ARFID isn’t just about "picky eating." But avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder is far more complex—and understanding it requires us to look beyond rigid diagnostic criteria and one-size-fits-all approaches to treatment.

In this episode, we're joined by Kevin Green for a conversation about ARFID, neurodivergence, queerness, harm reduction, food access, and the limitations of traditional eating disorder treatment. We explore what ARFID can look like, why sensory needs and food preferences deserve to be taken seriously, and how clinicians and caregivers can support people without turning treatment into another experience of lost autonomy.

We yap about food hierarchies, trauma-informed care, the limitations of the DSM, and why understanding someone as an intersectional human being—not simply a diagnosis—matters.

Things We Yap About:

• What ARFID is and how it differs from "picky eating"
• The different presentations of ARFID
• The relationship between ARFID and neurodivergence
• How trauma and lived experience can influence eating
• Why the DSM doesn't always capture the full picture
• ARFID and the intersection of queerness and neurodivergence
• The limitations of traditional eating disorder treatment models
• Harm reduction approaches to eating disorder recovery
• Food hierarchies and the moralization of food
• Supporting autonomy and self-advocacy
• Practical ways to make eating more accessible
• Food safety and access for marginalized communities
• Trauma-informed and noncarceral approaches to care

Resources & Mentions:

• ENOF Powder: https://simplyenof.com/ / use code kevin15 for 15% off your order
• Finch App: https://finchcare.com/
• Hurts So Good: The Science and Culture of Pain on Purpose by Leigh Cowart
• RDs for Neurodiversity: https://www.rdsforneurodiversity.com/
• Harm Reduction Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-9-harm-reduction-in-ed-care-controversial-or-compassionate/id1830467596?i=1000727474010

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