Is it picky eating, or something more?
Most children go through picky phases. For some, the list of foods keeps shrinking and mealtimes get harder. If that sounds familiar, you don't have to wait to get help.
Is this the right programme for me? →
Proud partners of the 
Does any of this sound familiar?
Honestly, this is the best help I've had in four years, and I'm so grateful.
The questions and the modules were very much our situation, and reflected the combination of the autism, the ADHD, the mental health, as well as a fear issue around food.
She burst into tears before the party and said, ‘I just want to go to a party and now I can have some food there that everyone else is eating.’ Before, she'd have just shut down. Now it's given me that I understand what it is that she's feeling - that's been huge for us.
It's so good that something is happening like this for families who've got kids who have ARFID, because most people look at you like, ‘what are you talking about, you've just got a picky eater.’ It's so difficult.
Most picky eating is a phase
It's common in toddlers and younger children as they become more independent and cautious about new foods. A child may:
Children with typical picky eating usually keep growing and developing as expected.
For some children, though, eating gets narrower instead of wider, and starts to affect much more than mealtimes.
When it might be more than picky eating
Signs to look out for, from our specialist paediatric dietitian.
Your child eats only a small number of foods, avoids whole food groups, or keeps dropping foods without replacing them.
The sight, smell, taste or texture of certain foods causes real distress, gagging or anxiety.
Only particular brands, packaging, shapes or ways of cooking will do. A small change can make a familiar food unacceptable.
Your child would rather miss a meal or stay hungry than eat something outside their preferred foods.
Eating at school, in restaurants, at birthday parties or with friends becomes stressful or hard to manage.
Restricted eating starts to affect your child's energy, growth or the nutrients they need.
There's no magic number of foods. What matters is how restricted eating has become, and the impact on your child's health, wellbeing and everyday life. A child doesn't have to be underweight to need support.
Sometimes, there's a name for it
When picky eating becomes this restrictive, clinicians may call it ARFID: avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. It's a recognised condition, usually driven by sensory sensitivity, fear after a bad experience like choking or vomiting, or little interest in food.
It isn't stubbornness, and it isn't caused by parenting. For some children, unfamiliar food feels genuinely overwhelming.
You don't need a diagnosis, or to wait until your child loses weight. If eating is getting narrower, mealtimes are consistently distressing, or food is affecting family life, early support makes a real difference. Our programme supports children with suspected or diagnosed ARFID, and it's the same programme NHS services commission from us.
A lot of people don't understand and just think she's fussy because she wants attention.
What you'll have in your pocket
Built by the clinicians who treat this, and the families who live it. It doesn't open by telling you what to do. It starts by working out what's actually driving your child's avoidance, then builds everything else around that answer.
Needs-based assessment
Pinpoints what drives avoidance — sensory, fear, low interest, or a mix of all three.
Nutritional picture
Nutritional profile helping you understand any gaps to guide which foods to introduce.
Food-exposure engine
Playful experiments that adapt to your family's pace, week by week.
10 week programme
Week by week new modules helping you gain new skills and knowledge to support your child.
A few of the things you'll find inside. Behind them sit dozens of modules and videos from families who’ve been there, and other tools to help you and your child.
Built around your child. Led by you.
A carer-led programme — your child doesn't need to sign up. A 10-week core that then moves at your pace.
A needs-based assessment first
A structured assessment used by ARFID clinicians pinpoints what's behind your child's eating — sensory, fear, low interest, or a mix.
A food-exposure engine, at your child's pace
Playful, game-like food experiments matched to your child's profile. Progress is celebrated; pressure is banned. A nutrition picture updates as new foods come in.
Adapted for autism and ADHD
Designed with neurodevelopmental profiles in mind from the beginning — because strategies that work for a neurotypical child can backfire for an autistic one.
Carer skills throughout
The New Maudsley approach, translated for everyday mealtimes: lowering anxiety, avoiding the pressure trap, and looking after your own reserves too.
What progress looks like
Not a clean plate. Not overnight. Progress looks like a new food touched, then licked, then tried. A calmer table. A birthday party attended. A child who trusts that no one will push.
The aim isn't simply more foods. It's a child who feels safe, confident and comfortable around food.
The app has helped in every aspect of life. You can focus on the app together during parts of the week that best fit in with his snack and meal routines.
— Mum of an autistic son with ARFID
If it feels like more than a phase, trust that. There's help.
Your child's world can get wider. Small steps, together.
Is this right for me?
What are you facing right now?
This programme is not yet available to buy.
Still unsure? Book a free call and we'll help you choose.
Rethinking the ARFID care model
Early findings and commissioning implications for NHS children and young people's services.