ARFID: Understanding More Than "Picky Eating" | Featuring Lisa McGlothlin, MS, RD

In this episode of Empowering Exceptional Minds, I’m joined by Lisa McGlothlin, MS, RD, to explore Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)—an eating disorder that goes far beyond typical picky eating.

Lisa brings years of experience helping children, teens, and families navigate ARFID with compassion and evidence-based care. Together, we discuss how sensory differences, anxiety, and neurodivergence can influence eating and why understanding the "why" behind food avoidance is so important.

In this episode, we discuss:
🍽️ What ARFID is and how it differs from typical picky eating
🧠 The connection between ARFID, anxiety, sensory processing, ADHD, autism, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
👧 Common signs and symptoms in children and teens
💙 Practical, compassionate strategies to support children with ARFID
👨‍⚕️ When it's time to seek professional help and build a multidisciplinary support team

Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or healthcare provider, this conversation offers practical strategies and evidence-based insights to better understand and support individuals with ARFID.

Learn more about Lisa McGlothlin and her work at https://lisamcgnutrition.com/.

🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Empowering Exceptional Minds for more conversations on neurodiversity, executive function, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, autism, OCD, PDA, anxiety, and learning differences.

#ARFID #FeedingDisorders #PickyEating #ADHD #Autism #OCD #PDA #SensoryProcessing #Neurodiversity #EducationalTherapy #MentalHealth #Parenting #OccupationalTherapy #Nutrition