I have been an extreme picky eater my entire life and like a number of the stories I have read, I too had relationship problems because of it. I really don’t have a memory of being sickly as a child, but I did go through all the childhood diseases as did my brothers and sister. I am the middle child of 7, but to be honest I only heard of the middle child syndrome in the 70’s while in the U.S. Navy and I have a difficult time understanding it. We grew up relatively poor with my father being a low paid short order cook. We had food every day, but I did learn as an adult that my parents struggled every day to make ends meet.
We had very basic meals with no money for eating healthy which means we had a lot of white rice and fried chicken and very little of anything else. You would think that this could be the cause of my picky eating, but my 5 brothers and sister will eat just about anything. While I avoid dinner parties, they look forward to them and I envy them for that. I eat almost no vegetables and no sea food and meats are limited to pork, beef and chicken, however, that depends on how it’s prepared. As with most stories I read, I too generally eat bland meals, consequently, I don’t eat ethnic meals including my own Puerto Rican meals – so no Mexican, Chinese, Indian – well this list is endless. As a result, I pretty much find myself eating the same 2 or 3 different meals which I repeat every 2 or 3 days. If I find myself a dinner function, my no fail excuse for not eating is that I suffer from sleep apnea which limits my sleep and a meal added to driving acts like a sleeping pill and I don’t want to hurt or kill someone should I fall asleep driving. The sleep apnea and lack of sleep is true, but the falling asleep while driving is exaggerated for effect.
After my last relationship ended about 12 years ago I tried dating a little in the beginning, but dating and dinners go hand-in-hand so I just eventually gave up and haven’t dated since. I do take numerous vitamins and supplements and amazingly I am generally in fair to good health considering my age. When my doctor draws my blood I make sure they test to make sure I am getting the nutrients I need – the results are posted online and I can see for myself. My son is a healthy eater with picky not being in his vocabulary. When the grandchildren started, I told my son to find a way to introduce them to different foods, but not to force them if they didn’t want to eat it. Sadly the three have different types of picky eating, but I think it’s consistent with what a lot of children go through. I just hope the grow out it, because I wouldn’t want them to have the life I had with food – I never even mentioned how it affected me professionally having worked in banking (operations officer) for many years and all the office functions that go along with that.
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682 entries.
wrote on September 28, 2024
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2:00 am
Admin Reply by: Bob
If you decide to start dating again try to be upfront with your food issues before the first date. That's what I did with my current wife and we have been married for over 25 years. Thanks for your message in our guest book.
wrote on August 25, 2024
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9:48 pm
Hi friends! I just watched “Not Just a Picky Eater” and was so relieved to hear from others like me. Foods in my regular rotation include: cheese pizza, cheese burgers, hot dogs, pasta, fries, grilled cheese, chicken tenders etc. I don’t eat anything spicy. I enjoy traveling internationally, but worry about finding “Lindsey safe” foods. I research menus before I go out to eat. When I have to go to work dinners or parties, I sometimes eat before going if a menu isn’t provided in advance. It’s validating to know that there is more to it than just me being picky or extra. I’m interested in learning more about ARFID. I’m not sure that my goal is to eat different foods. I look forward to connecting with you all.
