NEURODIVERGENT NUTRITION - BONDI BEACH & TELEHEALTH
Neuro-informed Nutrition For ASD & ADHD
Nutrition support that respects how your child's brain is wired - not one that tries to work around it.
Eating challenges in neurodivergent children are extremely common - and almost never about willpower, preference or parenting. We understand the sensory, behavioural and cognitive factors that shape how neurodivergent children relate to food, and we build every plan around them.
APD Accredited Dietitian
NDIS Registered Provider
ANZ Eating Disorders Affiliated
★★★★★ 5-Star Google Reviews
In-person Bondi Beach + Telehealth Australia-wide
DOES ANY OF THIS RING TRUE?
It's Not A Parenting Problem. It's A Sensory One.
Neurodivergent children experience food through a completely different sensory lens. If your family's mealtime experience looks anything like this, you're in the right place.
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Your child melts down over textures, smells, temperatures or mixed foods on the plate
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They insist on the same brand, the same plate, the same routine - every single time
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You've been told your child is "just fussy" when you know it goes much deeper than that
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Your ADHD child forgets to eat all day, then crashes - and the cycle keeps repeating
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Your child struggles to eat at school, parties or anywhere outside the home
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Transitions, unexpected changes or new foods trigger significant distress
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As a neurodivergent adult, your eating patterns feel chaotic, inconsistent or hard to manage
WHY IT MATTERS
Neurodivergent Eating Isn't Fussy Eating. It Needs A Different Approach.
For children with ASD or ADHD, eating challenges are often rooted in sensory processing differences, interoception difficulties and demand avoidance - not behaviour. Understanding the neuroscience behind these patterns changes everything about how we approach support.
Sensory processing Many neurodivergent children have heightened sensitivity to taste, texture, smell, temperature or appearance. A food that seems unremarkable to others can feel genuinely overwhelming to them. This isn't a choice - it's neurology.
Interoception differences Many autistic and ADHD children struggle to reliably read hunger and fullness signals. This can lead to forgetting to eat, eating past the point of fullness, or not recognising the link between food and how their body feels.
Demand avoidance For children with a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) profile, even gentle encouragement around food can trigger resistance. We understand this - and we adapt our entire approach accordingly.
OUR APPROACH
Neuro-affirming. Pressure-free. Genuinely Individual.
We are a neurodiversity-affirming clinic. This means we do not pathologise differences in eating behaviour - we work with them. We adapt our communication style, session format and strategies to each child's neurotype, sensory profile and individual needs.
No pressure. No forcing. No one-size-fits-all plans. Sessions are low-demand and flexible - if your child needs to move around, take a break or bring a comfort item, that's completely fine.
We also work with neurodivergent adults - many of whom have managed complex eating patterns for years without ever receiving support that truly understood their experience.
Supporting Pillars:
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Neurodiversity-affirming framework
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Sensory and interoception-informed strategies
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PDA-aware and demand-avoidance sensitive
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Flexible, low-demand session format
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ADHD-specific mealtime and eating rhythm strategies
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Whole-family support and carer coaching
Sensory feeding assessment
A detailed profile of your child's sensory responses to food, texture, smell and mealtime environment
What Neuro-informed Nutrition Support Covers
Food variety and expansion
Gradual, low-pressure strategies for introducing new foods in a way that feels safe
Every session and every plan is shaped around your child's neurotype, not a generic framework. Here's what we typically address.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Hunger and fullness awareness
Building interoceptive awareness around eating, energy and body signals
ADHD eating rhythms
Practical strategies for meal timing, blood sugar regulation and executive function around food
Mealtime routine support
Structuring mealtimes in a way that reduces demand and increases predictability
Carer and family coaching
Equipping parents with consistent, neurodiversity-affirming tools to use between sessions
HOW IT WORKS
What Your First Appointment Looks Like
Before your first session, we'll ask you to share some background on your child's eating history, diagnosis and current mealtime experience. This helps us come prepared and make the best use of your time together.
