Nutrition and Neurodivergence : some facts
The brain is highly influenced by the foods and nutrients we consume. When the brain does not receive the nutrients it needs, it cannot function optimally. It can also lead to a range of symptoms, including brain fog, fatigue, irritability, and poor concentration. These symptoms tend to have a greater impact on neurodivergent children and adults.
However, nutrition can be a complicated issue for neurodivergent people for many reasons.
Food Sensitivities
Autistic individuals, for example, are often described as picky eaters. This is rarely due to taste preferences but rather hypersensitivities to textures or smells or colours. Limiting their food choices and makes it challenging for them to meet their nutritional needs.These aversions can lead to sensory overload, meltdowns, or event shutdowns if the person is forced to eat.
Anxiety and Control
If they separate foods, eat only certain colours, or engage in food-related rituals, it may be the sign of a deeper anxiety.
Nutrition then becomes a means to manage and control their anxious feelings. Additionally, autistic individuals may have “black-and-white thinking”, which can lead to orthorexia (a fixation on eating only "good" or "healthy" foods while avoiding "bad" ones).
Rigid eating patterns and preferences
Neurodivergent individuals may exhibit rigid or selective eating patterns, preferring a narrow range of foods or specific brands. This can result in a limited variety of nutrients in their diet and make it difficult to achieve a balanced nutritional intake.
Studies estimate that in 2024, 20% of individuals with anorexia were on the autistic spectrum. This is a much higher percentage than in the general population (which is estimated to be between 0.5% and 1.5%).
Safe or Comfort Foods
On the other hand, some neurodivergent people, have "comfort foods", often perceived as reliable and consistent. Those very often taste the same. They are often bland or lacking texture, such as custard, rice cakes, chicken nuggets, biscuits and most processed foods – which have very stable tastes. Often, those patients can eat the same meals for weeks. Furthermore, they sometimes behave in a compulsive way, distressingly overeating. This attitude can be seen as a comfort-seeking behavior, as eating provides them with a sense of security and a way to stay occupied. Eating can help alleviate existential boredom
Difficulty with meal planning and organisation
Executive function difficulties, commonly associated with conditions like ADHD, can affect an individual's ability to plan and organize daily activities, including meal planning and preparation.
This can lead to irregular eating patterns, or skipping meals altogether. This will again affect their energy levels, their mood and their general health (both physical and psychological)
Digestive issues and neurodivergence
Neurodivergent individuals, especially autistic people, more frequently experience associated conditions, such as intolerances, mobility disorders (diarrhea or constipation) as well as either heightened or diminished difficulty perceiving hunger, fullness, or thirst signals. Some of them can forget to eat or drink when others will lack the sensation of satiety.
While some individuals express a lack of interest in eating, food can satisfy a need for novelty or sensory experiences (sour flavors, fizzy drinks, coffee, crunchy textures…).
CONCLUSION
How to manage nutrition for neurodivergent individuals
It's important to recognise that while many neurodivergent children and adults may face difficulties with their nutrition, their experiences can vary greatly between individuals. Understanding and addressing their personal (and therefore very specific) challenges may involve a multidisciplinary approach, including dietitians, therapists, and support groups. Personalised strategies will promote healthy eating habits and address specific needs.