wrote on August 15, 2024
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1:03 am
I have just come across the documentary "Not just a picky eater" and it is truly astounding to me as I thought it was just me as I have always been picky and it annoys my mother so much she thinks I just wont try things. However its the texture, taste, smell, colour. I don't eat meat, no salads except tomatoes. Vegies only carrots and broccoli nothing else. No sugar, no soft cheeses, avocado, garlic, onion, sauces or spices the plainer the better. I also only drink water either hot or cold. I live on play rice bubbles, gluten free brown rice noodle cups (no seasoning) cheese wraps and protein shakes. If I go out i will have bread or fries only. Everyone is always astounded and makes it a massive deal if I eat with them and the whole conversation is exhausting. Food is just fuel not enjoyable. Thank you for this forum
wrote on January 19, 2024
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8:32 pm
I have this memory as a kid trying steamed carrots. They barely touched the back of my throat before ending up all over the kitchen floor. My mom had me clean it up. She was a single mom and didn't have time to be the typical stay-at-home mom who made healthy meals. I didn't blame her because she did the very best she could. My diet consisted of McDonalds and other fast foods because it was easy and affordable. Fast forward to adulthood, and I still haven't changed. I took a cooking class a few years ago and figured out I don't like the actual taste of broccoli (one down! many more to go), but other than that, it's all a texture issue with me. The only fruit I've been able to consume are nearly ripe bananas and some apples (preferably without the skin), and as far as veggies go, corn saturated in butter. Everything else is nearly impossible to get down no matter what I put on it. I also realized I have a sensitive gag reflex. I've talked to many people but nobody understands. I get a weird look and a reminder that I'm 30, not a kid anymore. I drink milk like it's going out of style, have cereal every morning and maple and brown sugar oatmeal most nights if I don't eat out (pepperoni or cheese pizza, Thai fried rice - no veggies with extra egg, soft pretzels - any junk that's fried or bad for you pretty much). Lunch consists of a PB sandwich (no jelly) or chicken noodle soup. Bread and dairy basically. It don't know what it is, but with other health issues coming up, I'm desperately trying to fix this issue. It's just so hard doing this without guidance. I don't even know if I can change. Finding this website and reading everyone's stories of all ages and stages in life has brought me immense relief. At least I'm not alone.
Admin Reply by: Bob
Your gag reflex is interesting to me. In my case I can gag on just about anything. Even foods that I like which is a very short list. What happens if I have to chew something too many times it will trigger the gag reflex. That could be the reason I like things that are crunchy and easy to chew. Thanks for leaving your comment on our message board.
Bob K
Bob K
wrote on October 24, 2023
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7:21 am
I am also a bit of a picky eater but nowhere near as bad as the people whose stories have been told. I have never been shamed or bullied about it, though. I am so sad to read about the awful experiences some people have had. I can’t imagine being surrounded by such routine cruelty. Can’t these unpleasant people understand that their actions probably reinforce and increase the problem?
wrote on January 26, 2023
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11:54 pm
I believe there is safety and strength in numbers. Finding there was a community of others who suffer with the same extreme picky eating to the point of having a diagnosable eating disorder has been so empowering. Thank you for your transparency and support.
wrote on January 20, 2023
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3:12 pm
Always thought I was alone dealing with this it's hard to talk about with anyone your feelings like your being judged it's hard to get people understand especially when I don't understand why it can control your life your social life always making excuses people don't seem to understand it's not that easy to deal with imagine having a panic attack over dinner , it will affect your relationship it hurts but I understand why women would get flustered and leave though it hurts I get it I don't expect any woman to have to be in a relationship or married to me it just ruins everything , it will get old quick eating the same thing on regular basis, you feel bad about for people invite you to dinner then make excuses come off as being rude if it were easy as people think it is I would not be a grown man dealing with it imagine a a invisible wall just Pop up in front of your mouth even when you force yourself there nothing wrong with the food but any thing outside your limited diet trigger your gag reflex I hate it it takes e toll on your mental health and there seems to be no way you can think of to deal with this just feel alone anyone outside family and friends well them to don't get it they have all just got use to the way I am , I don't want to be alone but I don't expect any woman to have deal with me it always starts they think it's no big deal you will get use to it but doesn't take long before them to get annoyed have enough it then back to single again to the point you just give up looking for a woman that would be willing to deal with me and this stupid problem your life seems to revolve around it I am kinda like a quiet shy person in the first place but this just makes it 10 times worse unable to connect with someone because of it so hear I am telling Internet strangers I try my best to to break this problem but nothing works , for me I think it's a texture thing is my biggest problem, on top of all that it can ruin your health because all the things your body needs to be healthy is off limits to me I think talking about it helps a little not being so self conscious of
Admin Reply by: Bob
Dear John
You are far from alone because there are 1000s of people with your problems with food. You never asked to be the way you are. Medical professionals have been studying what do we really have. The correct name is ARFID Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. I like you have lived with it for over 75 years and I have managed to have a great life. I experienced your problems with finding a loving mate. My third wife has been with me close to 25 years now. I have sent you a direct invite to join one of our support groups. I hope you join and a good first post would be what you just posted into this guest book. Welcome Bob K
You are far from alone because there are 1000s of people with your problems with food. You never asked to be the way you are. Medical professionals have been studying what do we really have. The correct name is ARFID Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. I like you have lived with it for over 75 years and I have managed to have a great life. I experienced your problems with finding a loving mate. My third wife has been with me close to 25 years now. I have sent you a direct invite to join one of our support groups. I hope you join and a good first post would be what you just posted into this guest book. Welcome Bob K
wrote on January 8, 2023
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1:03 pm
I have a very strong memory of being forced to eat banana and custard in infant school when younger and heaving so badly because I don’t like custard.
