I just turned 50 last month and have been a very picky eater my whole life. My mother says it stems from my father who was picky. My mother tried everything to get me to eat...from forcing to shaming to even bribing me (she offered me $100 to eat steak and I refused). At one point, she took me to a doctor to find out what was wrong. The Dr told her I was healthy and basically told her to let go. I am very thankful for my mom because she always had food she knew I liked and didn't press the issue. But life wasn't easy, I avoided social situations because it seemed society made everything revolve around food. Even nowadays and I can't eat most things served in restaurants. I didn't even date for years because I didn't think any man would understand. It was very difficult. Very demeaning. Twenty years ago, I met my now husband. When we first started dating, he thought I was anorexic because I refused to eat in front of him or go to a restaurant but when he learned about my issue, he didn't care. He loved me first who I was. Over the years, I have become a great cook, mostly because I wanted to avoid restaurants so I made sure my husband was well fed. I have tried alot more foods but still, my taste buds are off and I usually don't like it. It is very frustrating still as the social aspect is ongoing especially in work, most people still do not understand and often ask too many questions which make me uncomfortable. I find it funny actually because society is so accepting of people who are different but they refuse to accept a picky eater. Finding this website is comforting and I am very lucky to find a man who accepts me despite my issue. But I really wish I was normal sometimes. And by the way, I am 50, I look like i'm in my 30s. I take no medications, I am thin, I workput, I hike, I bike...I feel great so being picky does not equal unhealthy.