For many PDAers, eating can be experienced as a perceived threat, and paradoxically, the greater the hunger, the harder it becomes to eat. Hunger itself may show up as an internal demand, something the body is insisting on, and internal demands can be just as triggering as external ones. What others interpret as a simple bodily cue can feel overwhelming, intrusive, or even frightening.

What an incredible year it has been. We thought it would be important to do a 2025 recap as we have achieved so much this year. From expanding our team, to supporting more individuals and families than ever (over 300 to be precise), presenting at several conferences and events—this year has been filled with growth, learning, and meaningful impact.

Feeding a child with PDA can be unpredictable and overwhelming. One day they may happily eat a food, and the next day the same food is suddenly “too much or not safe” Meals can turn into power struggles, avoidance, shutdowns, or complete refusals—often leaving parents wondering what they’re doing wrong.

But here’s the truth:

You’re not doing anything wrong.

And your child isn’t being “difficult or naughty”.

Children with a PDA profile are navigating a nervous system that is wired to avoid perceived threats/demands. Even the ones they genuinely want to meet, like eating or using the bathroom can feel like a threat response.

If you’ve ever found empty wrappers tucked under a pillow or a secret stash of snacks hidden in your child’s room, you might have felt a rush of confusion, frustration, or even worry. It’s natural to wonder, Why are they doing this? and Am I handling it right? The truth is, sneaking food isn’t simply “naughty” behaviour—it’s a sign that your child’s relationship with food, safety, or autonomy needs a little extra understanding. Whether it’s driven by past food insecurity, emotional needs, a desire for control, or neurodivergent sensory or dopamine-seeking needs, your response in these moments matters far more than the behaviour itself.

A parent recently told me they went to their child’s teacher recently and asked if they could provide a feeding accommodation for their child at school, and the response was..
"If we do it for your child, we’ll have to do it for all children." How many times have you heard this old chestnut?.

When a previously safe food suddenly becomes an ick and loses its safety, it can be really challenging trying to find a new safe food.

Here are some tips to help you navigate this transition and explore new safe options.

Firstly I want to say that Intuitive eating can be an incredibly helpful tool for many people. However, if you are going to use Intuitive eating with neurodivergent individuals, it must be modified, or it will likely cause harm.

At Whole Body Nutrition we work with many individuals, children, teens and adults who live with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). One of the most heartbreaking aspects of their journeys isn’t the food itself—it’s the way they are treated because of it.

Enteral nutrition feeding is often discussed in medical terms. If you google the words you will be met with a lot of anatomical diagrams of the digestive system and some very clinical language. It is true to say that the beginning of someone’s enteral feeding journey usually takes place in a hospital and under the guidance of medical and allied health professionals. However, beyond the clinical stories are stories of the people behind the tube.

The phrase "Fed is Best" is often used in the infant feeding world, but it applies just as much to people with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and other feeding differences. In a society that places so much moral value on food choices, it can be easy to get caught up in what someone “should” be eating rather than focusing on the most important goal—ensuring they are eating enough.

In this episode of NeurospicED, I share my personal journey as a neurodivergent woman and how it has shaped my relationship with food and my body.

In this episode of Paved with Gold, I talk about ARFID (Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake).

Society, the media, and diet culture often push the idea that to be “healthy,” you have to look, eat, & live in specific ways. And if you can’t achieve those things, you are less of a person.

Navigating the holiday season can be challenging for many neurodivergent individuals due to sensory overload, changes in routine, and social expectations that come with gatherings and celebrations.

The intersection between Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a complex area within eating disorders. Anorexia and ARFID can coexist or be misidentified as one another, making treatment and support more challenging.

Show notes and podcast link

Have you been at a gathering lately where a family member has made a well-meaning comment about your child’s food and it’s rubbed you the wrong way and left you and your child feeling uncomfortable, angry, misunderstood, frustrated or even traumatised?

I’ve come up with a few strategies to help you handle these uncomfortable situations and better support both you and your child.

RSD is an extreme emotional response to perceived or actual rejection or criticism, often experienced by Autistic people and ADHDers.

There hasn’t been much research looking into PMDD and Neurodivergence. However PMDD can co-occur with ADHD and Autism and research suggests that statistics may be high.

Both HSD and hEDS can frequently co-occur with Neurodivergence. While research is limited, it is beginning to link Neurodivergence and hypermobility more.