Whole Body Nutrition

Whole Body Nutrition Whole Body Nutrition is a Neuro-affirming, trauma informed clinical practice that values and honors lived experience.

Hi, I’m Margo (she/her); proudly neurodivergent, mother of two, Accredited Clinical Nutritionist and founder of Whole Body Nutrition.

TW death. Recently someone in our community passed away.Every week I get messages and emails from people telling me how ...
11/12/2025

TW death. Recently someone in our community passed away.

Every week I get messages and emails from people telling me how important my work is.

And there are many others out there doing this work too.

I know how difficult it is coming up against a system that really needs to change, but we have to keep fighting.

Autistic people deserve better support.

It is not my place to share what has happened here but I wanted to share this poem. This person did touch my life and I want them to be remembered here as part of our community. 💜

For You

We didn’t know each other well,

not in the way I wish we had.

We walked a similar path,

masking in the shadows,

but never found the moment

to speak it aloud together.

You once told me my work

meant something to you.

I wanted to hug you then,

to say I see you, truly.

But I held that tenderness back,

thinking it wasn’t my place.

I wish I hadn’t.

I wish I’d said it anyway.

The world didn’t hold you gently enough.

A system that should have protected you

Failed. 

For You, I promise this:

your legacy will not fade.

It will live on in my work,

in every person I support,

in every fire I light

against the darkness you faced.

You will live on in my memory

as a spark,

burning bright within me,

guiding me forward

as I continue this work

for you, for me, and for everyone who needs it.

Love always Margo. 

💜💜

11/12/2025

This Christmas/holidays it's absolutely okay to do whatever you need to meet your sensory needs. This might look like..

🌲Taking safe foods to family, friend or work gatherings
🌲Taking breaks when at events or even leaving early
🌲Using headphones or other sensory tools to support regulation and safety.

Also it's okay to eat before events
Okay to eat when no one else is eating
Okay if you don't like the big Christmas lunch
Okay to tell someone "this topic is off limits" if they start talking about what you eat or your body.

None of these things are being rude! It's important you support yourself and meet your sensory needs.

PDA food and eating cycle...Interoception can greatly impact eating for PDA individuals.Eating can be experienced as a p...
08/12/2025

PDA food and eating cycle...

Interoception can greatly impact eating for PDA individuals.

Eating can be experienced as a perceived threat and the greater the hunger the more difficult it is to eat. Hunger itself may present as an internal demand, which can be just as triggering as external ones.
Hunger may not be recognised until it reaches an urgent or crisis point, creating a cycle of distress that can lead to panic or shutdown.
The brain is caught in a conflict between needing to eat to meet basic survival needs and not feeling safe due to a heightened sense of threat or discomfort.

This makes eating an incredibly difficult and complex experience.

Do you relate to this? Let me know in the comments ⤵️

To break the cycle:
This is a gradual and careful process that requires patience, understanding, and compassion. It involves creating an environment where the nervous system can settle and begin to recognise what safety feels like.

Focus on putting supportive structures in place across all areas of life, ones that support regulation and safety.

Key supports to prioritise:

Felt Safety: cultivating a sense of security in the body and mind.
Provide safe foods.
Make sure the environment is safe.
Consider sensory safety.

Predictability: providing consistency. Predictability doesn’t have to be rigid. When a PDAer knows what’s coming, they can plan and make choices within that structure helping them maintain autonomy.

Autonomy: allowing choice and control over decisions that involve the PDAer.

Flexibility: adapting to needs without pressure or rigid expectations.

This was adapted from
Hunger cycle infographic.

Follow for more neuroaffirming content.

💜🧡

Disclaimer: The information shared on this account is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment

08/12/2025

Struggling with food today??

Gentle reminder...

All foods fit.
All foods provide nutrition, not matter what they are.
It's always best to eat something over nothing.

If you haven't eaten for 3-4 hours, you know what to do 💜🧡

Disclaimer: The information shared on this account is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment

Do’s and don’t this holiday seasonDo allow for sensory needs to be met to support regulation - this might look like scre...
07/12/2025

Do’s and don’t this holiday season

Do allow for sensory needs to be met to support regulation - this might look like screens while eating, headphones at family gatherings, stimming at the dinner table or it might look completely different.

Don't comment on what others eat or their body - These comments can impact a person’s sense of safety and wellbeing. Even well-intended comments can be triggering, uncomfortable, or harmful.

Don’t force interactions - Crowds, hugs, busy family events, and noisy rooms can feel overwhelming. If a child doesn’t want to be hugged or kissed by another person they don’t have too. They may also not want to speak to people. This is okay. Offer children space, and autonomy so they can join in at their pace.

Do provide safe low pressure foods and predictable options - this will help with regulation, nourishment and safety over the holiday period.

Don’t push new foods just “because it’s Christmas”- festive meals don’t erase sensory needs or food anxieties.