School meals was torture and so my mam placed me on packed lunches which enabled me to be able to eat through the day and not go the whole without food.
I am 38 and struggle so badly at times, I am affected with textures (creams, yoghurts, custards, gravies thick ) make me heave and have an added thing if a sensitivity to spice even the tiniest bit of black pepper my tongue goes numb and I can’t taste anything
This leads to a limited variety of foods and a repetitive feel to food.
Apparently my grandfather was also a fussy eater, but my dad will eat anything and everything , mam on the other hand doesn’t do spices/curries / strong smelled foods as she seems to struggle with smell of things which I have a little of aswell
Banana sandwiches was a staple of my childhood , it took 20 years to even be able to tolerate some pizza due to the tomato base which I try and change to a bbq if possible but that runs the risk of being what I class as “warm” making my tongue go to warm and then food is just not enjoyable
School meals was torture and so my mam placed me on packed lunches which enabled me to be able to eat through the day and not go the whole without food.
I am 38 and struggle so badly at times, I am affected with textures (creams, yoghurts, custards, gravies thick ) make me heave and have an added thing if a sensitivity to spice even the tiniest bit of black pepper my tongue goes numb and I can’t taste anything
This leads to a limited variety of foods and a repetitive feel to food.
Apparently my grandfather was also a fussy eater, but my dad will eat anything and everything , mam on the other hand doesn’t do spices/curries / strong smelled foods as she seems to struggle with smell of things which I have a little of aswell
Banana sandwiches was a staple of my childhood , it took 20 years to even be able to tolerate some pizza due to the tomato base which I try and change to a bbq if possible but that runs the risk of being what I class as “warm” making my tongue go to warm and then food is just not enjoyable
wrote on December 1, 2022
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6:16 pm
I guess I'll add my input after 71 years as a picky eater. I went through elementary school, middle and high school, never eating anything except an ice cream sandwich (or cone) for lunch - I could never, and still can't, stand the smell of a cafeteria.
I subsisted mainly on fish, meat, french fries and bread growing up. I never went to friends' houses to eat. I hated summer camp because of food issues.
In a college health class, we were instructed to write down everything we ate for a month. My professor didn't believe what I turned in and said that one couldn't survive on that diet. Well, here I am.
My food issues seem to be related mostly to smell, but also to only what I can describe as being overwhelmed by taste. I can't stand the smell of vegetables being cooked, V8 juice, or many multi-food items like casseroles. To me, biting into an orange is like what I imagine others sense when biting into a lemon. I don't like watermelon, apples, pears, strawberries, pineapple, bananas, kiwi, grapes, cherries, etc. etc.
I'm not sure I can help anyone, except to say, my eating habits did expand beyond what I ate when I was younger. I now eat shellfish, sushi, and caesar salads and can usually find something to eat at almost any restaurant. So there's still hope...
I subsisted mainly on fish, meat, french fries and bread growing up. I never went to friends' houses to eat. I hated summer camp because of food issues.
In a college health class, we were instructed to write down everything we ate for a month. My professor didn't believe what I turned in and said that one couldn't survive on that diet. Well, here I am.
My food issues seem to be related mostly to smell, but also to only what I can describe as being overwhelmed by taste. I can't stand the smell of vegetables being cooked, V8 juice, or many multi-food items like casseroles. To me, biting into an orange is like what I imagine others sense when biting into a lemon. I don't like watermelon, apples, pears, strawberries, pineapple, bananas, kiwi, grapes, cherries, etc. etc.
