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682 entries.
I’m definitely amount the pickiest of the picky. I do not/cannot eat vegetables, fish, condiments (other than honey). I pretty much order off the kids menu. I’m 45 years old! I’m the CEO of a decent sized company. I feel humiliated at business events and still can not make myself even take one bite. If an item has pickles or something I cannot just take them off. The flavor is still there!! The strange thing is that I don’t have a texture issue. I even like coconut! I try my best to avoid dinners at unfamiliar restaurants, and get extremely anxious or bail out if I don’t know that I can’t eat. At 45 I’ve gained weight. Im not obese, but still short and a size 12. Im worried that it’s affecting my health. My memory isn’t sharp, I tire easily, My body hurts, I just feel like I’m aging faster than others. My close friends say it’s just part of being over 40. The biggest problem is that My 11 year old son is pickier than me (and probably literally the pickiest of the picky). I worry about his health so we had a therapist do several sessions with him. He tried a few items but then refused to do anymore. I did everything in my power to not gag or vomit while he tried the few foods. I feel like the worst mother. What kind of mother won’t try things for the sake of her son’s health? Has anyone been successful in therapy? Do all therapist just have you sit there any try foods or is there some talk therapy that can help? I’m desperate to get better and help him- but apparently not desperate enough to simply try other foods!! He plays select baseball and it’s super demanding on him, but he loves it and I worry that he’s suffering physically. He suffers socially as he just doesn’t eat when he goes to sleepovers. Other parents are not understanding whatsoever! I know they don’t want him to set a bad example for their children and worry about starving him. He lives in white bread and creamy peanut butter, carb filled snacks and Mac and cheese (selectively), cereal And the occasional strawberry or banana. He eats French fries, but not mashed potatoes. Which is actually odd even to me. Any advise (other than- just force him to eat or just eat your veggies?
My 18-year-old son has suffered life-threatening food allergies to dairy eggs peanuts tree nuts and seafood since birth. He also was diagnosed with sensory processing disorders at age 6. He doesn’t eat any meat poultry seafood eggs legumes fruits or vegetables. He has trouble eating out at any restaurant and usually only orders french fries. I am here for support. It’s severely affecting his energy and his his self-esteem and his weight.
Hi, I'm 23 and I've been picky all my life. I've started to eat some new foods, but I often have anxiety in public eating situations that are unfamiliar. Today, for the first time ever I discovered the term ARFID and I felt so seen. Over time, I hope to get better, and I am so happy to know I am not alone.
Much love!!
Much love!!
Hello,
I’m here because of my picky son. He has a heightened sense of taste/smell and can detect very subtle changes in the meals that he eats. He will eat things but only if they taste like restaurant quality food and even some restaurant meals are not up to par for him. He will oftentimes skip meals and won’t eat because he’s “not hungry”. I had him see a physician to help him gain weight but he stopped going to the doctor. I’m not sure what to do now to help him become a healthy weight. Not sure if the root cause is him being a picky eater or not.
I’m here because of my picky son. He has a heightened sense of taste/smell and can detect very subtle changes in the meals that he eats. He will eat things but only if they taste like restaurant quality food and even some restaurant meals are not up to par for him. He will oftentimes skip meals and won’t eat because he’s “not hungry”. I had him see a physician to help him gain weight but he stopped going to the doctor. I’m not sure what to do now to help him become a healthy weight. Not sure if the root cause is him being a picky eater or not.
After reading some of the posts here, I see that all of us are so similar with our "picky eating'. I am extremely texture oriented. I have developed 4 [simple] "food rules" that I tell people when planning dinners so that others can try to understand the foods I won't/can't eat. Most vegetables are on my list of things that are a no go. I am 48 and also worry that I'm not getting the nutritional balance that is necessary for a healthy life, but it is so hard to eat most vegetables. I also do what another poster does: I will put a little of something in my mouth, chew as much as I can handle and then swallow it with as much water as necessary. I eat peas like taking pills. It's exhausting trying to trick myself into eating these foods. I have increased the variety of foods I will eat as I have gotten older, but very little. I will only try new foods with a trusted friend or family member who knows my food issues. Thankfully, I have several very supportive friends who accommodate my "pickiness".
