My name is Don, and I'm 65 yrs old. I've been a picky eater forever. It caused a lot of family turmoil growing up, but as you all know, that doesn't really help at all.
I grew up on french fries, potato chips, hotdogs, plain mustard sandwiches on whilte bread, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Maybe a little balonie, very lightly spread smooth peanut butter sandwiches. Chunky peanut butter makes me vomit.
It caused stress in school... in high school my lunch EVERY day for 4 yrs was 3 dinner rolls and a pint of chocolate milk.
On the 3-day field trip to Washington DC, I faked being sick around most mealtimes. My friends said I ate like a bird, so one of my nicknames for a while was The Bird.
My wife was the complete opposite of me - the horrible quote I remember most at a restaurant or party or buffet was, "Oh I wonder what this is?" and she'd put it in her mouth! I couldn't even imagine ever doing that even if you paid me..
As an adult, standard routine for most parties or events is to try to eat something before, and then fake stomach issues.
I do eat more foods now, thanks in part to the wife. She was a waitress at a pizza shop when we met, and for weeks I would drive to a nearby town and buy a small pizza and then sit alone in my car in a parking lot and try to force myself to eat it so I could actually be able to eat in her restaurant to try to get to know her.
I eat a few more things now... I tried scrambled eggs at around 50 yrs old because I loved the smell, and now breakfast is the only meal I really love, with bacon or sausage, and almost any kind of potatoes. I love potatoes in almost any variety. Only plain pancakes. No eggs other than scrambled, and when I make them at home, I make them well-done. No cereal of any kind other than Kellogg Corn Flakes.
Today it would be easier to list what I DON'T eat. I've never had as much as a bite of anything that lives in an ocean river or lake. I don't eat Italian food, other than pepperoni pizza. I've never had spaghetti or lasagna or a tomato, never been to Olive Garden or to a seafood restaurant (unless it has a steak or burger on the menu).. I've never eaten Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Mexican, or Middle Eastern food. I guess almost no ethnic food of any kind. I eat no soups except Campbell chicken noodle. I eat no vegetables except plain canned corn. I eat no fruit except applesauce and canned diced peaches. I eat no meat other than a few simple beef items and even less simple pork items. I need any meat very well done or burnt. I can't even look at ANYthing with a bone in it. I've never had fried chicken, because of the bones, but I like chicken nuggets or chicken strips in a restaurant. I wont go to Applebee's anymore because every dish has mixed veggies included. I can force down a plain mostly lettuce salad. The very thought of mushrooms makes me physically ill, and a lot of places use them liberally on beef dishes, burgers & sandwiches, etc. and I know who they are and I avoid them. I've never had a slice of any kind of pie, yogurt, or icecream other than vanilla & chocolate. I eat very little candy other than Reeses. My lunch on construction job every day is a Coke and a small bag of potato chips.
I've only tried wine a couple times and hated it. I drink milk, lemonade, Coke/Sprite/7Up, two flavors of Gatorade. And I enjoy black coffee in the morning... I tried tea once and it almost made me puke. That was a tough one after I married into an Irish family...they never understood. I can get one or two weak beers down if with friends, but I don't really like the taste or the feeling afterward.
I have recently been dignosed with mild hypertension (high bloodpressure) and I've been told I'm pre-diabetic, but Idk if there's anything I can do about it. Doc wants me to see a nutritionist (he doesnt know about this disorder). Yeah right, that aint gonna happen.
I've been divorced for almost 10 yrs now, and I've thought about dating, but the food situation 100% scares me off. There's a gorgeous lady or two I'd love to ask out, but they're both food lovers and I know they'd think I was a freak if I tried to order a plain burger in a gormet restaurant....burgers arent even on the menues in those places. Eating crap is accepted when you're a teen and it's easier then, but people my age expect to go to upscale restaurants with fancy foods I've never even heard of, eat sushi and seafood, drink fine wines, try exotic new foods. Even the thought of taking a trip to Europe is too scary for me ONLY because I'd be confronted with so many strange local & ethnic foods & drinks. I'd LOVE to see Europe, but no way could I handle the food situation, even if I traveled alone.
So, I've pretty much had to come to grips with the fact that I will probably spend the rest of my life alone.