Your first appointment is a thorough, unhurried assessment. We take a detailed history covering sensory profile, food preferences and aversions, eating patterns, and what mealtimes currently feel like for your family. There is no pressure on your child to perform, eat or engage in any particular way.
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Sensory and feeding assessment (60 min)
A detailed picture of your child's neurotype, sensory profile, eating patterns and nutritional status.
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Neuro-informed nutrition plan
A plan built specifically around your child's sensory world, cognitive style and family situation - not a generic template.
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Ongoing review and adjustment
Progress in neurodivergent feeding is often non-linear. We review regularly, celebrate every step forward, and adapt as your child grows and changes.
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE
Fussy eating or ARFID - how to tell them apart
It's one of the most common questions we get from parents. Here's a simple guide - though we always recommend speaking to a specialist if you're unsure.
Fussy Eating
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Common in toddlers and young children
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Involves disliking certain foods but eating a reasonably varied diet
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Usually improves gradually over time with exposure
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Mealtimes can be tricky but don't typically cause significant distress
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Growth and nutrition are generally not affected
You don't need a formal diagnosis to access support. If your child's eating is causing stress or concern, that's reason enough to reach out.
ARFID
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Involves severely restricted food variety - often fewer than 20 foods
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Driven by sensory sensitivities, fear of choking or vomiting, or very low interest in eating
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Does not typically improve without specialist support
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Causes significant distress, anxiety or shutdowns around food and mealtimes
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Can affect growth, nutrition, and everyday social situations
IS THIS THE RIGHT FIT?
Who Neuro-informed Nutrition
Support Is For
This service is for neurodivergent children, adolescents and adults - with or without a formal diagnosis. If you identify as neurodivergent and eating has always felt complicated, you deserve support that understands why.
Children with ASD / Children with ADHD / PDA profile / Sensory processing differences / Neurodivergent adults / Children without a formal diagnosis / ARFID with neurodivergent presentation / Interoception difficulties / Demand-avoidant eating patterns / Mealtime rigidity and routine / ADHD and irregular eating patterns
Note: A diagnosis is not required to access support. If neurodivergence is shaping how your child (or you) experiences food, we're here to help.
FUNDING & REBATES
How To Fund Your Appointments
We work with families across a range of funding options. Here's a quick overview of what may be available to you.
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NDIS - As a registered NDIS provider, we support self-managed and plan-managed participants. Dietetics is typically funded under Capacity Building - Improved Health and Wellbeing, or Core Supports. We provide all required progress notes and documentation.
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Medicare (CDMP) - A GP referral under a Chronic Disease Management Plan may give you access to up to 5 allied health sessions per calendar year.
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Private health insurance - Dietitian appointments are covered by many Extras policies. Rebate amounts vary, so it's worth checking with your fund before your first appointment.
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Private billing - All appointments are privately billed. A gap fee applies to Medicare-rebated sessions.
GOOD TO KNOW
Questions We Often Hear
Absolutely. Many neurodivergent children have significant eating challenges that don't fit neatly into a single diagnosis. We work with the full picture of your child's sensory and feeding profile, not just a label.
Yes. We put a lot of thought into making sessions as predictable, low-demand and comfortable as possible. You're welcome to share what works for your child ahead of time, and we'll adapt accordingly.
Yes - this is a very common pattern in ADHD. Appetite suppression from medication, poor interoceptive awareness and executive function difficulties all play a role. We have specific strategies for ADHD eating rhythms that are practical and realistic for busy families.
Yes. Many adults with ASD or ADHD have navigated complex relationships with food for years without support that truly understood their experience. We offer the same pressure-free, neuro-affirming approach for adults.
Yes. We're experienced in working within NDIS frameworks and are happy to liaise with support coordinators, OTs, speech pathologists and other team members. We provide all required NDIS documentation and progress reporting.