I think the worst thing about being a 'fussy' eater is eating out - So many times people have invited my partner and I out for a meal, only to have to turn down the invitation because there is literally nothing on the menu that I can work with - I've gotten to the point where I'm completely unfazed by asking for things plain, or with the sauce on the side, or without this or that... My friends say that sometimes they are embarrassed to eat out with me because I'm the 'awkward' one, but I've learned to laugh it off. Textures, smells, and not knowing the ingredients are my problem - I'm always suspicious of sauces, and never have them - except ketchup, which is my go to 'helper' when I order something that *should* be ok but actually isn't - Smothering in ketchup and trying not to chew more than necessary can usually leave me having eaten a halfway decent portion. I understand that I'm better off than some - I can eat a small handful of veg, chicken, cod or haddock, and rice, and plain food (like cheese and tomato pizza, no tomato chunks) but I wish dearly that I could eat 'normally' - I wish I liked pasta, or cold/reheated food (even if I've cooked it, it's not happening.) I wish that I liked red meat, if only so that I could eat *something* different than the same 7 or 8 meals, day in, day out. I've improved a lot since I was a kid - can recall a 3 hour standoff with my mum over a tea spoonful of baked beans (I won that one) but recently was able to try a spoonful when cooking for my nephew (hoping for a new go to meal - It was not successful, too mushy,) and when a friend invited me round for tea then served pie, I managed to eat some, where a year ago I'd have just pushed it around. Eating it involved much scraping of gravy, and dissecting the pastry until there was no soggy and only crispy pastry, but I still count that as progress. Still, it would be nice to go out for a meal, and go to any restaurant others wanted, instead of having to analyse the menu for chicken or fish dishes that I can tailor to my ‘fussiness.’ I’d love to pre-prepare my lunches instead of sticking to sandwiches or toast – because I can make those in work. In fact, I’d love to be able to bring pasta salad or and actual salad for lunch. People think that you’re being fussy, or a bit odd, and are sometimes somewhat resentful of how difficult it is to feed you, or to find somewhere for you to eat, without considering that you have to deal with this, day in, day out; and it’s exhausting.