Nourishing Neurodivergent Kids - Cubbiehouse Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics

Eating can be surprisingly challenging for many neurodivergent children and teenagers, and the reasons often go far deeper than “picky eating”. Sensory sensitivities, interoception differences, anxiety around food, behavioural rigidity, appetite changes linked to medication, difficulty eating at school, and emerging body image concerns can all shape how a child relates to food. When typical strategies don’t work, parents may feel confused, stressed or worried about their child’s growth, nutrition and wellbeing.

This workshop offers a compassionate, practical and neurodiversity affirming approach to understanding these challenges. Together, we’ll explore how to support eating in a way that reduces pressure, builds safety, and strengthens a child’s relationship with food and their body.

In this 90 minute workshop we’ll explore:

• Why eating differences are so common in neurodivergent children, beyond the idea of “fussiness”

• How sensory sensitivities influence food choices, appetite and comfort with eating

• Interoception, and why hunger and fullness cues may be unreliable or difficult for ND kids to interpret

• How ADHD and anxiety medications affect appetite, and practical ways to manage mealtimes when hunger is reduced

• What to do when a child will only eat certain or highly processed foods

• Executive functioning challenges and how to make meals more predictable, achievable and less overwhelming

• Why many neurodivergent children barely eat at school, and practical strategies to support better eating during the school day

• How pressure, food rules and expectations can unintentionally make eating harder

• Understanding body image concerns in neurodivergent children and teens, and why they face an increased risk of disordered eating and eating disorders

• How to support a positive relationship with food and body, even when eating is limited or challenging

• Practical tools and everyday adjustments to reduce conflict, increase regulation and make mealtimes feel safer and calmer for the whole family

  
  

You’ll leave with clarity, reassurance and realistic strategies that honour your child’s unique needs. The goal is not to push or fix, but to understand and support, helping your child feel safe, seen and nourished in their eating journey.

Equity-Based Ticketing Policy for Workshop:

At The Food Tree, we believe in making our workshops accessible to everyone while also ensuring that those who have the means to pay more can support those with less financial flexibility. To achieve this, we are offering a tiered ticketing system that allows participants to select a pricing tier based on their financial situation and recent holiday experiences.

Please select the tier that best reflects your current circumstances:

Tier 1: Overseas Holiday Pricing

For individuals or families who have taken or are planning to take an overseas holiday this year. By choosing Tier 1, you are helping to subsidise the costs for those who are in less financially stable situations. Your support ensures that more families can access this important workshop.

Tier 2: Domestic Holiday Pricing

For individuals or families who have taken or are planning a holiday within their home country this year. This mid-tier option reflects moderate financial flexibility while still ensuring the workshop remains affordable for those who might need extra support.

Tier 3: No Holiday Pricing

For individuals or families who have not been able to take a holiday this year, either domestically or internationally, due to financial constraints. We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to attend, regardless of their financial situation. This lower-cost ticket is designed to keep the workshop accessible for those with limited financial resources.

About Rachael

Rachael is a Registered Dietitian with over 21 years of experience in paediatric nutrition. She specialises in supporting neurodivergent children and families, particularly those with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and selective eating challenges.

Rachael is New Zealand’s only dietitian trained by the internationally renowned Ellyn Satter Institute, bringing unique expertise in responsive feeding therapy. Her practice is firmly grounded in neurodiversity affirming principles, meeting children where they are rather than doing something to them. She works in partnership with families to help children develop a positive relationship with food and their bodies.

Alongside specialist feeding therapy training, Rachael has extensive experience in mindfulness based interventions, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), neurodiversity affirming approaches to nutrition and trauma informed care. This allows her to offer holistic, compassionate support tailored to each child’s needs.

She supports families with the full spectrum of paediatric nutrition needs, including

• Food allergies and intolerances

• Growth and developmental concerns

• Constipation and gastrointestinal challenges

• Appetite and weight changes linked to ADHD medication

• Body image, eating behaviours and mealtime stress

At the heart of Rachael’s work is the belief that every child deserves to feel safe, supported and empowered in their eating journey.