Christine McGuinness pleads with people to stop stockpiling food

Christine McGuinness pleads with people to stop stockpiling food and to consider her ‘vulnerable’ autistic children who have a restricted diet and could go ‘hungry’

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Christine McGuinness made a heartbreaking plea on social media on Monday evening for people to stop stockpiling food amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Taking to Instagram Stories, the 32-year-old warned that the ‘vulnerable’, including her three autistic children, could go hungry as they have a ‘restricted diet.’    

Model Christine, is mother to twins Leo and Penelope, six, and Felicity, three, with comedian Paddy McGuinness, shared a picture of a love heart with the words ‘Be Kind.’

Heartbreaking: Christine McGuinness pleaded with people to stop stockpiling food and to consider her ‘vulnerable’ autistic children on Instagram on Monday

Reaching out: She shared this post alongside a picture of a heart-shaped balloon and the words: ‘Be kind’

She wrote: ‘When you are emptying the shelves at your supermarket please bare in mind that you are emptying the tummy’s of our vulnerable, including my own children. [sic]

‘Many children and adults with autism have a very restricted diet, the variation of food they eat is quite often extremely limited. 

‘Some people with autism and other conditions that include sensory food aversions will go hungry from your greed. ⠀

Her loves: Christine’s children, twins Leo and Penelope, six, and Felicity, three, have all been diagnosed with autism

‘The supermarkets have stated that there is enough food, you DO NOT need to empty the shelves putting our vulnerable at risk of further health conditions.’⠀ 

THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AUTISM

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with autism have trouble with social, emotional and communication skills that usually develop before the age of three and last throughout a person’s life. 

Specific signs of autism include: 

  • Reactions to smell, taste, look, feel or sound are unusual
  • Difficulty adapting to changes in routine
  • Unable to repeat or echo what is said to them
  • Difficulty expressing desires using words or motions
  • Unable to discuss their own feelings or other people’s
  • Difficulty with acts of affection like hugging
  • Prefer to be alone and avoid eye contact
  • Difficulty relating to other people
  • Unable to point at objects or look at objects when others point to them

In February, Christine confirmed that her daughter Felicity was diagnosed with autism. 

She told Loose Women: ‘The first time around with the twins, it was a shock, we were heartbroken, we didn’t know anything about autism. We were heartbroken,’

She explained that she and Paddy knew Felicity’s diagnosis before being told by doctors, spotting the signs from as early as six months. ‘It’s prepared us. We knew it was coming, we saw the signs so we were more prepared,’ she said.

‘It’s a relief because they can come across as being quite difficult, or challenging children,’ she added. ‘When Felicity started school, I wanted her to have the diagnosis before, so they know.’ 

Last week, Paddy urged his followers not to be ‘massive d***heads’ by panic buying.

The Top Gear host, 46, took to Instagram on Wednesday to talk about his first shop since the coronavirus outbreak in two videos, one before his trip to the supermarket and the other afterwards.

Sharing his concerns over whether or not he would be able to find the food he needed, he began in his first video: ‘Good morning to ya, I’m about to risk my first big shop since all the madness happened.  

‘Hoping there’s going to be stuff on the shelves after all the absolute tools stripped everything, denying all the pensioners and anyone who couldn’t get to the supermarkets. 

‘Well I’ve got news for you, you know all that pasta you bought and that lifetime supply of toilet roll, after eating all that pasta you’ll not be s***ting yourselves for a month anyhow so the toilet roll is a waste of time.’

Going on to document his reaction after the shopping trip, Paddy said: ‘Well there we are, all done. Toilet rolls and kitchen rolls, shelves still totally empty. 

‘Food and drink the very stuff we need to survive, tons of it, no need to panic. Plenty on the shelves. 

‘If you’ve gone out to buy all the toilet roll and kitchen roll what are you doing? Forget that hole down there, concentrate on that hole [indicating his mouth], that’s the one. 

‘Food and drink, concentrate on that. The other one will look after itself, Jesus. Anyhow, stay safe, wash your hands.’

Wise words: Last week, Paddy urged his followers not to be ‘massive d***heads’ by panic buying

 

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