Selective Eating in Autism: Food Jagging, and a Realistic Mealtime Reset with Brittyn Coleman

If mealtimes feel like a daily stress test, you’re not imagining it and you’re not failing. Sometimes it’s not the food that’s the problem, it’s the overwhelm wrapped around it. In this episode, we talk about what a realistic “reset” around food can look like for autistic kids, ADHD kids, and sensory sensitive kids, especially after a season like Christmas where everything felt loud and unstructured.

Today’s guest is Brittyn Coleman, MS, RDN/LD (Autism Dietitian). She supports families raising kids on the autism spectrum (and kids with sensory processing challenges) using sensory-informed, sensory-friendly nutrition approaches. She also shares the personal why behind her work, and practical strategies that protect trust, reduce pressure, and make progress feel possible.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

what “resetting” mealtimes can actually look like when your child has safe foods and big sensory needs

why nervous system regulation matters for eating (and what to do if your child comes to the table already dysregulated)

how to simplify the mealtime environment (noise, clutter, lights, screens) without trying to be perfect

the difference between expanding a diet vs removing foods, including the idea: add before you subtract

what food jagging is, why it often shows up with ADHD and autism, and how to prevent food burnout

the “division of responsibility” approach to feeding, and what is (and is not) your job as the parent

Brittyn’s practical “one new food per week” strategy, plus how to build an easy food list to reduce decision fatigue

GUEST LINKS: ⁠⁠

Follow Brittyn

Get the Food Hopper app

⁠⁠GET THE LINKS⁠⁠⁠:

Check out the refreshed website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Learn about the ⁠⁠⁠Exhausted to Empowered Collective⁠⁠⁠

Follow me on socials:

⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices