Feeding Difficulties & ARFID · Dubai & UAE
Feeding difficulties & ARFID support, beyond 'picky eating'
For children whose eating difficulties go well beyond typical fussiness — a narrow, unchanging diet, real distress around food, or eating that's affecting growth and daily life.
Early signs to look out for
What families often notice first.
Every child is different — this isn't a checklist for self-diagnosis, just what commonly prompts a conversation with us.
- Eating a very narrow, unchanging range of foods, for months or years, not just a phase
- Strong distress, gagging or refusal triggered by a food's texture, smell or appearance, not taste alone
- Little apparent interest in eating, or forgetting to eat, without any concern about weight or shape
- Mealtimes that are a source of daily conflict, tears or anxiety for the whole family
- Weight loss, poor growth or reliance on supplements because actual intake is genuinely too limited
- Anxiety about eating anywhere new or trying anything unfamiliar, well past the age most children grow out of it
How Special Minds helps
A plan, not a placement.
Assessment that looks past 'just eat it'
We help work out whether this is typical fussiness, a sensory-driven pattern, or something that fits the picture of ARFID — each needs a different response.
Feeding therapy, not force
Our approach builds tolerance gradually through play and repeated, low-pressure exposure — never by pressuring a child to eat foods they're not ready for.
Coordination with medical and nutrition support
Where growth or nutrition is a concern, we coordinate with your paediatrician or a dietitian so feeding therapy isn't happening in isolation.
Practical strategies for home
Concrete, low-conflict ways to handle mealtimes, so the whole family isn't bracing for a fight at every meal.
Support in Dubai & the UAE
Local, practical, no waitlists in the dark.
We work with families across Dubai and Abu Dhabi whose children's eating difficulties have gone on long enough, or are severe enough, that 'they'll grow out of it' no longer feels like the right answer. ARFID is a recognised feeding and eating disorder, distinct from ordinary picky eating, and it's often missed because it doesn't involve the body-image concerns people associate with other eating disorders. If mealtimes have become a daily source of conflict or worry, our [assessment](/assessment) is usually the simplest place to start working out what's going on.
Frequently asked
Questions parents ask us.
- How is ARFID different from normal picky eating?
- Picky eating is common and usually doesn't affect growth, nutrition or daily functioning. ARFID involves a much more restricted diet, often driven by sensory sensitivity, low interest in food, or fear of choking or vomiting, and it's severe enough to affect a child's health, weight or family life.
- Is ARFID about body image, like anorexia?
- No — that's one of the key differences. ARFID isn't driven by concerns about weight or shape; it's usually about sensory sensitivity, low appetite, or a fear response to eating, which is why it needs a different treatment approach.
- Do you diagnose ARFID?
- Formal diagnosis sits with a paediatrician or clinical psychologist. We can support your child with feeding therapy alongside that process and help you understand whether what you're seeing fits the picture.
- Will feeding therapy force my child to eat foods they hate?
- No — pressuring a child to eat tends to backfire. Our approach builds comfort and tolerance gradually, through play and repeated low-pressure exposure, at your child's own pace.
- How much does feeding therapy or ARFID support cost in Dubai?
- It depends on how often your child needs sessions and whether medical or nutrition coordination is involved alongside feeding therapy. We'll give you a clear estimate after an initial assessment, not a fixed package price.
- Does insurance cover feeding therapy or an ARFID assessment?
- Coverage varies by insurer and policy tier, and there's often a difference between what's covered for a medical or nutritional assessment versus ongoing feeding therapy. We'll help you check what your plan includes.
Let's talk about feeding difficulties & arfid support for your child.
No pressure, no obligation — just a conversation with our clinical lead.