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Understanding ARFID: My Son Is More Than Just a Fussy Eater
Navigating ARFID: Our Journey Through Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
We’ve all heard about toddler tantrums at the dinner table and kids refusing to eat vegetables. But what do you do when your child’s eating habits go beyond pickiness and turn into something much deeper? This is our journey with ARFID — Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
The Early Signs: More Than Just Pickiness
Every day started the same way: two brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts for breakfast. I knew they were a terrible, sugar-laden breakfast option, but he wouldn’t eat anything else. Was it better to send him to school hungry?
No, he needed something in his system.
While I packed his lunchbox for the day, I used to take a moment to ensure he had enough to get him through six hours of learning to read and write and running around.
The contents were usually a small bag of lolly snakes, a mini Mars bar, a container of cold penne pasta, and a chocolate chip cookie.
I knew the lunchbox would arrive home only missing the cookie, but at least I’d given him options.
