I’ve been a “picky eater” since I was about 2 (I’m 50 now). Finding this web page has brought me a lot of hope, as I thought I was the only person to eat like this for most my life. I look around this site though and discovered I’m doing better than I thought. I have irrational fears about food – it doesn’t look right, or taste okay, or smells weird, but the worst is the texture of most things. There’s not much logic to most of it either. I can’t handle any fruits and vegetables except raw carrots, and then they have to be skinny baby carrots. Mayonnaise and Ketchup gross me out. I have to know exactly what is in everything I eat – casseroles are just plain “no way, not eating it” foods.
Potluck dinners are painful to get through. I’ve learned one or two dishes I like that I do in a crockpot for the potluck, and when I go through the line I grab the smallest plate I can find and eat only my own food and maybe a roll. Then I get up from the table and walk around talking to people so folks don’t notice I’m not eating anything else.
I have discovered that if something is piping hot I can eat it easier than if its cold. I don’t like soup or sandwiches, so Lunch is difficult for me. I eat beef, chicken and some pork. Potatoes are great, rice can be okay, and pasta only with Ragu plain spaghetti sauce. Nothing with chunks in it. I love cheese, crackers, chips, chocolate and Coca-cola. Weight is a problem for me because what I eat are all high calorie foods. I can’t stand leftovers. I end up throwing a lot of food out because I’m afraid of it making me sick or making me gag.
I would love to be able to go to a restaurant and not have to look at the menu first. To be able to sit down at someones house and know I could eat whetever they put in front of me withoyt telling them in advance what I can eat. To not constantly worry what will be available for food no matter where I go. Food stress is my biggest issue every day. To find out through your web page that there are others that know how I feel is such a relief. I thought about more counseling to figure out how to eat different, but just the thought of telling someone who might make me try something new makes me terrified. Thanks for having this place for us to share.