I'm 18 years old, and I've always thought I'm just picky, and didn't like some foods. But as I've gotten to know knew people and experience new things I've come to learn that my eating habits are a bigger issue than i lead on.
I eat like a second grader. Fried foods, pasta, watermelon. It's a horrible diet.
My boyfriend has to strategically look for restaurants that have foods I eat because he can eat anything and I really feel like it's holding me back. The foods I don't like, aren't because I have tried them and decided I don't like them, it's truly because I'm afraid to try new things. Food can look appealing to me, but even the thought of chewing it scares me. I'm terrified of texture, smell, and in some cases appearances. I don't know why, and I wish I could change, but nothing has helped.
I'm fairly certain in the past year, I've tried 1 new food, and it quiet possibly was a variation of another food I already like, so I wouldn't say "new."

I am 25 years old, and have been a picky eater for my entire life. Finding this website, and learning about ARFID has given me some hope! I honestly thought I was the only one like me out there. (Especially since none of my family or friends had the same problem as I. I always felt very alone, and embarrassed.

The last time I ate "meat" I was 7 years old, and even then, it only consisted of McDonalds Chicken nuggets, and fish sticks. I have been a picky eater ever since. Some say due to the fact that my mom fed me baby food for too long, is why I am a picky eater. But as I became more picky about what I was willing to eat, I was forced to try things, like a bite of steak, and I would end up gagging, not being able to swallow, and crying. It became a very traumatic experience to try anything I wasn't already eating.

My diet mainly consists of bread, pasta with marinara, pizza with no cheese, lots of carbs, fries, chips, other junk food, milk, and some fruits. As I have gotten older, very few new things have been introduced to my diet, and they were things that were similar to what I was already eating.

I am no longer worried about what people think of me, although it is embarrassing, and I get a lot of questions about the no cheese on pizza thing. But that's just the way I like it, and it is terrifying to try something different. As an adult, I am now more worried about my health, and setting a good example for my future children. I don't want them to suffer like I have.

I could go on and on about my experiences, but I feel confident that most of you here understand how I feel, and the things I struggle with. I don't know what to do from here. Everyone always told me I would "grow out of it" but that doesn't seem to be the case. What kind of groups can I join, and get support from others like me? I will say it is very comforting knowing I am not the only one out there. 🙂

I am 19 years old, and I struggle immensely with eating. I've been an extremely picky eater my whole life (as far as I can remember)- I can list the foods I eat on my fingers. I don't know the last time I ate a full meal 3 times a day. I usually skip meals and snack during the day or eat 1 meal at a random time. Many times throughout my life, I don't eat because I'm often in places that I don't like any of the food-not a single thing (in school, camp, friends houses, weddings, fancy dinners etc..) I don't like any gourmet food, or anything that is not "a regular simple" food. I don't like any vegetables, I only like 3 fruits-apples, purple grapes, and clementine. I don't like a single spread or dip - when I eat a bagel or bread, I only eat it plain. I'm terrified of fish, and most meat, I don't like eggs either. I don't eat any foods that contain any ingredients in it that I don't like (besides for very few exceptions) I only like 2 kinds of soup, and I'll eat pasta if it's just cheese and sauce (and only if it's homemade from my house) otherwise I usually don't like it.) I like pizza, but I don't eat it often, and I like chicken nuggets and French fries- that's basically all I eat... And I love a big variety of snacks and candies and chocolates and ice cream. I won't eat anything that was touched by a vegetable, fish, or any sort of spread that I don't like-even if it was removed from the food, cuz it still has the taste of it on it. I am extremely stubborn and absolutely refuse to try or eat anything that I don't like. Bottom line, I barely eat, sometimes not even purposely, but just cuz there's no food available that I like. Everyone bothers me about this, but I'm not going to change. I'm not looking for a way to like new foods, I'm just trying to find out what is the best option for me to eat, from the few foods that I like. I'm also pretty skinny, and lately I've lost a lot more weight, everyone is getting nervous about me and says I'm so small and I look unhealthy. To be honest I'm nervous for myself too, because my (non)eating habits are getting worse, and I barely eat every day, or if I do eat, then it's something not healthy, and very little of it. I need some advice/support. And no, I am not willing to go to an eating disorder program, cuz any doctor or program will make me eat things that I don't like, and I absolutely refuse to-I'd rather starve than eat something that I don't like.

Hello !
I'm 22 and I've been a picky eater since I was 3. At least that's what I've been told, I don't know what made me change my eating habits at 3.
I eat mostly potato, pasta, meat, haricots and rice.
I can't eat any of this with any sauce or seasoning.
I have always been afraid of eating around people and I turn down as many events as possible where I may have to eat.
I thought I was the only one in the world for a long time because this is an unknown issue in France. I don't know why but someday last year I decided to do a bit of research in english and I ended up on some websites and found out I wasn't the only one.

