Democracy Dies in Darkness

An autistic girl eats only one food. Here’s what happened when stores sold out of it.

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September 22, 2020 at 6:30 a.m. EDT
Some of the SpaghettiOs donated to the MacDonald family after people learned that the stores in Attleboro, Mass., were selling out of the only food Ashlyn, 11, eats. (Crystal MacDonald)

Crystal MacDonald’s daughter Ashlyn — who is 11 years old and autistic — is very loyal to her favorite meal: canned SpaghettiOs with miniature meatballs.

“She would eat a few other things like pizza and grilled cheese, but she has always loved those the most,” said MacDonald, 34, a mother of five who lives in Attleboro, Mass. “For years, it’s been her ‘go-to’ comfort meal.”