Eating and feeding
ARFID, interoception and sensory food differences, without the pressure and without the shame.
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ARFID, interoception and sensory food differences, without the pressure and without the shame.
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Every morning, Australian parents pack a lunchbox and brace for what the school might say about it. For families of children with feeding differences, selective eaters, neurodivergent kids, and children with sensory or medical needs, school food policies built for the average child can turn eating into a daily barrier. This piece names something that rarely gets named: how one-size-fits-all rules, lunchbox comments and "good food, bad food" messaging quietly undermine the feeding relationship, and why that matters when neurodivergent people are so overrepresented in eating disorder statistics. It also covers what good looks like, a classroom where food is treated as neutral, and what parents can actually do, including the reasonable adjustments schools are legally required to make under the Disability Discrimination Act. Your child has a right to eat at school without shame. Advocating for that isn't being difficult.
6 July 2026
Dietitian and feeding therapist Natasha Lane challenges how we diagnose and discuss ARFID in neurodivergent children. This article explores the distinction between feeding differences and eating disorders, why increasing ARFID diagnoses may pathologise neurobiological traits, and practical strategies for releasing shame around food. Learn what typical neurodivergent eating looks like, how to advocate at school and social events, and why your child's eating is no one else's business.
10 February 2026
Why do some children only notice hunger when they're "hangry"? Occupational therapist Kelly Mahler explains interoception, our body's ability to sense internal signals, and its deep connection to feeding differences. In this episode of the Neurodivergent Pulse podcast, learn why "picky eater" labels miss the mark and how curiosity-based approaches can transform mealtimes.
30 December 2025
Discover how the 'fed is best' philosophy can transform mealtimes for neurodivergent families. This article explores the difference between ARFID and picky eating, validates sensory feeding differences, and challenges neuronormative expectations about meals. Learn practical strategies for removing pressure from eating, advocating for your child's needs, and finding peace at mealtimes—all while honoring what feels safe for your family.
9 December 2025