A Neurodivergent-Affirming Approach to Nutrition
The neurodivergent-affirming dietitians at Lutz & Alexander Nutrition Therapy reject pathologizing frameworks that treat neurodivergent eating as a problem to be fixed. Instead, we approach neurodivergent nutrition with curiosity and respect, understanding that many eating differences in neurodivergent individuals serve important regulatory functions, reflect sensory experiences, and deserve to be understood on their own terms before any change is considered.
Our dietitians actively pursue continuing education in neurodivergent-affirming care, and we are committed to ongoing learning in an area where the mainstream dietetics field has historically fallen short. We bring this informed, evolving perspective to every client interaction.
Who We Support
Our neurodivergent-affirming nutrition services are available for:
- Adults, adolescents, and children with autism
- Individuals with ADHD and the unique eating challenges it presents (appetite suppression from medication, impulsivity, executive function barriers to food preparation, restriction, binge eating)
- Individuals with sensory processing disorder and food texture, temperature, or smell sensitivities
- Neurodivergent individuals with ARFID or extreme food selectivity
- Neurodivergent individuals with co-occurring eating disorders
- Parents and caregivers seeking guidance on feeding a neurodivergent child
- Late-diagnosed neurodivergent adults making sense of a lifetime of eating differences
Sensory-Based Food Selectivity
For many sensory-sensitive individuals, food texture, smell, color, or temperature can be intolerable, not “picky eating” that can be overcome with enough exposure, but a real and valid sensory experience. Our dietitians approach sensory-based food selectivity with curiosity and without judgment, working to expand nutritional variety in ways that are safe, comfortable, and paced by the individual.
ADHD and Eating
ADHD profoundly affects eating in ways that are often underappreciated: stimulant medications suppress appetite during the day and may drive increased hunger at night, executive function challenges make eating, meal planning and cooking difficult, and impulsivity can contribute to eating patterns that do not align with hunger and fullness. Our dietitians understand these dynamics and help clients develop realistic, flexible eating strategies that work with their ADHD rather than against it.
Interoception and Hunger/Fullness Cues
Many neurodivergent individuals experience differences in interoceptive awareness, the ability to perceive internal body signals like hunger, fullness, and thirst. Working with a dietitian who understands this means developing strategies for nourishment that do not rely solely on hunger and fullness cues when those cues are unreliable or hard to access.
Neurodivergent-Affirming Care at Lutz & Alexander
We offer in-person appointments across our North Carolina offices, and telehealth sessions throughout NC and OR. We can also work with individuals via telehealth in many other states, depending on each state’s dietetic licensure laws. If you are looking for a dietitian who truly understands your experience, we would love to connect and see if we can support you.