I've done some research again today and I ended up on your website. In a way, I am glad that I'm not the only one (even if I wished nobody suffered from this) but I am looking for a way to "cure" this and I can't find anything. I didn't read every story posted on this guestbook but I've found nothing encouraging.

I've read that hypnosis could cure this but I don't think anyone know about this in France so I don't want to lose money for nothing. Last time I checked, I ended up on the website of someone who said he was specialized in hypnosis for adult picky eaters and that he could cure it in 1 or 2 sessions of 200$ each. I am skeptikal and I don't have that much money so I am looking for testimonies of people who have managed to change and to eat normally.

Has anyone been "cured" from picky eating ? Would you recommend trying hypnosis ?

I am 18 and I really struggle with food, I have gone to the doctors and they said that I am low in all my vitamins, I have known this for a long time, I am going to be on (at least) six pills a day for my vitamins and she said that if I do not start to eat better then I am most likely going to have a heart attack, or have diabetes within the next 15 years, I'm really struggling because I want to eat better but it juts seems so much more difficult, she has also told me that I'm addicted to sugar, the only things I really eat are pizza, pasta, sweets and chocolate, so its getting really difficult for me now.

Hello, I am writing with concern for my 7 year old son. Living in the U.K. I don't seem to find much help from anyone. We have been to children's health visitors, dietitians etc but no one seems to be worried like I am. From the weening age he would eat what ever he was given and from about 2 years old things started to change. For the last 5 years he has a VERY limited diet consisting of biscuits for breakfast , a popadom which has to be soft (stale) crisps (potato chips ) but only a selected few varietys a packet of dried fruit flakes and dinner is mashed potato with BBQ sauce ! He will eat McDonald's French fries but they are the only ones. I am at my wits end trying to get him to try or even look at any other food he cries, gags and gets into a state if we even mention for him to try anything new.
He also easy chocolate M&Ms daily but wouldn't even try a new sweet.
I have always worried he was alone in this but have found this site and though I might do find some information or how to help him.
I don't want him becoming left out as a child because he is different.

I know this may seem dramatic, but finding this website and seeing that others struggle with this problem and I'm not just a freak, makes me want to cry. I'm a relatively young adult but this is something I've struggled with my whole life. My family always says I need to "grow up" about my eating habits but now I know this is a real thing and I'm not the only one. It's always been my biggest insecurity; my friends don't understand why I get so quiet when they'll look at my plate and say "you're having pizza AGAIN?" or something like that. I've avoided so many meals and social gatherings just because I was embarrassed by my eating habits. Thank you for this website. I feel less alone.

I'm so happy to actually see people go through the same thing I do. On a daily basis I struggle with finding food to eat and most of the time I'm starving. I can have food on the house but j will sit there and starve to death if I don't have something I like. New foods make me anxious and honestly the texture, look, and smell of new foods just make me sick to my stomach as over all just make me feel so horrible. I would love to hear from people and maybe hear some advice people have on maybe trying something alittle less plain then what I eat. Because my diet mostly consists of bread/waffles, milk, pizza and cheese. I do like some different types of cheese it has to be sliced. Certain meat I can tolerate but if it even is the slightest bit odd to me I can't eat it. I struggle with weight gain as well, I am underweight and I only seem to lose weight because of not being able to find foods I can actually eat. I just really would love for some one else to just talk about this with. Thank you guys, for being just like me and helping me feel less alone through this

Hi, I was so happy to find others like me. I have always been like this, I do remember my parents trying to force feed me vegetables at a young age and then they gave up and fed me what I liked. I dont eat fruit and the only vegetables I will eat is potatoes and broccoli if put in my mouth with potato and even then I fight not to gag. But I worry as to my health I am 53 now, hard to lose weight and be healthy in regards to fats and sugars, I worry I will die young because of my eating habits. It is so hard in regards to going out and eating at restaurants or friends houses, I will avoid it if possible but I do have good friends who know and will cater for me. I always thought it was just me but finding this site there are thousands. I feel that it is psychological but who knows. I have children and didn't want them to be like me and so when they were that fussy age I read them a story while spoon feeding them fruit and vegetables now they will eat anything and willing to try new things I am so pleased they do not have a fussy eating disorder like me. I even went to a psychologist regarding eating but I don't think they know how hard it is to put food near let alone in your mouth that you simply can't / won't eat. I have a problem with texture, taste, smell, look of food. I so wish their was a simple answer and I would be cured.

I'm not putting my name incase someone finds this but I'm not an adult but I'm 15 years old. I can't believe that I'm not alone. it's hard being a teenager having this. everywhere you go food is being served. I am a competive soccer player and pracyice 5times a week. I've almost passed out on the field several times because I have to work out with out eating. I eat no meat. 2fruits corn and that's it. I some junk food but I hate food. my parents want me to go to the doctor but I know what they will say "she will grow out of it" NO I WONT ITS BEEN 14 YEARS. it's so hard being a teenager having this someone help me I can't even go to social events anymore and it's making me depressed someone advice?!?!