Let’s explore why standard nutrition advice like “eat less, move more” or “just be consistent” doesn’t work for neurodivergent (ND) individuals (nor really for anyone, truth be told!).

As a registered dietitian who counsels dozens of clients each month in my private practice, I understand that it good nutrition is not just about the food.

In fact, the actual food part of nutrition and eating is barely the tip of the iceberg.

What we choose to eat, how we prepare it, when we eat, how much we eat, who we eat with, and why we eat are influenced by complex cultural, psychological, physiological, family systems, genetic, socioeconomic, and neurobiological factors. It’s also highly influenced by our (highly variable) “capacity;” our energy levels and ability sustain a focus on selecting, preparing and eating nutritious meals (which you can see in the accompanying infographic is not a simple or discrete task!)

Food decisions are never *just* about nutrients or even simple hunger and fullness.

Yet social media and even many in the healthcare industry hand out useless and massively generic nutrition tips like Superman band-aids (cute, but largely ineffective).

So, when people come into my office they are feeling bad: like they are failing something that everyone else understands or that somehow our individual habits should look like everyone else’s.

I spend a lot of time on psycho-education and unraveling eating histories and food beliefs. Modeling self-compassion and trying to reduce the shame, guilt and confusion so many people have (especially women). My goal is to help individuals find ways to eat that work for them. Not for someone else.

I use this infographic a lot to highlight just how complex eating can be, especially for neurodivergent individuals. Because we could all benefit from a bit more self-compassion and a lot more enjoyment in our eating routines.

What do YOU find the most challenging about eating well?