generate, but in the same time witness those angsts; (2) thanks to defense mechanisms, such as adhesive identification, dismantling, autistic objects and shapes, the child will try to keep them away. Method and patientsSome detailed observations had been made for 4 months about 3 autistic children. We met them at a Day hospital, accommodating children less than 12 years old, with psychiatric disorders. We led those observations during therapeutic meals and cooking frameworks. FindingsWe could identify among these 3 children all different defense mechanisms, intimately fitted into their eating behavior. In that way, we had seen every of them try to struggle against angst, each one in their own way. Food, with all the textures it offers, appeared like a really interesting material. However, we could also notice some changes, witnessing an attempt to be someway else, to keep growing and evolving. We tried then to discuss roles and places the other can take, as well as the way lunch can become a therapeutic time. ConclusionMealtime could be a real therapeutic place if we are willing to give it this function. It could be an invaluable moment, where we can realize child's psychic state and its development. In these conditions, the other can become a precious tool, if at least, we give to this time back, the place it deserves.