Episode 19: ARFID in Young Athletes: The Picky Eating Red Flags Every Sports Parent Should Know with Katie Syvarth, RD, CSSD

Send us Fan MailIf your kid plays a sport and is also a picky eater — this episode is for you.ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is showing up more and more in young athletes, and the patterns almost always start years before anyone names them. The 14-year-old recovering from her second stress fracture? Her food restriction started at age three or four.In this episode, I sit down with Katie Syvarth, RD, CSSD — a board-certified sports dietitian based in Kentucky — to walk through what ARFID actually looks like in young athletes, why under-fueling and stress fractures so often travel with it, and what parents of young picky kids should be paying attention to right now — long before anyone is talking about diagnoses.We trace Katie's case study of a teen athlete recovering from her second stress fracture all the way back to age three. The signs were there. They're often there for the kids in YOUR home too — they just look small at the time.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:- How ARFID is different from typical picky eating in athletes- The "food funnel" — when the list of safe foods gets shorter, not longer- Why under-fueling and stress fractures often travel together- Why ~90% of young athletes are under-fueled (and what to do about it)- How sensory issues, ADHD, autism, anxiety, and OCD overlap with ARFID- What to do at the table TODAY with your young, picky athlete- Why pressure tactics backfire (and what works instead)- How to advocate for your young athlete if you're not being heard- How to find an ARFID-informed dietitian or therapistABOUT KATIE SYVARTH, RD, CSSD:Katie is a board-certified sports dietitian and the founder of Nutrition at Play, based in Kentucky. She works with athletes of all levels — from high school competitors to endurance athletes — on under-fueling, disordered eating, body image, and ARFID. She blends performance nutrition with an all-foods-fit, intuitive approach.🔗 Connect with Katie:Website: nutritionatplay.comInstagram: @nutritionatplayGet Katie's FREE Download!📩 Loved this episode? Join the newsletter for weekly support straight from me — completely different content from the podcast.👉 newstorynutrition.com⭐ If this episode helped you, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other parents find the show.NEW COURSE! "Read the Pattern: Feeding Your Baby 0–4 Months" — because a healthy relationship with food starts earlier than most people think. Course Link!Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only, not medical advice.