Adult ARFID Explained: Real-Life Strategies for Managing Food & Nutrition With Caroline Holbrook, RD

ARFID is not just a childhood diagnosis. In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land: An Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast, I am joined by registered dietitian Caroline (Callie) Holbrook, RD, to discuss what Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder looks like in adults and how to navigate food and nutrition in ways that feel safe and supportive.

Callie shares her expertise in working with adults with ARFID, highlighting how it often intersects with neurodivergence, sensory sensitivities, and the pressures of adult life such as relationships, work events, travel, and meal planning. We also talk about how shame develops around food, the impact of wellness culture, and why rigid nutritional rules can make ARFID even harder to manage.

Content Caution:

This episode includes discussions of eating disorders, food-related anxiety, shame, and nutrition planning. Please take care while listening and step away if needed.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• How ARFID presents differently in adults compared to children

• The role of shame and social pressures in adult ARFID

• Strategies for building safe foods lists and reducing overwhelm

• Why processed foods can be a helpful and low-stress option

• Collaborative, neurodivergent-affirming approaches to nutrition

• Addressing sensory sensitivities, executive functioning challenges, and interoception

• Why progress may mean building energy intake and problem-solving around meals instead of immediately trying new foods

This episode emphasizes flexibility, autonomy, and creating supportive environments for eating, including practical tips such as adjusting lighting, using sound regulation tools, and using distractions during meals.

Why This Episode Matters:

Adults with ARFID often feel misunderstood and pressured to eat in ways that do not align with their needs. This episode validates adult ARFID experiences and offers real-life strategies to navigate food safely and respectfully.

About Caroline "Callie" Holbrook, RD:

Callie is a Registered Dietitian based in San Diego, California. Originally from Alabama, she relocated across the country four years ago. Callie has extensive experience working in various levels of eating disorder treatment, including residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient care.

She has long been passionate about the field of eating disorders and has valued every step of her professional journey. Callie recently opened her own private practice in San Diego, specializing in eating disorders, ARFID/selective eating, and Intuitive Eating. She also provides nutrition counseling for individuals seeking a weight-neutral approach to diabetes care.

Listen to Related Episodes:

• ARFID & Nutrition with Callie Holbrook, RD on Apple & Spotify.
• Living with Adult ARFID: Relationship Challenges No One Talks About on Apple & Spotify.
• Complexities of Treating ARFID: How a Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned Approach Works on Apple & Spotify.
• Stuck on Empty: Autistic Inertia, ARFID & the Struggle to Eat on Apple & Spotify.
• ARFID in Adults vs ARFID in Children on Apple & Spotify.

Resources and Links:

• Connect with Caroline Holbrook, RD: www.holbrookrd.com

• Email Caroline: www.drmariannemiller.com

Take the Next Step

If you want in-depth tools for understanding and supporting ARFID in yourself or someone you love, check out my ARFID and Selective Eating Course. This self-paced course covers ARFID research, sensory sensitivities, neurodivergence, and practical strat