Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex condition that affects a wide, wide range of people around the world. To that end, there’s no real answer that will help every single person who suffers from ADHD symptoms. Instead, it’s a little easier to bear in mind a few different ideas that might help you or a loved one with the condition.
In this article, we’re going to run through a few ideas that can help with the symptoms of ADHD, from supplying a little more energy in those moments when it may be needed, to supplying something that may be useful for stimming in a particularly stressful moment.
You can find a wide range of things that we mention in our sweet hampers since the hampers themselves contain a range of options that can be tailored to a specific customer. Personalised sweets will allow you to tailor a gift, even if it’s to yourself, in order to make sure that the recipient will adore it. Nutrients and food are a great for managing ADHD symptoms and helping them focus.
Flavour fixations for an ADHD brain
Many people with ADHD experience flavour fixations, an intense craving for a specific taste or texture. This could be as broad as “cheesy” (think whole grain crackers with cheddar or Greek yoghurt with herbs) or as specific as one brand of fizzy, sour candy.
These fixations can help with stimming, repetitive sensory actions that bring comfort and improve emotional regulation and help an ADHD brain.
With that in mind, personalised sweets can be the ideal solution. A great ADHD-friendly treat basket could include a range of different things, including, of course, just one thing in a large quantity. Do be careful with too much sugar, as it can cause blood sugar spikes that are associated with worsening ADHD symptoms and affect mood and brain function.
Say someone felt the need for fizzy, sugary snacks, that’s something that a sweet hamper could certainly cater to - a range of cola bottles and fizzy belts could be assembled to be sure that the craving is met.
Savoury solutions
Savoury solutions can sometimes be precisely what’s called for, especially when someone with ADHD feels the need to stim. Stimming is a complex, multi-faceted thing, where practitioners typically carry out a simple, repetitive behaviour that brings them a level of comfort. While it may seem like strange behaviour to select an outsider looking in, it typically makes perfect sense to the person in question.
The reason we suggest savoury solutions to this end is that the texture of savoury options is typically a lot simpler and more predictable than that of a sweet option. Compare, for example, sweet toffee popcorn to salty crackers. The popcorn typically has a range of different flavours and textures in a single bag, since the sugar can barely coat a single kernel, or it can form a thick shell.
Salty, savoury crackers, however, typically have much the same texture in every single bite. This is certainly by design, since confectionery companies are aiming to ensure that their crackers and other snacks retain the same flavour in every single bite, and every single pack. These options keep blood sugar levels more stable than sugary snacks, supporting consistent energy and focus.
Therefore, the use of some form of savoury crisps, crackers, or popcorn can be a useful way for an ADHD person to stim.
A wide range of flavours to try
Since ADHD is essentially a disease that is characterised by the lack of dopamine in the brain, there is a range of times in which several different options may not feel at all correct or useful to an ADHD sufferer. For example, a person’s favourite meal may suddenly not feel at all tasty, or their go-to stimming food may no longer bring them too much comfort in the grand scheme of things.
To that end, trying a wide range of different things all in one go may feel like it’s the best way forward for an ADHD sufferer in those moments. Sweet hampers can be a great option in those moments since it allows the ADHD-sufferer to experience that range of flavours in a very short space of time.
Great sweet hampers can allow for the shopper to select the elements that are within the hamper, down to a very specific level, in some cases. To that end, we would recommend taking a look at some hampers that might allow for that level of control. If the person you’re buying for has a favourite candy, you can select that, as well as a range of other candies with wildly different flavours. Remember, variety is the way to overcome that specific type of decision paralysis. Eventually, a choice will be made, and the ADHD sufferer will be able to enjoy a wonderful treat all to themselves.
Fast and slow energy release
A combination of fast and slow energy release may be a particularly wonderful option if you were considering making a homemade version of any level of treats for a loved one.
Many people with ADHD report fluctuating energy levels, which can make it hard to stay on task. Pairing fast-release foods (for quick energy) with slow-release foods (for sustained energy) helps prevent crashes.
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Fast-release: Fresh fruit, honey, or small amounts of natural jam.
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Slow-release: Whole grain bread, oats, or nuts.
Therefore, having a constantly high level of energy is, perhaps, the easiest and best option.
ADHD Friendly Recipes
Here are some recipes to use as part of a healthy diet.
Banana Nut Butter Wrap
Energy balance: Fast, and slow-release carbs, healthy fats, protein
Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
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1 whole-grain tortilla
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1 banana
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2 tbsp nut butter (peanut, almond, or sunflower)
Instructions:
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Spread nut butter on a tortilla.
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Place a banana on one end, and roll it up.
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Slice into bite-sized rounds if preferred.
Greek Yoghurt Parfait
Energy balance: Protein + complex carbs + natural sugar
Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
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1 cup Greek yoghurt (plain or lightly sweetened)
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½ cup berries (fresh or frozen)
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2 tbsp granola or oats
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1 tsp honey (optional)
Instructions:
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Scoop yoghurt into a bowl.
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Layer berries and granola on top.
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Drizzle with honey if desired.
Apple Slice Sandwiches
Energy balance: Crunch + protein + fiber
Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
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1 apple, cored and sliced into rounds
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2–3 tbsp nut butter
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Optional: sprinkle of cinnamon or raisins
Instructions:
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Spread nut butter on one apple slice.
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Top with another slice to make a “sandwich.”
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Repeat until all slices are used.
A homemade treat could be anything at all that you might think of, especially options that specifically cater to the tastes of the ADHD sufferer to whom you’re catering.
If you wanted to go the extra mile, there are exhaustive jam recipes online, all of which can be fairly easy to make in the right circumstances.
We hope that this article has given you a few gentle nudges into the world of sweet hampers, personalised sweets, and the different options that can allow you to cater to an ADHD loved one in the best way possible.