I am 20 years old, and I have been a picky eater all my life. I eat fruit, plain pasta, pasta with cheese, and an assorted mix of junk food. I hate eating this way and always have. I feel gross and know that I do not have enough energy because of the way I eat. I found out about ARFID and this website about a year and a half ago just before moving to college as the result of a desperate google search, but this is my first time posting here. Because of my research on ARFID and reading through this website I found a way to introduce three new foods into my diet, but two of them were very similar to things I already eat, and one took a lot of convincing myself. I struggle to try new things and when I attempt to try new things I often find myself staring at what I want to try and never putting it in my mouth.
Like many of you, the way I eat causes me a lot of stress socially. I don't mind not eating, but I hate the way people react and point it out and talk about it. I want to travel and I really want to study abroad in France this summer. In the program I want to go with you have to stay with a host family and eat two meals a day with them. I do not want to miss out on this opportunity but I'm afraid of offending my host family and starving. I have thought that maybe once I'm there and all I have to eat is that food maybe I will start eating, but I also know that has never worked for me in the past. If anyone has any suggestions about how to work on this or any French cuisine to practice with it would be greatly appreciated. (Also any tips on looking like you're eating when you aren't.)