What should I be aware of when trying new foods?
Am I ready to change my eating patterns?
How can I eat with other people?
Food can come with all sorts of challenges - sensory issues, social pressure, loss of control - and so making choices about what foods to eat, and coping with mealtimes can be stressful - especially when other people are involved.
If you are neurodivergent and looking to change your relationship with food, this interactive, accessible guide is the perfect companion. You might stick to the same 'safe' foods all the time, be attached to specific mealtime rituals, or struggle to know whether you are hungry or full. This guide will help you recognise the signs of avoidant eating, cope with food related anxieties and manage sensory overload, as well as the particular social stresses of communal eating.
With top tips, a progress tracker, quizzes and worksheets, this is an engaging and informative resource for teens and parents alike.
Dr Elizabeth Shea is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has worked with autistic and neurodivergent individuals with eating challenges for 25 years. She specialises in the understanding and management of Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Pica (eating of non-foods) and Rumination Disorder. Dr Shea has completed research in these areas, has extensive clinical expertise, delivers training across the UK and Ireland and has written two commissioned books. Her work has also featured several times on the BBC and ITV. Dr Shea has held several senior NHS positions and regularly works with statutory, voluntary and community sector enterprises including as Advisor to the National Autistic Society (NAS).