I'm not sure I can help anyone, except to say, my eating habits did expand beyond what I ate when I was younger. I now eat shellfish, sushi, and caesar salads and can usually find something to eat at almost any restaurant. So there's still hope...
Admin Reply by: Bob
You are one of the few to get better in your golden years. Wish I could say the same. Thanks for your input.
wrote on November 23, 2022
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9:11 am
I live in queens New York and it was 12 am when I found this website and i read soooooo many comments and it's now 330 am and I'm writing this post. While reading everyone's eating problems it seriously made me want to cry, I just turned 33 last week and I can remember as a child I used to eat everything, like very very young child like 8 years old. I don't know what happened in my life around that time but I have no eaten anything since then. reading these comments make me feel so much better because trying to explain this to people is beyond impossible. I worked at a job where I worked in. a truck with a new partner everyday jand every single f**king day I was questioned about why I don't eat this and they would go through list asking me if I like this or that. that's not even the begining. I have been dealing with this for so long I really wish it would end. The saddest part of my whole life is that I met the girl of my dreams I love her more than life itself and she's a very simple girl who isn't flashy doesent party isn't anything she's so simple and loves one thing sooo much, and that is food. My girl loves to eat, she loves to go out to restaurants and try new places and try new foods from all over. Mind you I live in New York so the food is on another level over here...... supposably. I'm so lucky because when we go out to eat we go only to Italian food places because I can eat chicken parm but it has to be extremely thin sliced chicken if it's thick I won't eat it ughhhhh!!!!!!!!!! I'm so fucking annoying I seriously annoy the sh*t out of myself. I would do anything to change this!!! i seriously have one gift in my life I'm not skilled at anything at all besides one thing and that's baseball I'm soo good at baseball but I can t even write this without crying., so when I got to high-school everyone was growing and I wasn't growing at all and I realized that I wasn't growing bevsude of the way I eat and I was better than every single person on the team but I was so small I never would make it anywhere I realized everything I was doing was a complete waste of time and I dropped out of high school because the only thing I ever cared about and was good at was baseball. I used to be kind of heavy for my hejgbt I'm 5 ft 7 and I used to weight 150 lbs, I honestly gave up on food every single day when I'm hungry and I have to think for 3 hours about what I can eat for that meal, it became so misersble to me that I ended up giving up on food and now I just don't eat unless I'm absolutley starving and now I'm 33 years old like I said I'm 5ft 7 and I'm 127 lbs. I am so sad everytime I look in the mirror. I wish you guys could see what I look like, I'm such a good looking guy besides all the bul*sh*t and I can't get a job right now I have been looking for a job for over a year if you look in my email it's consistently emails of me getting denied for job after job after job after job after Job. The only job that I have gotten interviews for are construction jobs and like I said I'm 5ft 7 127 lbs and I'm soo fu*king nervous to take the job and embaress myself and everyone's going to laugh because I can't use the tool because I'm too weak or I can't carry something because it weights more than me. It's the most terrifying thing ever to me. I don't know what to do with my life and I'm with the love of my life it's the only good thing in my life right now and she's ready to leave me because I've been stuck in this situation for over a year. I don't know anymore and I can't even believe I just started to write and I've been writing for about 35 min straight without stopping I never did that in my entire life it felt good THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR THIS WEBSITE I HAVE BEEN SO ALONE MY ENTIRE LIFE. No doctors knew how to help me noone knows how to help me and I'm so so so tired of trying to help myself and failing its so exhausting my body hurts everything hurts and I have so many dreams but everything I start I have all this ambition and I never go through with anything I don't know why it's like I have a Damm wall I start things and just can't seem to follow through everything just stops. ughhh if anyone has any comments negetive or positive I'm open to litterally anything, if anyone has any critique or criticism I'm all ears. If anyone can help me in anyway possible please please please email me at howardtvondemand@gmail.com I'm open to any help if you can point me in the right direction, if someone can help me make a meal plan with how awful my pallette is to try to gain weight I would so appreciate it you don't even understand. Noone can help me and I have no idea where else to turn and I stumbled across this page at random and maybe my path was to stop here and write this entry to this guestbook for an hour straight. Who Knows. I really hope someone can Email me some advice somehow, I will be checking all the time. Thank you again for this website and letting me vent and blow off some steam. Thank you to the. creator, I really hope to hear from someone soon!!
