By Max Bowen Social worker turned novelist
Linda B. Davis’ new book, “Food Fight” speaks to a little-known but very real eating disorder affecting 3% of the population. In the book, a three-day class trip becomes a survival mission for a picky-eating student with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder).
In this interview, we talk about the real-life story that inspired this, where the research took Davis, and what she hopes people take away from the story.
I read that this book was inspired by a relative of yours. Who is this relative and how did their story lead to yours? Several years ago, my 11-year-old nephew’s extreme picky eating, which had been relatively manageable when he was very young, began to interfere with his social life. As a gregarious kid who loved theater and baseball, his world was expanding to include all sorts of new opportunities to socialize away from home. And as we all know, socializing generally involves food.
I hate to admit it, but sometimes I was less than sympathetic to his situation—until the day I came across the acronym ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) online and realized that I had been completely wrong.
With some research, I began to understand that my nephew’s diet was not restricted to a handful of favorite foods he liked to eat—these were the only foods he could eat. Once I was more familiar with ARFID, I came to admire the courage it took him to face the types of eating-focused social gatherings we all participate in almost every day. Whether he was noticeably not eating what everyone else was, or he was eating one of the few things he always ate, my nephew couldn’t protect himself from unwanted attention from peers and adults.
At the time I was becoming involved in the children’s book writing community and began to consider the value of a book featuring a middle-school-aged character with ARFID. Although ARFID is a rare condition estimated to affect between one and five percent of children and adults, the types of challenges it presents are universal in the world of middle graders as they confront the never-ending question of How do I fit in?
“Food Fight” was inspired and informed by my nephew but is not his story.
What is ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and how does it play into the story?
ARFID, a relatively new diagnosis, is an eating disorder often characterized as extreme picky eating, but the reality is more complex and serious, and ARFID can cause significant medical, social and self-esteem issues. It is described as a lack of interest in eating and/or a complete avoidance of eating particular foods based on sensory characteristics including texture, smell and color. ARFID is often associated with other sensory disturbances, neurodivergence, or fears of choking or vomiting. (Although neurotypical kids and adults may also have ARFID).
People living with this condition generally say that most foods don’t seem like something they could even put in their mouth, let alone eat, which results in very restrictive diets limited to foods that feel “safe”—often processed or fast foods, which taste the same every time. And although the clinical definitions are descriptive and accurate, they often do not adequately convey the sheer psychological terror involved with ARFID—some call it a food phobia.
What did you know about ARFID and how did you research this?
My research for this book included reading books written by treatment professionals for parents of kids with ARFID, talking to parents, and participating in the ARFID online community. A common worry for parents is sending their kids with ARFID on their first overnight trip, which helped shape the plot of “Food Fight.” Although ARFID is a relatively new field of study and treatment, I continue to be surprised at how difficult it is for parents to find knowledgeable professionals to treat and support their kids. Despite awareness efforts, many people (and professionals) continue to be uninformed, which contributes to feelings of isolation and stress for families living with ARFID.
Are there any stereotypes or misnomers about picky eating that you address in this book?
Again, picky eating and ARFID are not the same thing—although they might elicit the same types of reactions and criticism from people who are uninformed. Common misconceptions are that kids and adults who eat like Ben, the main character in “Food Fight,” are stubborn, unsophisticated, difficult, and unhealthy. Ben is on the receiving end of statements like:
How do you know you don’t like something if you’ve never tried it?
What you’re eating isn’t healthy!
By not eating this special food that I’ve prepared, you’re hurting my feelings. In each of these examples, the belief is that Ben is making a decision to be rude or difficult, which is not accurate. Expecting someone with ARFID eat something that doesn’t feel “safe” to them is as ineffective and insensitive as asking a person with arachnophobia to pet a spider just for a second to see if they like it or telling a person who is having a panic attack to “cut it out.”
How does Ben cope with ARFID?
Ben uses a variety of strategies to cope with ARFID including a five-point battle-tested survival plan for facing the most impossible eating situations. During an overnight school trip, he avoids meals by pretending to help his teacher, hiding away from the group, and acting like he’s already eaten. Basically, he barely eats anything for almost 24 hours which impacts his mood and energy level and ultimately causes even more problems.
I’m interested in the contrast of making Ben smart and athletic but dealing with this disorder. Why did you take this route? My intention was show how ARFID becomes more complicated as kids get older and spend more time away from home. Because Ben is smart, athletic, and generally well-liked, the experience of being singled out (and bullied) is completely new to him and requires him to try all sorts of creative things to escape unwanted attention. I also wanted to portray a character who is more than his eating disorder. In the course of the story, Ben runs for student government, develops his first crush, and navigates an awkward relationship with his lab partner who is a bossy loner—and ARFID makes each situation even more high-stakes and problematic for him.
You have a background in developmental psychology and clinical social work. Did this aid in the writing process?
Social workers stress the importance of understanding a person’s behavior in light of the environmental contexts in which they live. The impact of ARFID goes beyond eating—it also affects the way a person feels and behaves when interacting with others. For middle schoolers, whose social worlds are expanding, it’s almost impossible to avoid eating in front of other people. I wanted to explore the social complications ARFID might cause for kids like Ben and how it might affect self-esteem, self-confidence, and relationships, both with peers and parents.
I read that this is your debut novel. What challenges did you encounter and what lessons were learned?
Yes, “Food Fight” is my debut novel! And yes, there were definitely some challenges along the way. One ongoing issue involved the question of how to write a story that was both serious and fun. I wanted “Food Fight” to tackle a difficult issue and yet not feel too heavy for young readers who also want to read about more familiar topics such as first crushes, bullying, student government elections, and friendship changes—all of which gave me opportunities to show how Ben’s eating disorder made every single situation more difficult for him.
Also, as I queried “Food Fight,” I was reminded of how strong the bias against picky eaters and acceptance of the ARFID diagnosis can be. Many agents told me that Ben’s condition did not seem problematic enough to be worthy of an entire novel. “I ate the same thing for lunch every day, too,” one critiquer told me. “It’s not a big deal.”
But fortunately, Regal House Publishing saw the need and value of telling Ben’s story.
Ultimately, I hope “Food Fight” accomplishes its goal—to increase awareness and create feelings of empathy toward kids and families living with ARFID.
