Hey Team!
On today's episode, we're breaking down one of the most frustratingly simple yet hard ADHD challenges, eating, because come on, we have to do it every day, but also, we have to do it everyday. We've got a returning guest, Jackie Silver, a Registered Dietitian with a Masters of Health Science in Nutrition Communications. She's built her practice, Accessible Wellness, around making food and nourishment doable, even on the days when executive function is nowhere to be found.
In our conversation, we dig into why eating with ADHD can be so difficult, from executive dysfunction to low appetite, forgotten meals, and food aversions. We also explore practical strategies for eating, managing dopamine-seeking snacking, handling picky eating, and finding low-effort meals that still meet at least some of those nutritional requirements. Plus, we talk shame, sensory preferences, and how to stop making mealtimes harder than they need to be.
Website: https://jackiesilvernutrition.com/
Free Download "Neurodivergent Grab & Go Foods List": https://jackiesilvernutrition.com/grab-and-go-foods-list/
Free 15-minute Discovery Call Bookings: https://l.bttr.to/htZ1u
Blog: https://jackiesilvernutrition.com/blog/
Meal Prep Made Easy Course: https://jackiesilvernutrition.com/meal-prep-made-easy/
If you'd like to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at HackingYourADHD.com/227
This Episode's Top Tips
1. When needed, you can try out mechanical eating, where you are eating on a schedule, regardless of hunger cues, to compensate for poor interoception or appetite suppression from meds.
2. Try creating a grab-and-go food list. Having a list of foods that are easy to prep, safe to eat, and require minimal effort (like string cheese, baby carrots, or pre-cooked rice packs) can help reduce friction when deciding what to eat.
3. Work on acknowledging emotional and sensory triggers for eating. Sometimes we crave specific foods because of their texture, taste, or comfort, rather than hunger. Recognizing the why behind the urge can help you make more aligned choices, and remember it's okay to fill those other needs as well.
4. Give yourself permission to eat without shame. There's nothing wrong with sticking with your safe foods when you need them. The idea that adults should eat a certain way can be unhelpful and ableist. Focus on doing what works best for you.