Admin Reply by: Bob
I'm sending you a direct invite to our support group. No easy cures or answers. Life is better when we find out others suffer with our problems with many foods and the social consequences that follow. There is no reason why you can't have a great long life inspite of what you can and can't eat. it is only food and you are probably gifted in other ways. Try to be the best you can be.
Bob K
Bob K
wrote on November 16, 2022
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1:43 am
hi - I'm hannah. I'm 29. I'm autistic and I struggle with picky eating/ARFID since childhood, though my foods have expanded just a little since then.
my biggest struggles are general disinterest/apathy towards food, portion sizes, eating enough, & sensory issues.
my biggest struggles are general disinterest/apathy towards food, portion sizes, eating enough, & sensory issues.
wrote on November 3, 2022
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2:52 am
Wow!!! I thought I was one of a kind! I am over 60 and I have been a very picky eater my whole life. My Dad always said it started at about age 2 when I saw whipped butter scooped like ice cream on a restaurant table. I insisted on eating the ice cream and after screaming like a toddler, he finally let me eat it. Apparently, I was so shocked to taste butter, not ice cream, I lost all trust in foods and servers.
…I have my doubts that this event triggered my picky eating, but who knows. After all, I don’t imagine many 2 year olds have developed a wide-ranging diet yet.
Throughout childhood my diet was mainly restricted to peanut butter, plain white breads, French fries, and a few sweets. I have many memories of sitting at the kitchen table all by myself until bedtime because I would not eat what was served. My parents even sent me across the country to spend a summer with an Aunt who swore she would break me of this. For you parents who are dealing with children who are picky eaters, please know these were traumatic times for me and I believe they only served to increase my anxiety. I think it made it worse… for me anyway.
During high school and college, I worked very hard to add fried chicken and good cuts of steak to my list to give me more options in social settings to try to hide my affliction. I was successful, but only in adding KFC Original Recipe chicken and ribeyes. Since then, I have only expanded my chicken to other brands, including carefully prepared home-fried chicken, and chicken tinders/nuggets. I have also added filet mignon, but steaks must be prepared with only salt and pepper, nothing else.
I have taken multi-vitamins most of my adult life, adding a variety of supplements over the last 15 years.
Surprisingly, I am in excellent health. I am physically active and I feel 15-20 years younger than my age. I add this as a ray of hope for others who are struggling with this and for parents who are worried about their children with this affliction.
I readily admit, my desire to hide this from everyone except immediate family members has negatively affected my social life. I still try to avoid social meals with others when possible.
It is unbelievably comforting to know I am not alone. Now that this is being recognized by the medical community I am hopeful new treatments will be sought and found for picky eaters like me.
Best wishes to all!!
…I have my doubts that this event triggered my picky eating, but who knows. After all, I don’t imagine many 2 year olds have developed a wide-ranging diet yet.
Throughout childhood my diet was mainly restricted to peanut butter, plain white breads, French fries, and a few sweets. I have many memories of sitting at the kitchen table all by myself until bedtime because I would not eat what was served. My parents even sent me across the country to spend a summer with an Aunt who swore she would break me of this. For you parents who are dealing with children who are picky eaters, please know these were traumatic times for me and I believe they only served to increase my anxiety. I think it made it worse… for me anyway.
During high school and college, I worked very hard to add fried chicken and good cuts of steak to my list to give me more options in social settings to try to hide my affliction. I was successful, but only in adding KFC Original Recipe chicken and ribeyes. Since then, I have only expanded my chicken to other brands, including carefully prepared home-fried chicken, and chicken tinders/nuggets. I have also added filet mignon, but steaks must be prepared with only salt and pepper, nothing else.
I have taken multi-vitamins most of my adult life, adding a variety of supplements over the last 15 years.
