Episode 255: Neurodivergence, Food Struggles, and Finding What Actually Works for You with Abbey Roberts

“The curiosity and compassion route is always going to be so much more helpful and enjoyable than the route diet culture brings you on.”

Healing your relationship with food takes on a whole new meaning when you have a neurodivergent brain, and that’s exactly what this overdue conversation is all about. So much of traditional nutrition advice leaves out anyone who doesn’t fit the neurotypical mold, often making food struggles worse, not better. This episode is full of relatable stories that will leave you feeling seen, especially if you’ve ever felt like normal nutrition advice just doesn’t work for you.

I sat down with Abbey Roberts, a registered dietitian who was late-diagnosed with ADHD and now helps folks find food freedom tailored to their unique brains. Abbey shares her personal story, from college days entrenched in diet culture (we’re talking unseasoned ground beef and sugar-free ketchup at restaurants!) to the powerful moment of realizing her food struggles were tied up with her undiagnosed neurodivergence. Our conversation digs into why classic nutrition tips so often miss the mark, and how you can create a way of eating that honors your needs.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, suspect you might be neurodivergent, or you’re simply tired of food rules not working for you, you’ll walk away with compassionate, actionable strategies and a whole new lens on what it really means to heal your relationship with food. No one-size-fits-all plans. Just tools and ideas you can actually use in your real life.

What You’ll Learn:

• What it looks like to heal your relationship with food when you’re balancing neurodivergence and food struggles
• How diet culture can amplify food struggles, guilt, and all-or-nothing thinking
• Why traditional nutrition advice often misses the mark for neurodivergent eaters
• Practical ways to create structure around food without falling into rigid food rules
• How to develop self-compassion and create structure without rigidity in your eating
• Simple, realistic tools to make eating feel easier, more accessible, and more supportive of your real life

As always, take what resonates and leave what doesn’t. Healing is personal, and you get to decide what feels supportive. Thank you for being here and giving yourself the gift of a more compassionate, individualized approach to food. I’m proud of you!

Resources:

• Fork Diet Culture website
• Abbey’s Instagram: @fork.diet.culture
• Grab the Hunger & Fullness Scale Guide at DietCultureRebel.com/hungerfullnessscale and take your next step toward building trust with your body and food.
• Connect with me over on Instagram at @diet.culture.rebel.

Struggling with food, but not sure where to start?

You don’t have to feel 100% ready to get support. If you’re tired of obsessing over food or feeling stuck in the diet cycle, my team of Registered Dietitians is here to help. We offer one-on-one nutrition counseling—and we accept insurance! Spots are limited, so head to https://dietculturerebel.com/insurance to see if we’re covered in your state and learn how to get started.