Wow!!! I thought I was one of a kind! I am over 60 and I have been a very picky eater my whole life. My Dad always said it started at about age 2 when I saw whipped butter scooped like ice cream on a restaurant table. I insisted on eating the ice cream and after screaming like a toddler, he finally let me eat it. Apparently, I was so shocked to taste butter, not ice cream, I lost all trust in foods and servers.
…I have my doubts that this event triggered my picky eating, but who knows. After all, I don’t imagine many 2 year olds have developed a wide-ranging diet yet.

Throughout childhood my diet was mainly restricted to peanut butter, plain white breads, French fries, and a few sweets. I have many memories of sitting at the kitchen table all by myself until bedtime because I would not eat what was served. My parents even sent me across the country to spend a summer with an Aunt who swore she would break me of this. For you parents who are dealing with children who are picky eaters, please know these were traumatic times for me and I believe they only served to increase my anxiety. I think it made it worse… for me anyway.

During high school and college, I worked very hard to add fried chicken and good cuts of steak to my list to give me more options in social settings to try to hide my affliction. I was successful, but only in adding KFC Original Recipe chicken and ribeyes. Since then, I have only expanded my chicken to other brands, including carefully prepared home-fried chicken, and chicken tinders/nuggets. I have also added filet mignon, but steaks must be prepared with only salt and pepper, nothing else.

I have taken multi-vitamins most of my adult life, adding a variety of supplements over the last 15 years.

Surprisingly, I am in excellent health. I am physically active and I feel 15-20 years younger than my age. I add this as a ray of hope for others who are struggling with this and for parents who are worried about their children with this affliction.

I readily admit, my desire to hide this from everyone except immediate family members has negatively affected my social life. I still try to avoid social meals with others when possible.

It is unbelievably comforting to know I am not alone. Now that this is being recognized by the medical community I am hopeful new treatments will be sought and found for picky eaters like me.

Best wishes to all!!