I also have Brumotactillophobia (not wanting food to touch on my plate), which leads to a whole other range of food issues. LOL
I'm glad I ran across this site. It helps to know that there are lots of other people struggling with these situations. Thanks for allowing me to share!
I also have Brumotactillophobia (not wanting food to touch on my plate), which leads to a whole other range of food issues. LOL
I'm glad I ran across this site. It helps to know that there are lots of other people struggling with these situations. Thanks for allowing me to share!
My names Mylo and I have been struggling with picky eating my whole life even though i’m a teenager. Being “picky” is always what I have be labeled as in the public, family events, or at school. Some of the main foods I eat are chicken strips, mini corn dogs, about anything with peanut butter and bread. I have been able to like a good amount of fruit, but I struggle very hard with veggies as I only eat cellary about twice a month. I wish I could try new foods, but it is so much more than just “trying it”. Every other food just looks disgusting to me and I want nothing to do with it. I hope that there are others who can relate to this. I don’t want to deal with this my whole life, but I don’t know when things will change. Also, everyone says your “taste buds change” and that you won’t know till you try it, but I wish they would put themselves in my shoes and feel how I feel.
I have been told I’m
Picky. I mainly eat meat like chicken(fried or grilled) beef, pork fried fish especially shrimp, fried potatoes (only and have to be seasoned) chips, citrus fruits, wheat bread(usually toasted) I love spicy food especially with hot sauce if not it taste bland to me(I can’t stand ketchup so I dip my fries in BBQ sauce or Siracha). I cannot tolerate any vegetable besides fries onions or peppers. Certain fruits(cherries/berries) I like the flavor of juice but not the texture of the actual fruit. I cant stand ketchup mustard or Mayo. I am lactose intolerant so I avoid dairy but even as a kid I never put milk on cereal as it made it too soggy. I don’t like pasta sauce and plain pasta is bland plus I do not do cheese/cheese sauce for another reason. So no pizza either but only for that reason. As far as drinks it’s only coffee I can’t stand (besides milk which I avoid for digestive reasons) I drink water soda and juice and alcoholic drinks. . I was told I was not autism or anything like that by several doctors. I never liked white bread as it is so bland. I know vegetables are so healthy but especially the green ones make me gag. I’m 40 years old. I’m kinda on the chubby side and my job has me sit at a computer all day. Eating out I always have to special order something (no ketchup cheese mayo mustard and can you instead give me BBQ or siracha sauce for my fries plus the seasoning salt).
Picky. I mainly eat meat like chicken(fried or grilled) beef, pork fried fish especially shrimp, fried potatoes (only and have to be seasoned) chips, citrus fruits, wheat bread(usually toasted) I love spicy food especially with hot sauce if not it taste bland to me(I can’t stand ketchup so I dip my fries in BBQ sauce or Siracha). I cannot tolerate any vegetable besides fries onions or peppers. Certain fruits(cherries/berries) I like the flavor of juice but not the texture of the actual fruit. I cant stand ketchup mustard or Mayo. I am lactose intolerant so I avoid dairy but even as a kid I never put milk on cereal as it made it too soggy. I don’t like pasta sauce and plain pasta is bland plus I do not do cheese/cheese sauce for another reason. So no pizza either but only for that reason. As far as drinks it’s only coffee I can’t stand (besides milk which I avoid for digestive reasons) I drink water soda and juice and alcoholic drinks. . I was told I was not autism or anything like that by several doctors. I never liked white bread as it is so bland. I know vegetables are so healthy but especially the green ones make me gag. I’m 40 years old. I’m kinda on the chubby side and my job has me sit at a computer all day. Eating out I always have to special order something (no ketchup cheese mayo mustard and can you instead give me BBQ or siracha sauce for my fries plus the seasoning salt).
