Why Eating Is Hard With ADHD, and What Helps (Amy Jones) Ep 120
If feeding yourself feels harder than it seems to be for everyone else, this episode is for you. We sit down with Amy Jones, a certified functional nutrition practitioner and ADHD life coach who was diagnosed with ADHD later in her life, to talk about the very real gap between knowing what to eat and actually being able to do it, all while not beating yourself up for the things you do eat.
Why eating is harder with ADHD
Feeding yourself is an executive function task, full stop. Planning, deciding, prepping, and remembering to eat all pull from the same drained tank. When you see it that way, the skipped meals and the 9pm raccoon-in-the-pantry moments start to make sense. This is not a willpower problem, and it is definitely not a character flaw.
The shame piece
So much of the struggle around food is wrapped in shame. Why can't I just figure this out like everyone else? Amy talks about how naming food as an executive function task helps loosen that shame, so you can actually move forward instead of spinning.
The digestion surprise
Here is something most of us never hear: that bloating, constipation, or reflux might not mean you need to cut out gluten and dairy. It might mean your body needs a little digestion support, especially when you are running in fight or flight all day. Amy shares simple, low effort options, and what to do if your sensory system is a hard no on things like apple cider vinegar.
Building it around your real life
This is where money and food rhyme. You build the plan around who you actually are, not who you wish you were. Default meals, a standing grocery list, sharing the mental load, and Amy's PFF is your BFF approach all help you stay fuelled on your hardest days, not just your best ones.
If you have ever felt food shame or wondered why this is so hard, come listen. You are not broken, and there is a way to work with your brain instead of against it.
Learn more about Amy Jones:
Website: https://www.amyjonesnutrition.com/
What to Do When Food Feels Like Too Much (free guide): https://amyjonesnutrition.myflodesk.com/whattodo
