12 ARFID and Autism-friendly Picnic Ideas - Snack Box Inspiration

Venturing out into the sun with a wicker hamper, a gingham blanket and a glass or two of Pimm's is considered a flagstone of "doing life right."

And it's hard to argue with that.

The great outdoors, plentiful food and good company are some of the finest joys in life.

UK weather aside, because let's not dwell on it, the most likely thing to scupper this idyllic plan is food aversions.

Everyone has their likes and dislikes, but for a neurodivergent or those who suffer from ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), food can be a complicated matter, to the point that it is not an enjoyable part of life.

These aversions, primarily with ARFID, are not and should not be classified as fussiness, snobbery or worrying about weight gain.

These present as a disinterest in certain foods, and the literal inability to handle certain textures, smells and tastes.

An attempt to handle them can cause panic, discomfort, and in some cases vomiting (I know these from experience.)

It's very frustrating for the individuals who suffer from these aversions. Not to mention extremely stressful and guilt-inducing for parents of ARFID children.

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Our family is no exception, although funnily enough, Boy is actually the best eater of the 3 of us by some margin.

Most days, we happily eat individual breakfasts, and we seem to have worked out a varied rotation of respectable dinnertime ideas.

The one that always gets us is lunch.

Picnics/packed lunches in particular are bordering on impossible.

Looking at the top picnic staples, you'll see the problem.

Admittedly, reviewing the stats, I am the biggest complication.

What this has meant, though, is that over the years, I've had to get more creative than just putting some sandwiches, crisps and fruit in a lunch box and calling it a day.

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Snack Boxes - Buffets on the go!

The easiest way to add variety to your picnic without having to pack a ton of Tupperware is to invest in a few compartmented snack boxes.

There are plenty of these available on Amazon, usually with 2 - 6 compartments per box.

Important note - Its good to have a variety of sizes and compartment quantities, but make sure you get boxes where the lids have sealed dividers too.

A good example is this Ulrikco 5-compartment box.

The sealed lines on the lid, matching the compartment edges in the box, ensure the compartments are actually sealed separately and ensure that foods do not contaminate each other. Very handy if you want to include dips or wet foods in your boxes, but crucial for anyone with an aversion to different foods touching each other.

The whole appeal of a snack box is to keep things separate, so make sure to buy boxes that will.

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With snack boxes in mind, below are some ideas and inspiration for packing a highly customisable picnic that vibes with various food aversions and requirements.

These ideas will hopefully encourage a communal and experimental experience, whilst ensuring there is something for everyone.

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The Bombay Box

• Bombay Mix

• Cherry Tomatoes

• Cucumber Sticks

• Mini Samosas

• Paneer Cubes

• Sliced Chicken Tikka

• Mini Poppadum's

• Mango Chutney

• Roti Strips

The Orient Express

• Prawn Crackers

• Spring Rolls

• Chicken Satay Skewers

• Chinese Dumplings

• Shredded Duck or Chicken

• Chinese Pancakes

• Sliced Spring Onion

• Cucumber and Carrot Sticks

• Hoisin Sauce

Sushi me rollin'

• Cooked Sushi Rice

• Nori Sheets (Seaweed)

• Shredded Teriyaki Chicken

• Smoked Salmon

• Cucumber and Carrot Sticks

• Edamame Beans

• Shredded Cabbage Salad

• Soy Sauce

• Gyoza

The English Breakfast

• Cooked Sausages or Sausage Rolls

• Hard Boiled Eggs

• Crispy Bacon

• Mini Hash Browns

• Toast Soldiers

• Cherry Tomatoes

• Black Pudding Bites

• Ketchup & Brown Sauce

• Butter

The Italian Job

• Breadsticks

• Plain Cooked Pasta

• Cherry Tomatoes

• Cheese Cubes or Mozzarella Balls

• Salami or Pepperoni

• Garlic Bread Strips

• Mini Pizzas

• Marinara Sauce

• Olives

Bringing out the Classics

• Sausage Rolls

• Scotch Eggs

• Pork Pies

• Plain Bread Squares

• Cheese & Ham Slices

• Cucumber Slices

• Cooked Chicken Slices

• Butter

• Crisps

The Afternoon Tea

• Plain Scones

• Clotted Cream

• Jam

• Plain Bread Squares

• Cheese & Ham Slices

• Smoked Salmon

• Cucumber Slices

• Butter

• Mini Cakes

Mexican Fiesta

• Tortilla Chips

• Guacamole*

• Salsa

• Beef Empanadas

• Plain Mini Wraps

• Cooked Fajita Spiced Chicken

• Cherry Tomatoes

• Sliced Bell Peppers

• Cheese Cubes

*To keep your Guacamole from turning brown, press a layer of cling film directly onto the surface of the dip before sealing the lid, or add a squeeze of lime juice on top to act as an antioxidant.

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As someone who adds at least one dessert to the end of everything. Dinner, lunch, snacking, swimming, online banking, etc.

Why not put a box aside for afters...

And for Pudding?

• Fresh Berries

• Dried Apricots or Mango

• Halved Grapes

• Brownie Bites

• Flapjack Bites

• Shortbread Fingers

• Marshmallows

• Chocolate Buttons

• Chocolate or Caramel Sauce

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You can also theme boxes around colour.

For some individuals with ARFID, diet can be restricted to food on the white-beige-brown scale.

If that's the case, then lean into it and make them their very own box.

Then look over in envy at all the cool stuff they have in there.

The White Box

• Plain White Bread Squares

• Plain crackers

• Halloumi

• Cooked Chicken

• Yogurt

• Popcorn

• White Chocolate Buttons

The Beige Box

• Breadsticks

• Cooked Pasta

• Chicken Nuggets

• Cheese Cubes

• Dry Cereal

• Crisps

• Biscuits

The Brown Box

• Plain Wholemeal Bread Squares

• Chicken Strips

• Cocktail Sausages

• Mixed Nuts

• Dry Bran Flakes

• Pretzels

• Milk Chocolate Buttons

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It can be so hard to navigate food aversions, and it's easy to feel left out or embarrassed by what you are eating (or not eating)

Nobody should be made to feel like this.

What you eat, when and how you eat are nobody's business but yours. Sensory issues with food are valid, and your requirements should be respected, the same as you would expect of an allergy or intolerance.

If you or your child's AFRID or food aversions are causing you any nutritional concerns, you can speak to your GP for guidance.

You can also visit Beat Eating Disorders for advice and support.

If there are no major health or nutritional concerns, then you do you 😊