Fussy eating & ADHD +\- ASD - can anyone relate/ help?!

[Dodecahedr0n]

I have ADHD & ASD, I know there is common overlap between the two with some things so I thought I’d post this here. I am an extremely fussy eater. I know the importance of a healthy balanced diet to help regulate your mood/ raise energy levels etc, but, I just hate healthy foods! I really struggle to stomach vegetables, chicken, fish, salad... anything remotely healthy is just urgh. I live off plain and mostly unhealthy things, cereal, breakfast milkshakes, pizza, burgers, a lot of takeaways. I’m an emotional eater too, and a bored eater. I’ve piled on a lot of weight because of it ( 5 stone in 3 years ).

I’m thinking of reaching out for therapy for it. I fear that the sensory processing side of things maybe is the problem (I hate weird textures), coupled with negative childhood dinner time experiences (eg Dad always forced me to finish my plate before getting down even though I hated everything). I fear I probably have a bunch of vitamin deficiencies because of my poor diet and my weight is bothering me now too, it’s getting out of hand and I just feel so unhealthy. I really want to incorporate a healthy diet into my life. But the not liking healthy food thing really gets in the way of me having any kind of sustainable healthy diet. (+ the eating to stimulate myself thing, and emotional eating thing.. it all doesn’t help)

Has anyone experienced anything similar and/or can recommend any help for me?

Thanks!

[Birdwatcher19]

My teenage daughter is similar. She has lots of sensory issues around food and in general, and it’s hard to get her to eat healthy foods that would help with her anxiety. To amp up the challenge level, she recently decided she wanted to be a vegetarian, despite not liking most vegetables or plant-based proteins (forget beans or lentils—major texture issues). She eats very little and is borderline underweight, so I’m planning to consult with a nutritionist to see if we can come up with a healthy, balanced diet based on foods she actually likes. Maybe this is something you could try? Insurance will even cover it for us. Another thought would be to work with an occupational therapist to try to help with some of the sensory processing issues. Good luck!

[Dodecahedr0n in reply to Birdwatcher19]

Thank you 😊 good luck to you and your daughter too!

[humble-rasberry in reply to Birdwatcher19]

This post is fairly old so I apologize for the random reply but I hope things have changed for the better! I saw this reply and wanted to add my two cents for whoever comes across this post in the future since Ive dealt with bad sensory issues and im vegetarian (funny enough the main reason was because i couldnt stand the texture of meat!) Although trader joe’s chickenless orange chicken is… *chefs kiss*

I hated complicated dishes… and i hated super bland things like vegetables.. then i became roommates with the best cook I know and she changed my whole life! I first fell in love with roasted brussel sprouts or asparagus.. throw some garlic powder, salt, and pepper and put em in the oven until theyre nice and crispy. Its like chips but actually healthy!! Of course sometimes textures are still weird but the more i started learning about cooking, specifically how to elevate foods with seasoning or sauces or something, it made a huge difference in my eating habits plus made stuff actually taste good!! Another thing that helped me was starting small with snacks, so i did a lot of cheese + grapes, reesces pieces + apples, trail mix, berries in my yogurt or cereal, and SMOOTHIES are the #1 thing im obsessed with because its so easy to consume. I drink one every morning with orange juice, spinach, peanut butter, protein powder (plant based powder tastes way better imo), yogurt, a banana and frozen fruit and suddenly ive got a full days worth of supplements for breakfast. I usually make enough to last me 2 days. Once you can get into a habit with making certain foods then it becomes easier and youre body starts craving it, sugar is addicting so its hard to ease away from it and processed foods!

Also for vegetarians make sure to be taking B12! And for anyone with ADHD magnesium!!

Goodluck!

[IgnoranceWasNotBliss]

I ate like this for about 15 years! I could eat some semi healthy things as long as it was still take out. Going healthy was extremely difficult for me and a constant struggle. I NEVER had control over my need for take out, sugar, carbs and emotional eating until I was diagnosed and medicated for ADHD. I was prescribe Adderall and it completely took my need for all of that away. But it wasn’t JUST loss of appetite. I starting wanting light and small things like grapes or and apple or small portions of lighter things. It completely recited my issues and one sign to me that I need to adjust my meds is my junk food craving returning. That’s exactly why some medications for ADHD, like Wellbutrin and Vyvanse, are approved for eating disorders. Research on the horizon is looking at developing addiction medication for eating disorders. Use with ADHD, we have addictive personalities. We just do. Our brain is constantly seeking dopamine. I had an addiction (I realize now that I’m medicated) to food, sweets, TV, surfing the internet on my phone, love and more recently, anger! My sister (also ADHD) has different addictions including organization. It’s looks OCD but it’s part of her ADHD addictions. One of my mothers more odd addictions (also ADHD) is needing something to do. Sounds like every ADHD person doesn’t it. Except my mother will intentionally make a mess if she finds herself with nothing to do just to clean it up. She literally can never stop. People can be addicted to anything. Our addictions can be plentiful and hidden! Our ADHD medication stop or slow down our brains need to search for dopamine. If you’re medicated but never felt this effect, perhaps you should try a different medication. Maybe it could have the added benefit of calming you food issues. It certainly did for me.

Hope this helps.

[IgnoranceWasNotBliss in reply to IgnoranceWasNotBliss]

Sorry. This was for Dodecahedr0n

[Dodecahedr0n in reply to IgnoranceWasNotBliss]

Thank you, it’s interesting hearing other people’s experiences!