If you think your child may have Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), you’re probably wondering what to do next. Many parents feel overwhelmed when mealtimes become stressful and their child’s eating seems more severe than typical picky eating.
The good news? ARFID is treatable. With the right support and clear planning, your child can make steady and meaningful progress.
First step to treating ARFID: getting assessed
If you suspect your child may have ARFID, having an assessment from a qualified health care professional is the first step in knowing what support your child needs. An evaluation will also help you learn if there are additional medical issues that need to be addressed.
Read here: What is ARFID & How Does it Differ From Picky Eating?
If you’re looking for an initial screening, you can take the Pediatric Screener for ARFID and Extreme Picky Eating. This will allow you to have a more informed conversation with your child’s health care provider.
You can seek evaluation from:
- A pediatrician.
- A family physician or primary care provider.
- An eating disorder specialist.
- A child psychologist.
- A developmental-behavioral specialist.
A proper evaluation often includes:
- Growth chart review.
- Feeding and eating history beginning at birth.
- Blood work to check for vitamin or mineral deficiencies and other conditions.
- A medical history to identify digestion, swallowing or other medical issues.
Read more: Learn the signs and symptoms associated with ARFID.
Who helps treat ARFID?
ARFID treatment can involve one provider or a team, depending on your child’s needs. Many children benefit from a multidisciplinary approach.
Here are the professionals who commonly support ARFID treatment and some of the services they might provide:
- Pediatrician: Monitors growth, labs, and overall medical stability.
- Registered dietitian: Assesses nutrition intake and sets calorie and nutrient goals.
- Psychologist or therapist: Addresses anxiety, fear and behavioral factors around food.
- Occupational therapist: Works on sensory sensitivities and oral motor skills.
- Speech-language pathologist: Evaluates swallowing, feeding mechanics and oral motor skills.
Not every child needs every specialist, but having the right combination of support makes a big difference.
Treatment options for ARFID
There are several evidence-based treatment approaches for ARFID. The right option will depend on your child’s age, symptoms and medical status.
1. Family-based programming (1)
Family-based approaches are often the first recommended step. Parents play an important role in mealtimes, and their parenting strategies and mealtime practices will be important to their child’s success.
Family-based programming may come from:
- Outpatient clinics.
- Community-based support groups.
- App-based platforms such as our BetterBites® program. (2)
Families can often begin this approach right away, even before receiving a formal ARFID diagnosis.
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for ARFID (3)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps children who avoid food due to fear or anxiety, as well as those with sensory struggles or low appetite.
CBT for ARFID focuses on:
- Gradual exposure to new foods.
- Reducing fear-based avoidance.
- Building coping skills for food-related anxiety.
- Increasing flexibility around eating.
- Learning to think in a way that supports eating.
CBT is often provided by a psychologist or other mental health professional.
3. Feeding therapy (1)
Feeding therapy is often helpful for children with:
- Sensory sensitivities.
- Oral motor delays.
- Texture aversions.
Therapists may use techniques that involve a gradual, step-by-step expansion of a child’s diet by making small modifications to foods and help regulate children before they begin eating. (1)
Address underlying factors that cause ARFID
ARFID often occurs alongside other conditions that influence eating behaviors.
Common co-occurring factors include:
- Anxiety disorders.
- Autism spectrum disorder.
- ADHD.
- Obsessive compulsive disorder.
- Sensory processing challenges.
- Past choking, vomiting or traumatic food experiences.
Treating these underlying issues often improves ARFID symptoms as well.
Improve nutrition safely
In the early stages of ARFID treatment, the priority is not necessarily to increase the variety of foods, but rather to ensure your child is eating enough to support healthy growth and brain development.
Strategies may include:
- Increasing portions of their preferred foods.
- Adding calorie boosters (oils, nut butters, sauces).
- Using oral nutrition supplements if needed.
- Monitoring weight gain regularly.
Some parents may benefit from additional support, such as learning how to feed their child a high-calorie diet to maintain their growth and development.
Proper weight restoration is essential for brain development, emotional regulation, overall psychological and physical health, and long-term recovery from ARFID. (4,5)
When more intensive treatment is needed
Some children may require a higher level of care, especially if there is significant weight loss or poor growth.
Intensive treatment options may include:
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOP).
- Clinical inpatient programs.
- Temporary tube feeding for nutritional support.
These options are typically recommended when outpatient treatment alone is not enough to restore health safely.
How long does ARFID treatment take?
ARFID is considered a lifespan diagnosis, but that does not mean your child will struggle forever. With early and consistent treatment, many children can achieve remission and eating can become more flexible.
Progress is often gradual. Small improvements will build over time with consistency mattering more than speed.
The power of parental support
One of the most important factors in improving ARFID symptoms is parental trust, consistency and cooperation in the treatment process. (6) When children feel supported, safe and understood at mealtimes, they may be more willing to take steps towards expanding their diet.
A strong support system and steady guidance at mealtimes can make a meaningful impact. You do not have to do this alone. With the right approach, change is possible.
Get started by taking the Pediatric Screener for ARFID and Extreme Picky Eating.
References
1. Białek-Dratwa A, Szymańska D, Grajek M, Krupa-Kotara K, Szczepańska E, Kowalski O. ARFID—Strategies for Dietary Management in Children. Nutrients. 2022; 14(9):1739. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14091739
2. BetterBites. BetterBites — Kids Eat in Color. Kids Eat in Color, LLC. Accessed February 16, 2026. https://betterbites.kidseatincolor.com
3. Sikora DM. The treatment of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) with predominance of anxiety presentation. A proposal of a protocol for therapeutic procedure. Psychoterapia. 2021;198(3):33–47. doi:10.12740/PT/141443.
4. Richmond TK, Woolverton GA, Mammel K, Ornstein RM, Spalding A, Woods ER, Forman SF. How do you define recovery? A qualitative study of patients with eating disorders, their parents, and clinicians. Int J Eat Disord.2020;53(8):1209-1218. doi:10.1002/eat.23294
5. Sim, L.A., Whiteside, S., Harbeck-Weber, C. et al. Weight Suppression and Risk for Childhood Psychiatric Disorders. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 56, 1005–1014 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-023-01617-7
6. Fitzpatrick KK, Forsberg SE, Colborn D. Family-based therapy for avoidant restrictive food intake disorder: families facing food neophobias. In: Family therapy for adolescent eating and weight disorders. New York, NY: Routledge; 2015:276-296.
