Does My Child Have ARFID?

By Naturopath & Homepath, Lainie McTackett

If your child only eats a small number of foods, usually less than 20 different foods, refuses most meals, or feels overwhelmed by new foods, you may have heard the term ARFID.

ARFID stands for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. While the name sounds clinical, the experience for many families is simple but stressful: a child who feels genuinely unable to eat many foods.

This guide explains ARFID in clear, simple language and introduces a helpful strategy called food chaining that many feeding therapists and naturopaths use to slowly expand a child’s diet.

Firstly what is ARFID?

Children with ARFID are not being “fussy” or difficult. Their brains and nervous systems often experience food very differently.

Some common reasons children avoid foods include:

• Sensory sensitivities – textures, smells, colours, or temperatures feel overwhelming
• Fear – worry about choking, gagging, vomiting, or stomach pain
• Low interest in food – they simply don’t feel hungry very often
• Past bad experiences – choking, reflux, or illness linked to food

Because of this, many children rely on a small number of “safe foods.”

Safe foods feel predictable. They taste the same, look the same, and feel the same every time, and they dont cause discomfort.

Examples might be foods like:

plain crackers
a specific brand of chicken nuggets
white bread
plain pasta
yoghurt
chips

Trying a completely new food can feel overwhelming to their nervous system.

What is Food Chaining?

Food chaining is a gentle way to help children try new foods without jumping too far outside their comfort zone.

Instead of asking a child to try something totally different, we make tiny changes from a food they already feel safe eating.

Think of it like stepping stones rather than a giant leap.

Each new food is very similar to the previous one.

Example of Food Chaining

If a child likes plain potato chips, the chain might look like this:

Plain potato chips
Slightly thicker potato chips
Baked potato chips
Potato wedges
Roasted potatoes
Mashed potatoes

Each step changes just one small thing, like texture or cooking method.

This helps the brain learn that new foods can still be safe.

Another Example

If a child eats chicken nuggets, the chain could be:

Chicken nuggets (their preferred brand)
A different brand of nuggets
Homemade nuggets
Chicken tenders
Small pieces of grilled chicken

The goal is slow exposure, not forcing a child to eat something they aren’t ready for.

Important Things for Parents to Remember

1. Pressure makes things harder

Children with ARFID often feel a lot of anxiety around food. Pressure like “just take one bite” can make their brain feel even less safe.

Instead, focus on curiosity and exposure. These children will not, "eat anything if they get hungry enough". ITs not how they work.

Touching, smelling, or licking a food is still progress and should be acknowledged.

2. Progress can be slow

Trying one new food every few months can actually be a big win.

Small steps matter.

3. Safe foods are important

Safe foods help children feel secure at meals. Removing them suddenly can increase food anxiety.

It’s okay for safe foods to stay while you slowly add new ones. The safe food should take up the largest space on the plate, and the new food should be very small.

4. Repetition helps

Children may need to see a food 10–20 times before they feel ready to try it.

That’s normal.

How Naturopathic Support Can Help

A naturopathic approach focuses on supporting the whole child.

This may include:

• checking for nutrient gaps (like iron, zinc, magnesium or omega-3)
• supporting digestion if stomach pain or reflux has been an issue
• reducing mealtime stress and sensory overload
• helping families introduce food chaining in a gentle way