This pilot study explored whether a sensory food education activity could encourage neurodiverse adults to try, eat, and enjoy new and healthy foods.
A group of of individuals who self-identified as neurodivergent took part in a food tasting experience that engaged all five senses, with the aim of discovering whether such an approach could help them become more positive towards new foods.
'Neurodiverse' is an umbrella term used to describe people with cognitive differences (or differences in the way people think) who either self-identify or are diagnosed with neurodivergent conditions. These include dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism and ADHD.
It can be a challenge to encourage neurodiverse adults to try new, unfamiliar and healthy foods. Often ‘beige foods’ are considered safe foods due to their lack of strong taste or offensive textures. Examples of beige foods include chips, white bread and chicken nuggets (The Association of UK Dietitians, 2025).
Other barriers for neurodiverse people to try new foods are, for example, not wanting food on plates to touch, and only accepting eating food from certain, well-known brands. Restrictive diets can be mentally exhausting and lead to malnutrition.
This project used the Sapere Method of Sensory Food Education to encourage neurodiverse adults to participate in and learn about healthy foods in an engaging way (Sapere, 2018). This study offers the experience of tasting new healthy foods after exploring them with the five senses (touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight). The study used methods from TastEd, a UK organisation that delivers Sapere-based Sensory Food Education in UK primary schools.
Dr Suzanna Forwood and Dr Nic Gibson (ARU Psychology) contributed to the design, delivery and reporting of the project.
Ruth Platt (ARU Education) contributed to the design and delivery of the project, and provided essential training in TastEd methods to the team. Dr Kevin Bryant (ARU Public Health) contributed to the design of the project.
Gladis Mussa and Alice Harrison (ARU student Research Assistants) delivered two of the sessions, and collected in-person commentary from participants during the sessions to inform and improve the activity for participants.
Ciara Byford (Research Assistant, Safe Soulmates) analysed the questionnaires and drafted the report.