Surprisingly, I am in excellent health. I am physically active and I feel 15-20 years younger than my age. I add this as a ray of hope for others who are struggling with this and for parents who are worried about their children with this affliction.
I readily admit, my desire to hide this from everyone except immediate family members has negatively affected my social life. I still try to avoid social meals with others when possible.
It is unbelievably comforting to know I am not alone. Now that this is being recognized by the medical community I am hopeful new treatments will be sought and found for picky eaters like me.
Best wishes to all!!
Admin Reply by: Bob
Thank you for your great posting on our guest book. I was out of town for a week and could not get to it till I got back. We have so many things in common.
Great post
Bob K
Great post
Bob K
wrote on October 22, 2022
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4:27 am
Hi, I tried to write something here several months ago but it never showed up. My 20yo sounds just like you all. I'm fine with it, at this point I don't expect her to expand the range of foods that she'll eat, but she's very uncomfortable with social situations that involve food, which is most of them. Do you have any suggestions for how she can deal with people who ask her why she's not eating, or just eating french fries, or why she brought her own lunch or whatever? She's shy and hates looking at all "different."
wrote on September 28, 2022
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12:36 pm
I am 49 years old and have been eating French Fries since I was 3-4 as well. I do eat pancakes, breads, doughnuts and some candies. I eat fat off bacon and do not eat crust of bread or biscuits. Oddly I am even picky on what types of fries and where they are from and how they are cooked (I do not like crispy ones or breaded ones). I am allergic to shellfish and intolerant to milk/dairy. I never let my eating disrupt my life or tried to hide it or was ashamed of it or really cared what others thought. I do wish I could overcome this and at least add some chicken or protein to my diet. Would love an update on your life after you went live with this on 20-20 and have you been able to “overcome” it and if so, how? I do not recall why mine started
Admin Reply by: Bob
I'm just about the same as I live out my 76th year of life. There is no reason you can't have a great happy long life. There are 1000s who also have this disorder. I'm sending you an invite one of our support groups. We have not been very active lately but there is a message archive with comments and answers to lots of questions you may have.
Currently I'm in Central Florida waiting for a nasty hurricane to pass our location.
Bob K
Currently I'm in Central Florida waiting for a nasty hurricane to pass our location.
Bob K
wrote on August 22, 2022
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2:48 pm
I’ve always said it’s easier to tell folk the food I like rather than the food I don’t like. My go to foods are: cheese pizza, peanut butter sandwiches (sometimes with jelly but only apple) chicken nuggets and fries. Fruits are okay, but the only vegetable I like is cucumber with salt. Breakfast is the best meal with the most variety for me.
I hate peas but PEAS is the most validation I’ve felt about my diet ever.
Thanks for having a place for picky eaters to share their stories.
I hate peas but PEAS is the most validation I’ve felt about my diet ever.
Thanks for having a place for picky eaters to share their stories.
wrote on August 13, 2022
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6:34 pm
I'm 34 and have been a picky eater for as Ling as I can remember. Trying new foods is such a tall task for me. When presented with the opportunity I feel sick to my stomach, irritated, and I feel a mental block preventing me from going forward. I have taken great strides in hiding it my entire life which has very often limited what I do socially. My limitation has caused stress and frustration amongst myself and my wife. Now I am a father of a 1 year old and one my largest goals as a father is to not allow my son to go down the same eating path as me. I just don't know how I can prevent his picky eating without addressing my own which I have been unable to do for so long.
Admin Reply by: Bob
Over the years I have come to believe that many of us actually got our picky eating through the gene pool. Have seen lots of cases where a child inherits picky eating from a parent. On the other hand many picky eating people have children who have no problems with food. One of our members has two boys and one of them eats worse than the mother and the other son will eat just about anything. I suppose you could pass your eating onto your child through your example but I would bet they will eat just fine and you have nothing to worry about. Many of us in our support groups share your experiences and you are not alone.
