Issue 3: ADHD Medications & Appetite: Strategies to Support Your Clients

Practical dietitian tips for managing appetite changes, boosting nutrition, and supporting focus in clients taking ADHD medication.

Welcome back to our therapist & allied professional newsletter. This month, we’re diving into our top tips for managing the impact of ADHD medications!

The information, video, and blog post below offer practical insights you can bring into sessions or use to guide referrals when it might be helpful to dive deeper with a dietitian.

One question that comes up all the time with our clients is:

“When medication impacts the desire and ability to eat at school (or work) what steps should we be taking to ensure adequate nutrition?”

You may have been taught that we should not eat if we are not hungry and unfortunately, this is one of several cases where this really just isn’t true.

When someone is taking a stimulant medication to help them manage their ADHD, there is a high likelihood that they will notice the medication’s impact on their appetite.

We often talk about this impact as opposing bell curves. As the effectiveness of the medication is peaking, hopefully around mid-day or mid-shift, we see that appetite is most hindered.

Some even notice that they find food completely unappetizing around this time. And then towards the end of the day, the medication is wearing off and the appetite and desire for food is returning.

If we have not eaten enough during the day, individuals may find themselves with BIG hunger in the late afternoon and evening. This big hunger may feel stressful for the individual with ADHD and also their parents, caregivers or partners too.

So how do we manage this?  

1. Front-load the day!

Serve a high-calorie, high-protein breakfast to start the day.

Ideally, this meal would be consumed before medication is taken, even if it means getting up earlier than preferred.

Examples of this breakfast could be:

scrambled eggs with cheese, and avocado toast or higher-fat Greek yogurt with granola, berries, and honey

2. Make lunch and snacks extra-desirable

In order to want to eat when there is no appetite, the food either has to be something they really enjoy or something small and easy (or both).

We find that a bento box or snack plate, filled with numerous options, works best.

This could include a drinkable yogurt, individual cheese, fruit, a favourite granola bar or energy bites, among many ideas.

3. Plan for a large meal-like snack after school or work when the medication is wearing off

As appetite is kicking back in, we want to meet the need of that hunger with adequate food! At first, this may feel backwards as it can be close to dinner time for many. It might even be helpful to try to think of it as just flipping the lunch and snack foods. Dinner is still just as important, and we are adapting to the impact of the medications.

4. Another meal like snack may be needed before bed!

Don’t be surprised if your kid (or you!) find that you are hungry again a short time after dinner. This is common when we haven’t been able to meet our energy needs during the day, the body is playing some catch up.

What we find helps, is planning for a satisfying snack, including some protein and carbohydrates at this time of day!

Planning in advance can help with decision-making in the moment.

5. Get the individual with ADHD involved in the food decisions

It can feel so draining to be the one making meal and snack decisions all the time!

To help feel more successful and to prevent fatigue in food decision-making, get everyone involved.

• What are their favourite foods?
• What foods have they found easiest to eat mid-day?
• Are there any new foods that they want to try?
• Bring them to the store with you if possible, to find one new snack item.
• And keep track of your wins!! A running list of ideas will help prevent you from having to reinvent the wheel every week, too.

For more tips on meal planning and eating with ADHD, check out these blogs and feel free to share them with your clients:

🍓 https://www.healthstandnutrition.com/healthy-eating-habits-adhd-tips/

🍓https://www.healthstandnutrition.com/adhd-diet-food-supplements/

💬 Ask Your Clients These Questions:

• Do they find that their stimulant medication impacts their appetite?
• Have they made any adjustments to help ensure they are still getting adequate nutrition?
• Do they need any more support in this area?

Let us know if you have any nutrition questions personally or for the clients you serve. We’re always happy to help!