Eating issues in neurodivergent children

Any child can be a fussy eater. If your child is neurodivergent, they might avoid some foods, or you may struggle to get them to eat. This can be stressful and difficult at times, but you can try a few different things to help support them.

If your child is a fussy eater but isn’t neurodivergent, you can read our advice for helping fussy eaters.

Neurodivergent children often experience senses such as the taste, smell, sight and feel of food in a different way to other children. They may also react strongly to food and mealtimes for a variety of other reasons (like their environment). This might be the case if your child:

• is autistic
• has ADHD
• has OCD
• has a sensory sensitivity
• has executive function issues
• is dyspraxic
• has global development delay

If your child is neurodivergent, they might:

• only want to eat with a certain spoon, fork or plate
• only want to drink from a certain cup
• be overwhelmed and upset by smells or noises around them
• find it difficult to sit for any significant length of time to eat
• struggle to eat foods with certain textures
• find some flavours too strong or too weak
• dislike having different textures or colours on a plate at once, or combining textures (like gravy and sausages)
• only want pale or beige foods
• refuse some food after a bad experience, like choking or being sick
• struggle to grip cutlery or open packets due to coordination issues
• get upset at changes in routine or how you serve food

Every child reacts in their own way to feelings of unhappiness or overwhelm. Notice how your child behaves when food is around. They may cry, throw something or become quiet. Sometimes you’ll need to wait before you try to get them to eat something.

Watch out for what triggers your child’s reaction. You might want to try using a food diary or behaviour diary.

Learning to spot the warning signs over time will help you think about how to take the pressure off.

It can help to adapt your mealtimes or what you offer your child to allow them to feel relaxed. You could:

• start by putting a small amount of food on their plate and adding more if that goes well
• look at their environment, what makes them stressed and what relaxes them
• put a different food nearby and let them see you eat and enjoy it, without forcing them to have it
• make sure food isn’t touching other food on the plate or use a separate plate for new foods (if this is an issue for your child)
• allow your child to sit somewhere other than the table or in another room, if this is what they’d like
• let them pick up food with their fingers if they want to, then introduce a fork
• do activities with your child where they touch the food but don’t eat it, to get used to having it on their hands
• introduce any changes to their routine slowly

It may feel impossible to introduce new foods and you might worry about your child’s health. Try to be patient and remember that it may take time for them to feel more comfortable.

Be aware of timings and what state your child is in when you’re asking them to eat. It’s OK to change your routine or where you eat if it helps your child to try more food. Don’t worry if something doesn’t go well. Try again the next day.

If you can, avoid putting pressure on them. They may pick up on any anxious feelings you have and be less likely to eat.

If your child is avoiding eating or limiting the amount they eat, you might worry that they have an eating disorder. Arfid is a disorder where someone avoids eating, not because of concerns about their weight or appearance, but because of:

• sensory aversions to certain foods
• a lack of interest in eating
• not recognising when they are hungry
• fear of what might happen if they eat certain foods (like being sick)

Anyone can develop Arfid, but it is more common in neurodivergent people with sensory issues and anxiety disorders.

The eating disorder charity, Beat, has more information about Arfid.

If you’re worried about your child’s eating habits, speak to your GP or health visitor.

They can refer you to a dietician, who should be able to assess and treat dietary issues.

Beat

Advice and support with eating disorders.

Beat website

Phone helplines in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Open 3pm-8m Monday to Friday.

Beat helplines for eating disorders

Page last reviewed: May 2025
Next review due: May 2028