ADHD in daily life
ADHD and nutrition
There are many stories about ADHD and food. Here you can read what is and is not proven, and what to pay attention to when you take ADHD medication.
What is proven, and what is not
Sugar
No link
Research in children and young people found no link between sugar and ADHD, and no effect of sugar on their behaviour.Diets
No diet that cures ADHD
In a Dutch study in children, an elimination diet worked no better than healthy eating. Eating healthily and regularly is good for everyone, though.
What you may notice
- Reduced appetite due to ADHD medication.
- Weight loss due to medication.
- Eating irregularly because you forget or are in a hurry.
What helps
- Eat healthily and with variety, at regular times.
- Take methylphenidate during or after a meal if you are losing weight, and eat healthy snacks.
- Drink little coffee and no energy drinks if you take medication: they can make you more restless.
- Go easy on alcohol: it increases side effects.
Are you losing a lot of weight?
Reduced appetite is a known side effect of ADHD medication. If you lose a lot of weight, discuss this with your practitioner. Your pharmacy, GP or a dietitian can also help you think it through.
More about medicationQuestions about nutrition
- No. Research in children and young people found no link between sugar and ADHD.
- There is no diet that has been proven to cure ADHD. Eating healthily and regularly is good for everyone, though.
- Drink only a little. Together with medication, coffee and energy drinks can make you more restless.
Sources
- Thuisarts – Using medication for ADHD (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- Apotheek.nl – Methylphenidate (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- NHS – ADHD in adults (opens in a new window)
- Kenniscentrum KJP – Elimination diet no more effective than healthy eating (TRACE) (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- World Federation of ADHD – Scientific evidence (statement 45: sugar) (opens in a new window)
- Wolraich et al. (1995) – Sugar and behaviour in children, JAMA (opens in a new window)
Checked in October 2026.
ADHD in daily life
Read more
- ADHD and work or studyWhat you may notice of ADHD at work and during your studies, what helps, whether you should tell your employer and who can help you.
- ADHD and relationshipsHow ADHD plays a part in your relationship and with loved ones: forgetfulness, emotions, impulsive reactions. What helps and where you can go together.
- ADHD and sleepWhy many people with ADHD sleep badly, the role of the body clock and medication, and what you can do yourself for a better night.
Curious about the treatment?
If you are diagnosed with ADHD, your treatment starts straight away, without a new waiting time.