AFRID – Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

AFRID in children is not “picky” or “fussy” eating. It is a severe eating disorder with real physical and emotional consequences, and it needs to be taken very seriously.

Children with AFRID aren’t choosing to be difficult, and they aren’t trying to challenge you as a parent. Often, they feel overwhelmed, anxious, or even afraid around food in ways that can be hard to see from the outside. What might look like stubbornness is usually distress.

As parents, it can be exhausting and worrying, especially when you just want your child to be healthy and nourished. It’s okay to feel frustrated or unsure at times—you’re doing your best in a situation that isn’t simple.

With the right understanding, patience, and support, children with AFRID can make progress. Gentle encouragement, not pressure, and seeking help from professionals who understand this condition can make a meaningful difference. You are not alone in this, and neither is your child.

My youngest has struggled with food since she was a toddler. I have tried to offer her so much variety of foods and still she will cry and refuse to eat completely if I put anything in front of her she doesn’t know. She will only eat certain foods and certain brands of that food, so eating out is never easy and weekly dinners are always the same, in the same routine. The worry and fear that she isn’t getting what she needs is constant. I tried so many vitamins but she won’t eat the gummies due to texture, she can taste the drops and won’t touch the syrup. Then I found two vitamins that work (depending on prices you can manage)

Nutrigen Vitamin Sprinkles are colourless, odourless, tasteless and don’t change the colour or texture of food. These are the cheaper option ranging from £8.00 on Tik Tok to £12.00 on Amazon. The link to these can be found on my site, here: https://ayoudhd.com/products-that-help-us/

EllaOla are the more expensive option and have extra vitamins and minerals and 15 blended vegetables and fruits. These are £38.00 and can be set up as a monthly subscription to automatically get shipped out. You can research for yourselves and find the product here: https://ellaola.com/products/kids-essential-multivitamin?variant=44959677251829&selling_plan=4822663413