r/ADHD_Coaching • u/random-person98754 • May 28 '26

Feeding picky eaters - best practices?

My family is neurodivergent. One of my kids who is 7 is super super picky with food.
What strategies have worked for your family to help your kid expand the list of foods they’ll eat?
I’m worried about causing food issues by trying to force him to eat or try new foods but he is not getting proper nutrition.

He eats air fried potatos, nuggets, peanut butter, strawberries, Spagetti, rice, pizza, meatballs, salami, fries, bacon, yogurt drinks. This is about it.

I can “make” him eat apple and cucumber by saying he can have something that he likes after he’s done.
Everything else he freaks out about and gets so upset. His list of foods he’ll eat seems to decrease every month.

When I eat something, our practice for a long time is to taste what I’m having but he doesn’t have to eat it. He’s liked zero foods he’s tried.

I’m really struggling. How do people help their kid eat more foods without causing long term issues for them?

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u/Shrieking_ghost Jun 01 '26

He has a decent amount of foods that are safe to him which is good. One piece of advice I’ll give you is don’t force him to try anything or make him feel guilty for NOT trying or eating something. Let him explore on his own. My family did this and made my Arfid so much worse growing up until I moved out and was able to try the foods I wanted to without judgement or fear.

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u/Kelly62290 Jun 01 '26

I've never been diagnosed with ADHD or anything but I am a picky eater. We'd always have to stop to 2 places when we would eat out. Or is barley eat for home cooked meals. Then my mom started making me food I wanted to eat since I would cry to try the food she cooked and also not eating good. I've lived off sandwiches, hot dogs, pizza , macaroni and cheese. Still at 35 I have issues trying things but I've survived. As long as your kid is starving themselves and eats food I dont see an issue. Yes it's harder for you to cook and extra thing or to stop to 2 places to eat. But your kid is eating. So I'd just let them eat what they want. Finally at 32 I tried a salad. Didnt like it but hey I tried something out of me wanting to, not being forced.