Believe the person when they describe a food as impossible. Avoid bribes, punishment, hiding ingredients, forced tasting, withholding safe foods or comparing portions. Provide reliable options, plan for changes and keep connection separate from eating performance. For children, adults retain responsibility for seeking appropriate nutritional and medical care.

Offer predictable meal routines, access to known safe foods, quieter seating where possible, reasonable time to eat and an agreed communication route. Do not make public comments about food choices. Coordinate with the child, family and relevant clinicians; document adjustments and review whether the environment is actually accessible.

Ask what helps rather than assuming. Do not pressure someone to eat socially or make their plate a topic of conversation. Share menus in advance, support access to familiar options and make it acceptable to decline food without explanation.

Assess nutrition, growth where relevant, physical symptoms, fear, sensory factors, functional impact and the person’s priorities. Consider multidisciplinary input from an eating-disorder-informed clinician, dietitian and medical professionals. Collaborative treatment may include tailored psychological and nutritional approaches; pace and consent matter.

Check for changes in smell, texture, brand, batch, packaging, preparation, temperature, recent illness or a difficult experience. Do not treat the change as defiance. Offer a backup without pressure; record what changed if the person wishes. Protect access to other safe foods while exploring the problem.

Begin with consent and curiosity, not a demand to finish or taste. A specialist may help create a graded, individualised plan, sometimes starting with looking, smelling, touching or preparing food. There is no single pace or sequence, and a person should not be pushed through distress without support.

Prioritise accessible nourishment and hydration using acceptable options. Reduce decisions, preparation and cleanup. Ready-made foods, duplicate safe foods, visual reminders or practical help can be useful. When intake is inadequate, professional assessment is important.

Try: “What feels manageable?” “Would you like the usual option or a backup?” “Do you want me nearby or would you prefer privacy?” Avoid: “You ate it yesterday,” “Just one bite,” “You’ll eat when you’re hungry,” or “You’re being difficult.”