Bob K
Bob K
wrote on August 2, 2022
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5:14 am
I’m 21 years old and finding out about all this has really made me relieved. I was looking up ways to fix my picky eating habits, chalking it up to my anxiety or ADHD. People always tell me I eat like a five-year-old. I don’t eat vegetables, which I’m glad to see other people struggle with as well (as much as I wish we didn’t!), and I don’t like fish. Deli/cold meat on bread is unappealing to me as well, and if the texture of something isn’t right it’ll make me want to stop eating for an hour or two. It’s super frustrating to deal with, and it IS really embarrassing when I go out to eat and just order chicken tenders every time! I’m going to Japan for a year next month, and I’m really worried I won’t be able to eat anything over there. I want to talk to my doctor about possible solutions, but I’m overall super anxious about it. Anyway, this site is very lovely and reassuring. We aren’t alone in this kinda experience, that’s what’s nice. I wish the best for everyone
wrote on July 28, 2022
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1:35 am
Hello. I have been a picky eater my whole life. My mom even says I was picky when I was baby. At 31 years old, served in the military and I can’t get over the fear of trying new foods. I won’t eat eggs. And don’t get me wrong, I want to try new food but I can’t and finding out about Adults who also struggle with eating too makes realize I’m not alone.
wrote on July 15, 2022
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12:14 pm
Hi, I am a 39 year old female who has been an extreme picky eater since i was about 2-3 years old. I was born 2 months premature and although I was the biggest Premie in the ward I still had a lot of health issues. Under developed lungs when born, problems regulating my breathing, etc. when they sent me home finally I was sent home with straight Caffeine to make sure i kept breathing. My mom says as a baby I ate all the baby formula, milk in a bottle, etc. all normal. Then when I was two I had chronic ear infections due to my premie status and was on antibiotics for over a year. No dairy while on that. After that the smell and taste of Milk would make me gag. Then more and more things became textures that I could not stand. My mom was happy if she could get applesauce or apple juice down my throat. Still to this day the smell of Apples in any form make me nauseous. That was the start to my extreme picky eating. Here’s what I will eat at age 39 and it has not changed in 36 years. Cheese pizza, no toppings, white bread only, creamy JIF peanut butter, no Jam of any kind. Grilled cheese, any kind of hard cheeses with bland flavors, i do love super sharp cheddars but i love bland Monterey Jack for basically everything. Cinnamon toast, bland cereals, cheese quesadilla, cheese only Nachos, French fries and hash brown patties but no mashed potatoes, or any other form of potatoes. I love ketchup but only Heinz. I love snacks like Cheezits, goldfish, popcorn, chips. The most flavor of anything that i eat would be sour cream and Onion ruffles chips. I love some ice creams but most times very plain and bland. I love peanuts but can’t stand Peanut M&M’s. I love lots of candies and sweets as long as the texture is not too intense.
I have lost so much of my life. I’ve only traveled out of the country a couple of times and everytime i travel with several jars of JIF PB and try to find a cracker or bread product in the foreign country that i can manage. Having to explain over and over again to strangers or even friends why none of what they are eating is anything i can stomach. Their food smells amazing and that has never been my problem. The texture and the thought of it on my tongue brings me into hysterics. I’m a recovering alcoholic. Almost 15 years without a drink but i can’t help and think that my extreme imbibing started with the fact that it was something i could join in with the regular crowd and no one questioned me. Ive spent the last 12 years living back home with my parents, hiding away from everything. I reconnected with a friend from College on line during COVID and we fell in love. Finally realized that i had to explain to him my eating issues, He thought i was going to tell him I had AIDs with how i described that I had a problem that was life debilitating. My boyfriend is the one who researched and found the term Cibophobia (none of my doctors or many many therapist had ever even considered that this was something more than me being stubborn). We have been dating for a year and I’m about to move in with him.
