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151: Solving Picky Eating in ADHD Kids with Andrea Daigle

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Release Date: 03/20/2025

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Is every mealtime a battle with your picky eater? You’re not alone! Picky eating is a common struggle, especially for children with ADHD. In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay, an ADHD health practitioner, welcomes back Andrea Daigle, expert coach at the ADHD Thrive Institute. Together, they dive into the root causes of picky eating, including sensory issues, gut health, and nutrient deficiencies—and more importantly, how to turn it around without stress or frustration.

Andrea shares proven strategies to help parents encourage new foods, reduce mealtime stress, and break the picky eating cycle. You’ll also learn how nutrient deficiencies like zinc and omega-3s impact food preferences and simple ways to test for them at home. If you’re ready to make mealtime peaceful and expand your child’s diet, this episode is packed with practical tips you can start using today! Plus, check out the show notes for helpful resources, including a Family Food Challenge guide, a zinc deficiency test, and recommended supplements.

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Key Takeaways:
[3:21] Why Picky Eating is So Common in ADHD
[3:38] Key Causes of Picky Eating (Sensory Issues, Gut Health, and Nutrient Deficiencies)
[4:12] The Impact of Family Dynamics on Picky Eating
[7:10] Practical Strategies to Reduce Mealtime Stress
[7:20] The Family Food Challenge: A Game-Changer for Picky Eaters
[12:59] How Nutrient Deficiencies (Zinc & Omega-3s) Affect Food Preferences
[13:18] How to Test for a Zinc Deficiency at Home
[16:34] When to Seek Professional Help for Picky Eating


Memorable Moments:

"Picky eating is one of the most frustrating struggles for parents, especially those raising kids with ADHD."

"Undiagnosed food intolerances, gut inflammation, and nutrient deficiencies can actually close a child’s palate and make picky eating worse."

"When we’re stressed at mealtimes, our kids pick up on it—we hold the keys to their nervous system."

"Small changes make a big difference! Mix homemade and store-bought nuggets together, and kids often won’t notice the difference."

"The Family Food Challenge is about making mealtime fun and removing pressure—it’s not about forcing kids to eat."

"It can take kids 15 to 20 times to accept a new flavor or texture, so don’t give up after the first try!"

"If your child is gagging, panicking, or avoiding entire food groups, it may be time to seek professional support."

"A simple zinc assay test at home can tell you whether your child is deficient in zinc, which impacts taste and appetite."

"One of our team members’ sons went from eating 5 foods to over 200 just by addressing food sensitivities and using these strategies!"

"Remove the pressure from mealtimes—focus on connection, not control, and watch the stress disappear."r

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