In this week’s episode of The Autism Mums Podcast, we talk openly about what happens when eating stops feeling simple and starts feeling scary. We unpack ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and explore how it differs from 'picky eating, sharing our real-life experiences.

• Identical packaging and familiar brands can build trust.
• Safe foods can be very limited, for some children under 10 items
• When anxiety spikes with transitions like back-to-school often shrink food choices.
• “They’ll eat if they’re hungry” advice can escalate fear and refusal.
• Texture, temperature, smell, colour and broken food can be deal-breakers.
• We've found reintroducing once-safe foods during calm periods and follow the child’s curiosity can sometimes be successful

BEAT Eating Disorders

ARFID Awareness UK

National Autistic Society

Website – https://theautismmums.com/

Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theautismmums

Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@theautismmums

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theautismmums

Victoria Bennion:

Hello and welcome back to the Autism Moms podcast. Today we're talking about

something that many families quietly battle with every day. When eating stops

feeling simple and starts feeling scary. You'll hear us mention ARFID quite a

lot.

Natalie Tealdi: ARFID

is avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, which is more commonly known as

ARFID. It's a condition characterized by , the person avoiding certain foods or

types of foods having restricted intake in terms of overall amount eaten or

both?

Any anyone of any age can have a i. It occurs in children,

teenagers, and adults. Although people with ARFID may lose weight or have low

weight, this is not a criteria for ARFID. It can occur at any weight and varies

in different people.

Victoria Bennion: If

you are wondering, is this just picky eating? We'll talk about a few signposts

that could indicate it may be more. We'll share our family's [00:01:00] experiences and the ways we found to

support our children. As always, we are here to share our own experiences in

the hope that they may be useful.

Not to diagnose. If anything you hear raises concerns, do speak

with your GP or a qualified clinician.

Natalie Tealdi: So

Victoria, I think you have the best knowledge out of both of us on this one. Do

you wanna talk a bit about your

experiences?

Victoria Bennion:

Yeah. I can talk about our experiences. So my son doesn't have a diagnosis of a

ARFID, but in his autism diagnosis, he's noted as having ARFID behaviors. This

was explained to me as the reason was there very strict criteria that a child

had to meet to

In this week’s episode of The Autism Mums Podcast, we’re talking about the UK Government's proposed SEND reforms and what they might mean for families like ours.

Understanding EHCPs: An EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) is a legal document that outlines a child's special educational needs and the necessary support for their educational journey.

Rising Demand: The number of EHCPs has significantly increased, with 638,745 in place as of January 2025, reflecting a 10.8% rise from the previous year, highlighting the growing demand for support.

Concerns About Reforms: There is considerable concern that the upcoming SEND reforms may reduce support rather than improve the system, especially given the government’s acknowledgment that local authorities are struggling to meet demand.

Legal Protections: Many families fear that proposed changes could eliminate essential legal protections currently provided by EHCPs, which are crucial for ensuring children receive the support they need.

Impact of Delays: Families often experience delays in securing EHCPs, with only 46.4% of new plans issued within the statutory timeframe of 20 weeks, leading to unmet educational needs.

Emotional Toll on Families: The process of securing an EHCP can be overwhelming, contributing to stress and burnout for families, who often feel they are fighting an uphill battle for their children's rights.

Consequences of Exclusion: Statistics indicate that permanent exclusions from schools have risen by 39%, disproportionately affecting children with SEND and leading to significant emotional and academic consequences.

Teacher Training Needs: Many teachers report a lack of adequate training to support children with SEND, impacting classroom management and the overall learning environment.

Investment in Support: Investing in early support and adequate resources for both children and educators is essential for fostering a productive and inclusive educational environment.

Call to Action: Parents and carers are encouraged to advocate for their children's needs by engaging with local MPs, participating in consultations, and joining community efforts like the Fight for Ordinary SEND Rally to ensure their voices are heard.

Website – https://theautismmums.com/

Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theautismmums

Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@theautismmums

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theautismmums

Victoria Bennion: [00:00:00] Today

we're talking about a topic that's been on many parents' minds, the

UK government's proposed send reforms, and what they might mean

for families like ours.

Natalie Tealdi: To start things off, let's define what an EHCP is

and why it matters. An EHCP or Education, health and Care plan is a

legal document that outlines a child's special educational needs and

the support that they must receive at school and beyond.

Victoria

Bennion: Yeah. The thing is that these plans are essential

because they ensure that children receive the necessary support to

thrive. However, the possibility of eh HCPs being scrapped has like

understandably...

In this week’s episode of The Autism Mums Podcast, we’re talking about the big transition back to school after the summer holidays.

• Early signs of school anxiety often show up in unexpected ways, like food refusal or “I’m not going back” language.
• Preparation can be supportive—but too much talk or change too far in advance can fuel anxiety instead.
• Creating “worry boundaries” helps keep August feeling like summer rather than weeks of dread.
• New timetables, new staff, and classroom changes can be huge triggers—meet-and-greets and phased starts make a difference.
• Reduced demands can ease pressure, but they need to be handled carefully so they don’t harden into new rigid routines.
• Safe foods and small wins (like trips to McDonald’s) can tide children over through anxiety spikes.
• Parents need realistic self-care—short breaks, slower mornings, or supportive rituals—to stay resilient.
• Trust and reassurance are more powerful than pressure: children need to know they won’t be forced into situations they can’t cope with.

Victoria talked about her experience with Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping) for anxiety with her client, psychotherapist and Founding EFT Master Carol Look. You can learn more about Carol's work at www.carollook.com

This week we’re so grateful to share a message from Kirsty, one of our listeners:

“...I just wanted you both to know you’ve become a lifeline to me with tips that actually work. Please keep going ladies! One not-so-stressed-out mom thanks to you both. Thank you for being open, honest and willing to share. It makes the world of difference to know we aren’t alone.”

Warmest wishes,

Kirsty & T 💛

Website – https://theautismmums.com/

Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theautismmums

Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@theautismmums

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theautismmums

[00:00:00] Hello and welcome to

the Autism Mums podcast. I'm Victoria. And I'm Natalie. We are two sisters

raising autistic children who know the joy, the challenges, and the everyday

moments. This is a supportive space for honest conversations, practical tips,

shared strength and expert advice. Whether you are celebrating a win, surviving

a meltdown, or just trying to make it through the day, we are right here with

you.

Join us as we share the ups, the downs, and everything in

between parenting autistic children.

Victoria Bennion:

Welcome back to the Autism Moms Podcast. In today's episode, we're talking about the transition back to school after the summer holidays.

Natalie Tealdi:

But before we get started, we just want to share a lovely letter we had from our listener, Kirsty, with her permission. Messages like this remind us why these conversations are so important. Here's what Kirsty wrote:

‘Firstly, thank you so much for doing this podcast! I find it incredibly easy to listen to, full of practical tips to help my child and very informative. While we don't have an official diagnosis yet, my three-year-old son ticks many of the ASD boxes as well as having a bit of a PDA spiky profile. I knew something wasn’t quite right when he was...