Practical reflections for parents and professionals on feeding, nutrition, autism and the questions that show up in everyday life.
School
A child may eat comfortably at home, yet leave the same food untouched at school or with relatives. Noise, smells, timing and small changes in the food all come to the table, and being able to eat a food is different from eating it everywhere.
Read Article: My Child Eats Well… Just Not Everywhere (opens LinkedIn in a new tab)
Professional practice
A child doesn't experience life in departments. Nutrition, hydration, gut comfort and feeding experiences shape how a child feels at school and at home, so they belong in the wider conversation alongside therapy, education and medical support.
Read Article: Autism Nutrition Shouldn't Sit in a Silo (opens LinkedIn in a new tab)
Nutrition
A child doesn't have to be a selective eater to have nutrition needs. Food variety and nutritional adequacy are not the same thing, so an assessment also looks at growth, bowel habits, fluids, key nutrients and whether supplements are needed.
Read Article: Autism Nutrition Isn't Only About Picky Eating (opens LinkedIn in a new tab)
Professional practice
A plate shows what a child is eating, but not always why those are the only foods that feel manageable. Working with neurodivergent children and raising my autistic daughter taught me to look at the child first, and to notice quieter progress.
Professional practice
Instead of asking how to get a child to eat, I now begin with what might be making eating feel difficult, unpredictable or unsafe. That one shift opens a wider conversation about sensory processing, anxiety, routine and the child's experience.
Selective eating
When a child suddenly refuses a food they once loved, it can feel confusing. Often something has changed: the brand, the packaging, the temperature or the child's own sensory needs. Understanding what changed helps parents respond calmly, without pressure.
Read Article: My Child Used to Eat It… Now They Won't (opens LinkedIn in a new tab)
Selective eating
Pressure around food usually begins with love, not control. But for many autistic children, eating is a whole sensory experience, and pressure tends to raise anxiety rather than appetite. Small shifts toward safety and predictability can change mealtimes for everyone.
Selective eating
Many autistic children are not refusing food to be difficult. Sensory differences, anxiety, a need for predictability and feelings of safety all shape eating, and pressure often makes mealtimes harder. Understanding what sits beneath food refusal is where progress begins.
Read Article: Why Autism Feeding Is About More Than Food (opens LinkedIn in a new tab)
Joyce shares new articles on autism feeding and nutrition on LinkedIn first.