What is ARFID?
If you’re noticing that you or your child feels anxious around food or has a very limited diet due to sensory reasons, it might be ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder).
ARFID is one of the most recently identified eating disorders. We have a blog introducing what ARFID is.
We have also spoken about the different subtypes on our website.
What to Do If I Think My Child Has ARFID?
If you suspect your child may have ARFID, the first step is to consult with your GP/ family doctor, in order to ensure that there are no current risks to their health, and to refer you to local services.
Services for ARFID are often very limited or have long waiting lists. Having a consultation with a specialist dietitian is a good place to get help a bit faster.
An ARFID dietitian can assess your child’s nutritional needs, evaluate their current diet, and create a personalised plan to address their unique challenges. Establishing a relationship with an experienced professional who can help is vital for managing ARFID.
Techniques to Support Dietary Change
Graded Exposure
Firstly, an effective technique in ARFID recovery is graded exposure, a systematic approach to introducing new foods in a gradual and controlled manner. One way of graded exposure is food play. Getting your child comfortable with touching and being around the food can help reduce anxiety of the food. Smelling, licking, and even chewing and spitting the food out are great signs of progress.
Food Chaining
Secondly, food chaining is another method of exposure. It involves expanding food choices by taking steps from safe foods to very similar foods and then steps outwards to newer foods. This is a method we may need to take care with to prevent safe foods becoming unsafe.
Both techniques aim to make the process of incorporating new foods less overwhelming and anxiety-inducing for the child.
Here is a photo example of food chaining from Jenny Freidman
Keeping Calm and Avoiding Punishments or Rewards for Eating
Maintaining a calm environment during meals is crucial. Applying punishments or rewards for eating can increase stress and impact the child’s relationship with food. Instead, focus on creating a positive and supportive atmosphere. Emphasise nourishment and your child’s autonomy in their food choices.
Providing Safe Foods for Nourishment
Recognise the importance of safe foods – those that your child is comfortable with and routinely eats. Always ensure that the safe foods are available and are served at mealtimes. It can be worrying if your child only has a small number of safe foods or they are all in the same food group. However, the most important thing is that get enough calories for growth. A dietitian can support you to ensure they are meeting their nutritional needs.
Find out more
Connect with other parents facing similar challenges by joining support groups, reading books and online modules to gain more insights into the disorder and its management.
Support groups:
ARFID Parents Facebook Group
Books:
Online modules and information:
Be body positive– Online module on ARFID for parents and carers
National Autistic Society- information on autism and eating
Summary
In conclusion, supporting a child with ARFID requires a broad, long-term approach that considers both their nutritional needs and mental wellbeing.
Many families find that engaging with ARFID communities to be empowering and supportive. It is often through these communities that families find educational resources and tips.
Remember, patience and understanding play key roles in fostering a healthy relationship with food for your child. With ARFID change can take a very long time but it’s important to continue working on exposure and supporting your child.
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We are here to help
If you need some professional support for your child with ARFID then we can help. We are a team of specialist dietitians in mental health and eating disorders. We would love to support you to be your best and healthiest version, and to meet your personal goals. Send us a message here. Or find out more about us here.
Arrange an appointment
Libby is our specialist ARFID dietitian, who can provide personalised guidance and support to help your little person establish healthy eating patterns and broaden the variety in their diet.
You can request an appointment with Libby here.
