Portland Street Community Corner

A common misconception is that safe foods follow a predictable checklist. In reality, it is entirely individualized and deeply tied to how a person’s nervous system, sensory profile, and executive functioning process input in real-time.

​Because of this, safe foods are highly fluid.
​They can change day by day, hour by hour, or moment to moment. A meal that is perfectly safe and regulating yesterday can become an absolute sensory nightmare today depending on current levels of burnout, stress, or fatigue.

​To truly understand or support someone, look past the specific brands or ingredients and focus on the individual. Instead of searching for a permanent rule, the most effective question you can ask is:
​"What is a safe food for you right now?"

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Got Eggs? 🥚

​It’s that time of year when chickens are laying more eggs than their keepers can possibly consume! If you’re a local chicken keeper with a few extra eggs to spare, we would love for you to share them with your neighbors. For many people with ARFID, eggs are such a reliable staple because they can be prepared in so many different ways and textures.

​While our Portland Street fridge is currently paused, there are plenty of other community fridges that could use this help right now! You can find the community fridges in the Chattanooga area by using this interactive map made by a community member: https://fridges.chattanoogamapped.com/

​Thank you for continuing to look out for one another. Together, we keep our community fed!

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"What are your safe foods?" is a standard question used to understand and support individuals with ARFID. However, because the word food is right in the name of the disorder, a massive part of the equation is frequently missed: hydration. People rarely think about the hydration aspect of ARFID, but it is just as critical to survival as solid meals.

​The exact same sensory barriers, anxiety, and physical roadblocks that apply to a plate of food apply to a glass of water. For many autistic individuals, plain tap water, the texture of certain juices, or the carbonation of sodas can cause severe distress. There are people in our community—including our own safe foods ambassador—who have been hospitalized for severe dehydration because of ARFID.

​Part of navigating safe foods is recognizing the critical need for safe liquids, too. Keeping the body adequately hydrated means finding whatever fluid bypasses an individual's specific sensory barriers, whether that is a precise brand of electrolyte water, juice boxes, sports drinks, or nutritional shakes. Whatever fluid a person can consistently consume without pain or panic is a valid and necessary part of their routine.

​When we advocate for safe food access, we have to start looking at the glass just as much as the plate. We need to stop leaving liquids out of the conversation. Safe intake requires both eating and drinking, and safe liquids are just as vital to health as safe foods.

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Food accessibility goes beyond just having food on a shelf. It requires understanding sensory processing, GI sensitivities, and texture aversions.

​When a person's system rejects certain textures, smells, or specific brands, forcing compliance isn't nutrition; it causes physical pain and severe distress. True community care means acknowledging that safe foods are a medical and sensory necessity, not a preference. True food security ensures everyone has access to the exact, reliable foods their bodies can handle without pain.

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Hey everyone, these are our current safe food requests for the Portland Street fridge. Any and all help is deeply appreciated.

You can also see our requests as we add them here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16IbO__CiaICyj2q1n-8uR6h23inZf3lj4ZFdK8O0jHI/edit?usp=drivesdk

We need your help immediately!

​Right now, there are autistic individuals and families right here in our community who are severely struggling with food insecurity and ARFID. They are sitting on a waitlist, waiting for the specific safe foods they need to survive.

​It's heartbreaking that we have these people in our community struggling to eat, and as much as we want to do something about it, we need the community's help as well. The reality is we are completely stuck because we do not have the donations to fund it. We cannot clear this waitlist alone.

​If you have even $1 or $2 to spare, please donate right now. Our community is hurting, and any amount you can give goes directly toward getting these families the food they need. Please don't wait, donate today.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/autistics-for-safe-food

When we highlight that this initiative is autistic-led, we are emphasizing that it is built from the ground up by autistic individuals who understand the intersection of neurodiversity, sensory needs, and food access. Centering these voices allows us to create solutions that offer true inclusion, understanding, and dignity for everyone in our community.

​This is the perfect week to talk about autistic leadership, because Chattanooga’s very first Autistic Pride Day is happening this Saturday, June 20th (11a -3p Downtown Library on Broad Street). ​Come out to celebrate, connect, and meet some of the autistic leaders driving this work. Autistics for Safe Food will have a table set up, and we would love for you to stop by, chat with us, and learn more about what we are building together.

​In addition to the educational table, we (Autistics For Safe Food and Chattanooga Pride Food Coalition) are having a food and water drive at the event. Please consider bringing unopened bottled water and non-perishable foods to help support our neighbors. Every donation directly impacts our ongoing efforts.

​We look forward to seeing you this Saturday.

Food accessibility is about more than just filling shelves. It requires actively listening to the specific needs of neurodivergent individuals, which is why taking requests for safe foods and filling those requests to keep them stocked as much as possible is so vital for reliable nutrition.

​When a community understands these sensory needs and keeps safe foods available, it directly supports the health and well-being of the entire population. True community care means respecting these food requirements without judgment and adapting outreach to support everyone.

​By understanding the vital role these staple items play in daily nutrition and comfort, we can build a more supportive and dependable resource network.

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We had some wonderful donations last night and today! Thank you to everyone who continues to assist and help us feed our community!