i have a very labor intensive job and last year i ended up with a bad stress fracture in my foot, which as my BF pointed out, was due to the lack of nutrition in my life. I am not one who has been good with vitamins. This past week i came down with heat exhaustion or a stomach bug or something. Doctors couldn’t really diagnose. My BF pointed out my lack of nutrients and i started taking more vitamins and I’m starting to feel better. I have very few friends because most of them always had to make comments during meals or even when there was no food around. Even the folks that are my closest friends that i have kept throughout the years…. They don’t get it and make comments that shame me so badly. The Stigma has followed me everywhere and the fears have crippled me for decades. This search to find this website is because my boyfriend believes in me and wants me to know that i am not alone. Which i have felt like for my entire life. For the people who have accommodated me, I can never repay them for their kindness. If this fear could go away i would happily say that i would try so many new foods but even the thought of that brings me into hysterics, my heart rate just sky rocketed and I’m looking for a place I can hide from that thought. I would love to not be known as Deedee the picky eater but Deedee, the gardener. Deedee, the miniaturist. Deedee the Photographer. But no it’s always… “oh right the girl that hates food.”
Thank you for helping me realize i am not alone
I have lost so much of my life. I’ve only traveled out of the country a couple of times and everytime i travel with several jars of JIF PB and try to find a cracker or bread product in the foreign country that i can manage. Having to explain over and over again to strangers or even friends why none of what they are eating is anything i can stomach. Their food smells amazing and that has never been my problem. The texture and the thought of it on my tongue brings me into hysterics. I’m a recovering alcoholic. Almost 15 years without a drink but i can’t help and think that my extreme imbibing started with the fact that it was something i could join in with the regular crowd and no one questioned me. Ive spent the last 12 years living back home with my parents, hiding away from everything. I reconnected with a friend from College on line during COVID and we fell in love. Finally realized that i had to explain to him my eating issues, He thought i was going to tell him I had AIDs with how i described that I had a problem that was life debilitating. My boyfriend is the one who researched and found the term Cibophobia (none of my doctors or many many therapist had ever even considered that this was something more than me being stubborn). We have been dating for a year and I’m about to move in with him.
i have a very labor intensive job and last year i ended up with a bad stress fracture in my foot, which as my BF pointed out, was due to the lack of nutrition in my life. I am not one who has been good with vitamins. This past week i came down with heat exhaustion or a stomach bug or something. Doctors couldn’t really diagnose. My BF pointed out my lack of nutrients and i started taking more vitamins and I’m starting to feel better. I have very few friends because most of them always had to make comments during meals or even when there was no food around. Even the folks that are my closest friends that i have kept throughout the years…. They don’t get it and make comments that shame me so badly. The Stigma has followed me everywhere and the fears have crippled me for decades. This search to find this website is because my boyfriend believes in me and wants me to know that i am not alone. Which i have felt like for my entire life. For the people who have accommodated me, I can never repay them for their kindness. If this fear could go away i would happily say that i would try so many new foods but even the thought of that brings me into hysterics, my heart rate just sky rocketed and I’m looking for a place I can hide from that thought. I would love to not be known as Deedee the picky eater but Deedee, the gardener. Deedee, the miniaturist. Deedee the Photographer. But no it’s always… “oh right the girl that hates food.”
Thank you for helping me realize i am not alone
wrote on July 9, 2022
at
8:52 pm
To discover I am not a singular oddity at the age of 54 is mind blowing…
I was just diagnosed with high blood pressure. I KNOW I need to eat better but the thought of trying new things literally makes me break out in a sweat. I don’t understand how people eat things that are green. My brain will accept only iceberg lettuce, not really green.
I hate to cook and be responsible for my own food. I love being a mom but feeds my kids when they were young was so difficult for me. Luckily they are all good eaters now.
I am overweight but just can’t seem to improve my diet.
Textures, smells and ‘odd’ foods just put me off.
I realize this is a safe space to support and be supported, but is there a place to get help? I don’t want to die so young.
I was just diagnosed with high blood pressure. I KNOW I need to eat better but the thought of trying new things literally makes me break out in a sweat. I don’t understand how people eat things that are green. My brain will accept only iceberg lettuce, not really green.
I hate to cook and be responsible for my own food. I love being a mom but feeds my kids when they were young was so difficult for me. Luckily they are all good eaters now.
I am overweight but just can’t seem to improve my diet.
Textures, smells and ‘odd’ foods just put me off.
I realize this is a safe space to support and be supported, but is there a place to get help? I don’t want to die so young.
