Between Bites is an advocacy organization created for individuals with Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Through understanding and connection, we recognize that eating involves emotional, sensory, and psychological experiences with each bite. Our app provides ARFID-friendly recipes and gives the user access to resources and shared experiences to help individuals feel less isolated as they grow to understand themselves, those around them, and living with ARFID. Other features include a non-calorie meal tracker, comfort and progress tracking, to help build confidence with food and guide users on their journey at their own pace.
The Between Bites initiative was shaped by lived experience with ARFID and the realization, later in life, that there was a name for what I had felt for so long. This discovery revealed a serious lack of visible spaces for individuals with ARFID to be represented and understood. Most conversation around eating disorders focuses on food consumption rather than the emotional and psychological moments that occur around food. In response to this gap, Between Bites aims to emphasize safety, emotional awareness, and ARFID-friendly resources to reduce isolation and create a safe space for care between every bite.
ARFID is often underdiagnosed and dismissed as picky eating. This leaves individuals with little to no knowledge about the disorder and no proper language to understand their experiences. Over time, emotional, sensory, and psychological challenges surrounding food have gone unnamed. In turn, this has made finding communities, resources, and validation troublesome. Without a clear understanding of ARFID, eating can cause individuals to feel isolated and confused.
The anonymous sharing feature was designed to create a safe, judgment-free environment where users can openly express their feelings toward specific foods. For individuals with ARFID, where food experiences are often tied to anxiety and sensory sensitivity, anonymity fosters honesty, reduces pressure, and builds a sense of community through shared experiences.