Do adjust expectations and build in downtime, regulation breaks, and transitions - The holiday period can be very overwhelming with all the gatherings and lack of routine. Our sensitive nervous systems may need extra support during the holidays.

💜💜

Disclaimer: The information shared on this account is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment

✨️ Part 1 ✨️Persistent Drive For Autonomy (PDA) nervous systems struggle with:Pressure: PDA nervous systems struggle wit...
02/12/2025

✨️ Part 1 ✨️Persistent Drive For Autonomy (PDA) nervous systems struggle with:

Pressure: PDA nervous systems struggle with pressure, even when it’s gentle or well-intentioned.

Internal & external demands: PDA nervous systems struggle with both internal and external demands, which can put them into fight and flight mode and feel very overwhelming.

Sensory overwhelm: PDA nervous systems struggle with sensory overwhelm, making eating really difficult.

Interoceptive awareness: PDA nervous systems struggle with interoceptive cues like hunger, fullness, or thirst.

“Power” imbalances: PDA nervous systems struggle with situations that feel like a power imbalance.

Strict mealtimes: PDA nervous systems struggle with strict mealtimes, as fixed expectations can trigger anxiety and can feel like demand/threat to the nervous system.

Loss of autonomy: PDA nervous systems struggle with any loss of autonomy, including decisions about when, where or what to eat.

Direct language & questions: PDA nervous systems struggle with direct language or questions, which can feel like demands.

All these things and more can impact eating and relationship with food.

✨️Stay tuned for part 2: PDA nervous systems respond well to...✨️

💜💜

Disclaimer: The information shared on this account is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment

Part 2 ✨️PDA nervous systems respond well to:Safe environments: PDA nervous systems respond well to environments that fe...
02/12/2025

Part 2 ✨️PDA nervous systems respond well to:

Safe environments: PDA nervous systems respond well to environments that feel predictable and safe.

Dropping demands: PDA nervous systems respond well when demands are reduced.

Avoiding sensory overwhelm: PDA nervous systems respond well when their environment and food meets their sensory needs.

Safe foods: PDA nervous systems respond well to having reliable, familiar “safe foods” available without pressure.

Nervous system safety: PDA nervous systems respond well when their body feels regulated, supported, and safe.

Equalising: PDA nervous systems respond well to interactions that feel collaborative and equal.

Autonomy: PDA nervous systems respond well when they have genuine autonomy over choices, timing, and pace.

Declarative language: PDA nervous systems respond well to declarative language that removes pressure and invites connection.

💜💜

Disclaimer: The information shared on this account is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment

What's your favourite crunchy snack?Our clients most popular crunchy snacks:💜popcorn💜carrot/celery sticks💜corn chips/ pr...
01/12/2025

What's your favourite crunchy snack?

Our clients most popular crunchy snacks:

💜popcorn
💜carrot/celery sticks
💜corn chips/ pringles/ sweet chilli sour cream chips
💜roasted chickpeas and fava beans
💜peanuts, cashews
💜soy crisps
💜chocolate rice cakes
💜crunchy granola bars

Crunchy foods can help sensory seekers by calming the nervous system and supporting regulation!

Follow for more neuro-affirming feeding content!

25/11/2025

PDAers are very clued in to whats going on around them. You wont be able to trick or sneak food into them. They will sense your expectation straight away and it may damage their trust in you.

It is much better to be upfront and honest about your intentions.

✨️We've written a new blog on PDA and eating. Head to the link in our bio to read it.✨️

💜💜

Disclaimer: The information shared on this account is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment

23/11/2025

Is your PDA child waking and wanting sweet foods or maybe they are sneaking foods? They might be looking for regulation and safety through foods or they may be equalising.

Does your child do this? 💜

Disclaimer: The information shared on this account is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment

Okay hear me for a second, YES protein is absolutely important. But when we start obsessing about protein and getting an...
20/11/2025

Okay hear me for a second, YES protein is absolutely important. But when we start obsessing about protein and getting anxious when all snacks and meals don't have protein this is not good.

We should not be using protein as a way to "reduce calories", limit total food intake OR to sacrifice fats or carbohydrates in our diet.

Aside from certain medical conditions most people need a balance of all macronutrients to thrive.

Please also remember that protein isn't found just in meat, eggs, beans and legumes. It's also found in dairy, grains, nuts and seeds. Many people with ARFID and feeding differences can only get their protein intake from grains, dairy and nuts and this is okay.

Fed is best and we need to normalise that eating looks different for everyone.

💜🧡

Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 💫



Disclaimer: The information shared on this account is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

17/11/2025

For PDAers autonomy, choice and control is everything when it comes to trying new foods.

Do PDAers need to be trying new foods all the time? NO. It's okay to sit in safety, with low demand safe foods.

💜🧡









Disclaimer: The information shared on this account is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment

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Melbourne, VIC

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Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

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