THE FOOD I COULD NOT SIMPLY EAT
From My Side of the Table to Yours
Maggie Learoyd shares her personal experience of living with ARFID, from the food difficulties that began in childhood to the understanding she gained later in life after her autism and ADHD diagnoses. Her reflection explores how fear, sensory experiences, safe foods, shame and pressure can shape a person’s relationship with eating—and why a child who struggles is not simply being difficult.
The PDF has a front cover followed by 18 full content pages. The guide then turns towards parents and carers. It offers practical ways to listen without blame, make mealtimes feel safer, protect trust, notice when health support is needed, work with clinicians and school, and support a child at a pace that respects their needs. It also makes space for the worry and exhaustion parents may carry. The guide encourages compassionate support alongside appropriate medical and dietetic care; it is educational and does not replace individual assessment or treatment.
A lived-experience reflection and parent guide from Space to Breathe Therapy.