My daughter is 20 and has had ARFID all her life, but I didn't know until recently what it was. I honestly never thought that she needed to change. However, I was looking to see if there was help out there, because it does seem to be affecting her health since she's been living away from home at college, and also she is unhappy about her food restrictions in social situations. But from what I see here it seems like most people with this condition aren't really able to expand their palates much?
By the way, just wanted to point out that a character on the new series Abbott Elementary was revealed to be an adult picky eater!
By the way, just wanted to point out that a character on the new series Abbott Elementary was revealed to be an adult picky eater!
Hi, my name is Noah, I'm 30 years old, and for as long as I can remember I've always been an extremely picky eater. My diet is selective in all manners of food; and most of the time, I can look at a particular food and know without even trying it I won't like it. Other times, I'll give something a try, (for example: tomatoes), even if it's for the 100th time, and the taste and texture put me off completely. Family gatherings always bring me stress because I'm usually the only one with a lack of food on my plate. Unfortunately, my parents just think I’m a very picky eater and occasionally make jokes about it, which is beyond frustrating. But it makes me feel better already to read all these stories and know I’m not alone! So thank you everyone!
My name is Melissa. I’m 27 years old, and although I’ve been a pretty picky eater my whole life, I feel like it’s now causing mental distress and anxiety. My partner is the complete opposite- he will eat almost everything expect for shrimp and other shellfish. Planning meals together is often a nightmare - there are a lot of tastes and textures that I really hate. I also have celiac disease and SIBO, so not only am I limited in what I CAN eat, there are so many Things I don’t want to eat. I got so frustrated trying to pick a meal for us that I broke down and cried in the grocery store today. I’m glad there are others that understand.
I'm 21 and recently diagnosed with ARFID/seeking support. While I definitely have foods I can't eat, most of my issues come from eating in general. I dislike eating and hate the feel of swallowing. Eating anything often makes me nauseous (some foods moreso than others.) I struggle with getting enough to eat or drink every day since it's such a chore. I have a fear that "bad food" (including leftovers and tap water) will give me a terrible disease, and can't stomach foods with lots of ingredients. Fruits, vegetables, and crunchy things are the only foods I know I can eat on any given day. Some days are easier than others, some days even bread is too chewy to handle. I'm still learning about ARFID and my own symptoms/relationship with food, but feeling a lot more hopeful knowing I'm not alone.
I am happy to find a group that offers understanding. I suffer from AFRID.
My name is Connor Olson, I’m 21 and I’m a picky eater. I only eat chicken fingers, fries, chips, snickers, bacon. If I go to Subway I only get bread and bacon. I didn’t know that ignoring vegetables and trying new things was a problem, but people say it is. Is my diet bad? How do I learn to try new food? Do I eat like a 4 year old or do 4 year olds eat like me? If there is a solution please help.
I’m glad I found this. I am 31 years old and I have also been “picky” all my life. Unlike many of the posts on here I do not have an issue with gagging or vomiting. For me it is more of a mental block. I have read on here about “regular foods” not looking like foods to us and that really resonates with me. I really struggle with it because I know it isn’t logical. There is no reason I can’t eat the things I don’t eat I just simply can’t make myself do it. I’m lucky that my picky eating still allows me to make healthy choices. I’m okay with most vegetables and I am okay with white-meat chicken prepared pretty much any way. Herbs and spices are ok but sauces are a hard no. I don’t eat dairy or any meat other than chicken or crispy bacon. Some fruits are ok (green apples, red grapes, most berries - not blueberries). I have a hard time preparing meals for myself. If I see the chicken before it is cooked I often cannot eat it. I find that I eat out a lot (usually chicken fingers) to compensate for this. I have learned to live with my issues and I am lucky to have family that tries to understand and a spouse that supports me. The main reason that I am reaching out for support is that I now have a 3 year old son who seems to be struggling with the same issues. In a lot of ways he seems even more selective than I was so I worry and I am looking for any information to help him so that I don’t make the problem worse. My in laws tell me all the time that we just need ti keep serving him the same food until he gets hungry enough ti eat it. I obviously do not agree. I do my best to support him in trying new foods (sometimes with bribery) while making sure that he is fed with things I know he likes. I’ve always done my best to provide him with a varied diet including lots of food that I personally don’t eat but it seemed almost right away that he was very selective. I worry that I have caused this and just want to help him as best I can.
