The Neurodiverging Podcast Making food easier: Meal planning, feeding a group, feeding yourself, and supporting neurodivergent eaters
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Sep 25, 2025 Dr. Anne Elrod Whitney, a clinician and educator focused on neurodivergent individuals, joins the discussion to unpack the challenges of meal planning. They explore sensory issues and executive function hurdles, shedding light on why mealtimes can feel overwhelming. Anne shares insights from a community event about dinner fatigue and emotional burdens of feeding. Practical strategies arise, including visual schedules and division of responsibility in feeding, all aimed at making meals less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone.
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Two Core Barriers To Eating Regularly
- Sensory sensitivity and executive dysfunction are the two main obstacles to predictable eating for many neurodivergent people.
- Plan for "safe" foods and simplify planning to reduce sensory overload and cognitive load.
Food Carries Moral Weight
- Food triggers moral and emotional responses; shame and family history shape choices.
- Recognize those feelings separately from practical meal planning to reduce guilt and conflict.
Use Division Of Responsibility
- Apply Ellen Satter's division of responsibility: caregiver chooses what and when, the child chooses whether and how much to eat.
- For neurodivergent kids, offer two safe foods plus one new item and encourage interaction with the new food.