Feeding Nutritional Issues Autistic Neurodivergent Yaffi Lvova

EPISODE 77
Feeding and Nutritional Issues with Autistic and Neurodivergent Individuals:
A Discussion with Yaffi Lvova

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Show Notes

Nutrition and feeding are common issues of concern for parents of autistic family members, and for autistic people themselves. With appropriate nutrition, quality of life is improved due to enhanced physical and mental health and improved relationships with those who play a role in supporting good nutrition and successful feeding interactions. Yaffi Lvova, a neurodivergent Dietitian Nutritionist provides crucial information and advice for family members and autistic people.

Check Yaffi’s website

Links of Interest
Beyond A Bite Parent Edition
Beyond A Bite, professional edition
The Feeding Collective Instagram Page, a resource for professionals

Follow on:
@thefeedingcollective (IG) @toddler.testkitchen (IG) @babybloomnutrition (FB)

Featuring

YAFFI LVOVA

YAFFI LVOVA

Yaffi Lvova is an experienced Anti-Diet Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who teaches that health can come through curiosity and positive interactions with food! She supports parents through her social media, public speaking, and Nap Time Nutrition podcast & YouTube channel. Yaffi is a published author of several books on feeding kids, including Beyond A Bite Parent Edition: Playful Sensory Food Exploration for ASD and Neurodivergent Kids

…and Continue the Discussion

Do you have a book or podcast club? If so, you may use this discussion guide to facilitate a conversation about this episode.

1)  Yaffi discusses the feeding relationship that an individual has with parents and other people, as well as the feeding relationship with oneself. Discuss what you feel she means by this, and how can the quality of the relationship lead to both challenges, as well as successes in achieving the goal of nutrition and successful feeding.

2)  Yaffi also provides the following advice – “Don’t mess with a person’s favorite food”. Why does she provide this advice, and how might this play out for children both at school and at home?

3)  Yaffi discusses the concept of autism “diets”. What is her opinion about this, and practical implications for supporting autistic individuals. Have you had any personal experiences or know of others who have had experience with diets. If so, discuss.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Music

Matt Savage, courtesy of Savage Records

Matt Savage is an autistic jazz musician, composer, and bandleader. Matt has collaborated with jazz greats like Chick Corea, the Ellington All Stars, Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill, John Pizzarelli, Joshua Redman, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi. Donny McCaslin, and more. He has recorded more than a dozen records and graciously contributes the music for Uniquely Human.

Production and Sound Design

ELEVATEDSTUDIO

Uniquely Human: The Podcast is produced, engineered, and edited by Elevated Studio in Denver, Colorado. Owned and operated by co-host Dave Finch, Elevated Studio produces digital media assets and content strategies for the electronics, entertainment, and lifestyle industries.