I am.a 49 year old female that suffers from Adult Food Neophobia.
I'm a 27 year old female who has always been defined as a picky eater. I eat the classic kids foods but cannot stomach fruits & vegetables along with most other non-grain foods. Growing up, I was told that "no one likes what they eat, they tough it out and eat it anyways!" and "you know what foods to eat to be healthy, so just do it!". I was convinced by others that seeking any external help would yield no results and that this was a choice I was making to disregard my own health. I gained a lot of weight over the past 10 years and have developed an intense anxiety concerning food in social situations. It's not that I want to a "picky" eater. I wish I wasn't. I feel shame for who I am and I've always thought I was the only one who was like this. I found this Picky Eating Adults website tonight and I'm sitting here crying because I've realized for the first time in my life that I'm not alone. I relate so closely to so many of the posts I am reading. I didn't know I needed this, so thank you.
Well it’s nice to see I’m not alone. Though I suppose my sister is also a picky eater, but she’s only 13. I’m actually only 17 so maybe I don’t belong here, but seeing as I’m certainly not ‘growing out’ of my picky eating, I guess I’ll still post. I’m autistic and quite picky with my food, though luckily there’s enough things I like for me to at least not have the same dinner every day. I do have basically the same thing for breakfast everyday but honestly I bet there’s hundreds of people who aren’t picky eaters who also do such. Besides I do change it up a bit, sometimes it’s strawberry yogurt and sometimes it’s blueberry yogurt. Oh and I have a geographic tounge so I cannot tolerate sour foods or spicy foods which certainly doesn’t help much, but at least I’m eating enough every day. Weirdly enough my mother is absolutely obessesed with spicy foods while my tounge thinks regular KFC chicken is spicy lmao.
I've been spitting out meat and refusing to eat certain foods my whole life. I'm almost 40. I can't stand almost all meat in my mouth. The only meat I can eat is hamburger in a hamburger or taco and pepperoni on a pizza. I was never forced to eat anything so I've just made my own diet of bland foods. I just wish I could go to a restaurant and not be restricted by my palette.
I keep wanting to get brave enough to try something new but every time I'm like I better not try this at the restaurant, what if I gag. I dread when friends wanna meet for dinner..I am always more willing to meet for breakfast cause I like more breakfast foods..I'm just tired of living in shame and don't want to start having children until I get better with eating. I'm 32
I'm a 28 year old female who has struggled with "picky" eating for as long as I can remember. As a child I can remember sitting at the dinner table crying and gagging over 1 bite of a good I didn't like but my parents wanted me to try. To this day my diet consists of mostly children's foods such as chicken nuggets, pizza, fries, hotdogs, cheeseburgers, and a whole lot of other junk. This has led me to gain weight I certainly didn't want to gain. I avoid going to some gatherings with friends and events because I don't know if they will have any safe foods for me to eat. It's always the first thing that comes to mind when I get invited anywhere. This makes me very sad and embarrassed, I try to play it off but it really brings me so much anxiety. I wish I could change, I hate living this way but I am at a point where I don't know what I can do. Which has led me to doing some research and i came across ARFID, which sounds alot like me but I don't think anyone would take me seriously if I tried to get myself help. It's nice to read people's stories who are so similar to mine.