ARFID & Extreme Picky Eating Screener for Kids

A free, evidence-based screener to help you identify potential indicators and risk factors of ARFID and extreme picky eating in minutes.

Start the Screener

Child with ARFID holding broccoli — illustrating extreme picky eating in kids

Signs of ARFID and extreme picky eating often go far beyond typical mealtime struggles. It can look like texture sensitivity, fear of new foods, lack of appetite, or the list of foods they will eat keeps getting shorter.

If you’re wondering if your child’s picky eating is typical or something more, you are not overreacting. And you are not alone.

Parent taking the PSA-Eat ARFID screener for kids on a mobile phone

The Answers You’ve Been Looking For

The Pediatric Screener for ARFID and Extreme Picky Eating (PSA-Eat) is a free ARFID test for kids that provides immediate, clinically-grounded answers about whether your child’s eating shows signs or risk factors of ARFID and extreme picky eating.

Take the PSA-Eat

Understanding ARFID in Kids

ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is a feeding condition where a child’s limited diet goes beyond picky eating. It’s not a phase, a parenting failure, or a behavior choice. It’s an eating disorder that can affect a child’s growth, health, nutrition, and social and emotional wellbeing.

The earlier ARFID is identified, the more options families have. A screener isn’t a diagnosis, but it gives you concrete next steps to help your child’s eating.

Young girl holding bell peppers — ARFID treatment can help children expand their foods

Assess your child’s picky eating now, so you can treat or prevent eating problems earlier than ever.

Start the Assessment

Developed by a Team of Credentialed Specialists

The PSA-Eat is based on the latest research and decades of experience.

Pediatric Medicine
Nutrition
Occupational Therapy

Psychology
Eating Disorder Treatment
Gastroenterology

Pediatric Medicine
Nutrition
Occupational Therapy
Psychology
Eating Disorder Treatment
Gastroenterology

Take the PSA-Eat

Frequently Asked Questions

This screener does not provide a medical diagnosis. The results area be a valuable tool to understanding your child’s eating. If you have questions or wish to seek a diagnosis, we encourage you to discuss them with your child’s healthcare provider.

Click Here to learn more about how to treat ARFID.

ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is an eating disorder where a child’s limited diet goes beyond typical picky eating — not a phase, not a parenting failure. Children with ARFID may have a shrinking list of accepted foods, anxiety around new textures or smells, low appetite, or difficulty maintaining growth and nutrition. It can affect children of any age, including toddlers. Click here to learn more about what ARFID is and how it differs from typical picky eating.

ARFID is an eating disorder and results in children eating insufficient food or variety. Symptoms can include:

Having a small or shrinking list of foods they will eat due to texture or sensory issues
Low appetite
Anxiety about food

Kids with ARFID may

Struggle to maintain growth curves and nutrition
Have to bring their own food with them everywhere
Have anxiety about eating or feel socially isolated

Typical picky eating, however, is less severe. Kids who are just picky can

Easily eat enough variety and amount to meet their growth and nutrient needs
Try new foods after seeing them several times
Participate in eating related to social experiences and travel

Click Here to learn more about ARFID and how it differs from Picky Eating.

Once you get your results, we provide you with next step recommendations. These could include, seeking out a health evaluation or diagnosis, or joining a family behavior change program. We encourage you to share your PSA-Eat results with your provider to discuss your options.

We also provide many helpful resources you can send to your Healthcare Providers, including accredited ARFID & Extreme Picky Eating continuing education courses, pediatric target weight estimators, and other helpful resources

Click Here for Healthcare Provider resources.

The Pediatric Screener for ARFID and Extreme Picky Eating can be used for any age. For infants under the age of one, it can be used to determine risk factors for ARFID and extreme picky eating.

ARFID is considered a “lifespan” diagnosis, which means it doesn’t go away once someone has it. But a person can be restored to health and have no future relapses after a complete physical and psychological recovery.

Click Here to learn more about ARFID recovery in children.

Treatment for ARFID in children typically involves behavioral intervention — gradual food exposure with support from specialists in OT, psychology, nutrition, and pediatric medicine. Options range from outpatient therapy with a feeding specialist to family-based programs you can do at home. BetterBites Treatment is a research-backed, daily-step family behavioral program built specifically for children with ARFID and extreme picky eating.

Learn more about BetterBites Treatment

Yes. We never sell or distribute the results of your screener or your personal information to any 3rd party or provider. We highly encourage you to share your PSA-Eat results with your child’s healthcare provider.

Click Here to read our Privacy Policy.

Stop wondering. Get clarity.

You’ve spent months — maybe years — wondering if what you’re seeing is “normal.”
The PSA-Eat will help you get answers and what to do next.

Get Your PSA-Eat Results

Stop wondering. Get clarity.

You’ve spent months — maybe years — wondering if what you’re seeing is “normal.” The PSA-Eat will help you get answers and what to do next.

Get Your PSA-Eat Results