ADHD & Food: Navigating Meal Planning with Executive Function Strategies

Ever wondered why ADHD makes meal planning feel overwhelming for so many of us?

This week we're looking at what happens when our executive functions are put to the test with organising meals and cooking - whether that's just for one or for many.

There's no need for any shame. It's about using your amazing brain differently, adding scaffolding and strategies, bringing a team on board (by stealth if necessary) and making use of things that will make daily life easier.

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https://www.bda.uk.com/find-a-dietitian.html

https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/dietetics-in-avoidant-restrictive-food-intake-disorder-arfid.html

https://www.arfidawarenessuk.org/treatment

Bergwerff CE, Luman M, Blom HJ, Oosterlaan J. No Tryptophan, Tyrosine and Phenylalanine Abnormalities in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. PLoS One. 2016 Mar 3;11(3):e0151100. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151100. PMID: 26938936; PMCID: PMC4777504.

Aarts E, Ederveen THA, Naaijen J, Zwiers MP, Boekhorst J, Timmerman HM, Smeekens SP, Netea MG, Buitelaar JK, Franke B, van Hijum SAFT, Arias Vasquez A. Gut microbiome in ADHD and its relation to neural reward anticipation. PLoS One. 2017 Sep 1;12(9):e0183509. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183509. PMID: 28863139; PMCID: PMC5581161.

Nigg, J. T., & Holton, K. (2014). Restriction and elimination diets in ADHD treatment. *Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics*, 23(4), 937-953. [Link](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4322780/)

Howard, A. L., Robinson, M., Smith, G. J., Ambrosini, G. L., Piek, J. P., & Oddy, W. H. (2011). ADHD is associated with a "Western" dietary pattern in adolescents. *Journal of Attention Disorders*, 15(5), 403-411. [Link](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1087054710365990)

Rucklidge, J. J. (2010). Food for thought: can nutrition improve behaviour in ADHD? *Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry*, 51(2), 130-133. [Link](https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02180.x)

Pelsser, L. M., Frankena, K., Toorman, J., & Rodrigues Pereira, R. (2017). Diet and the role of food allergy in ADHD. *European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry*, 26(3), 355-372. [Link](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00787-016-0906-3)

Ramsay, J. R. (2017). Cognitive behavioral therapy for adult ADHD: An integrative psychosocial and medical approach. *Routledge*. [Link](https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315744834/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-adult-adhd-j-russell-ramsay)

Murphy, K., & Young, P. C. (2005). The role of family in dealing with ADHD. *Journal of Family Practice*, 54(10), 8...