Son addicted to Shreddies and McDonald's for seven years

A Boy's Transformation from a Restrictive Diet to a Diverse Food Palette

A nine-year-old boy from the United Kingdom has made remarkable progress in overcoming a long-standing eating disorder, thanks to hypnosis. Arlo Powncenby, who had been sticking to a very limited diet for seven years, has now expanded his food choices significantly. His daily routine was once dominated by three specific meals: Shreddies for breakfast, pancakes for lunch, and a nine-piece McDonald’s chicken nugget meal for dinner.

Arlo’s mother, Steff, described how their family had to plan trips around finding a McDonald’s and ensure they had access to cooking facilities in hotels. She explained that Arlo would refuse to eat out with the family, often requiring her to bring food along on visits. This rigid pattern of eating began when he was around two years old, which she attributes to his autism. Since then, he had remained committed to a small set of foods, making it extremely difficult for his family to introduce new options.

Steff noted that trying to get Arlo to eat different foods was an immense challenge. She tried various methods, but nothing seemed to work. The pediatrician suggested that it might take up to 15 attempts for a child to accept a new food, but even that didn’t help. Arlo would often smell the food and refuse to try it, even after multiple exposures.

His diet was heavily influenced by brand loyalty. He required specific products, like the actual brand of Shreddies, and once they were unavailable, he would refuse to eat anything at all. This strict adherence extended to his meals, including chicken nuggets and cheese pizza. When one of these items was discontinued, Arlo could immediately tell and refused to eat it.

Steff believes that Arlo may suffer from avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), although he hasn’t received an official diagnosis. She mentioned that the NHS lacks the resources to provide such a diagnosis, and the pediatricians were not helpful in this regard.

In a final attempt to address Arlo’s eating habits and sleep issues related to his autism, Steff sought the help of hypnotherapist David Kilmurry. After just seven sessions, Arlo began trying new foods, something that his family had never thought possible. David specialized in helping individuals with eating disorders and was able to connect with Arlo through his intelligence and desire to improve himself.

The results have been encouraging. Arlo has started to incorporate fruits, vegetables, and chicken into his diet. He recently had lamb chops for dinner and even enjoyed chicken wings at Nando’s. His morning meal remains unchanged, but his midday meals now include croissants, snacks like Doritos, and fruit. Evening meals feature chicken, vegetables, and occasional restaurant outings.

Steff shared that it is still surprising to see Arlo’s progress, as they had never expected this change. This year, he even managed to have a birthday cake for the first time since he was two, a lemon drizzle cake.

David Kilmurry praised Arlo for his determination and called him a "young hero." He emphasized that many of his ARFID recovery cases involve neurodivergent individuals, and that literal thinking can aid in the process of learning to eat freely. He also attributed Arlo’s sleep issues to his unbalanced diet and noted that he has now completely stopped using melatonin, which had caused some side effects.

This transformation highlights the potential of hypnosis in addressing eating disorders and improving overall well-being, especially for children with autism. It also underscores the importance of tailored approaches in helping individuals overcome restrictive eating patterns.