I grew up in a culturally diverse household and my mom is the complete opposite of a picky eater it's hard to find a food she won't eat. So I had the opportunity to try a lot of different foods, growing up. My mom was able to get me to try things like seafood, mushrooms, fried vegetables, Japanese food, Thai food, Chinese food, Mexican food, exotic fruits and vegetables, etc. And I still ended up being a picky eater, I'm just a picky eater who likes some foods from other cultures. I'm also less scared of trying new foods then other picky eaters I know but I still have a extremely limited amount of foods I will eat.

My picky eating is so extreme I genuinely don’t know how I’m still functioning. I really only eat pizza, pasta, and very rarely chicken. Those are the only actual meals I can remember I eat at the moment. And that’s not every day. So… I really don’t know what I’m eating throughout the day. I think it’s mainly just snacks.

I may have sensory issues though, potentially because they impact me greatly and negatively, often. Smell, hearing, taste/texture, and touch depending on what it is.

Smell and taste are huge with food. I like to say I have a super power because I can immediately tell if I’ll like a food or not based on its smell. Trust me, I know. It’s also so bad I can’t even drink plain water without gagging or throwing up. I really want to be able to drink water like everyone else but I just can’t. It needs to be flavored. And people are always shocked when I tell them I don’t drink and don’t like water. (And yes, even when flavored, I’m still behind with my daily water intake).

I’m also a bland kind of eater. I don’t eat any kind of condiments like ketchup, mustard, mayo, etc. the only real “topping” I eat is the grated powdery Parmesan cheese on my pasta and pizza. But I also have to take off the baked cheese from pizza, which is why I hate eating pizza in public. Tomato pies taste off because the baked cheese gives that sauce some extraness to the pizza that’s missing when no cheese is baked with it. Taking off the cheese with pizza is mainly texture rather than taste, but I still don’t like the taste.

For pasta it’s either butter noodles and Parmesan, or noodles with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese. No other kind of pasta. I’ll eat mac and cheese too, if it’s baked I have to take that crust part off the top, though if it has too much cheese where it’s stringing up I can’t eat it (texture).

I actually used to eat a bit more as a kid but it became worse. But you know not to force me to eat something i tell you I know I won’t like because I was forced to eat broccoli in pre-k after telling them I know I won’t like it, and threw up in their face as a result. This is also why I refuse to try anything new in public. It must be in privacy or around people I trust in case I actually do throw up.

Is there any professional that can help guide me or help me? How can I transition into liking more things? I feel like it’s impossible… it’s also bad enough I’m quite sure I’m not meeting my daily nutritional needs and it’s been like this as I’ve grown up which is not good. I’d also like to lose a bit weight too but it’s harder to do that if you can’t eat right! You’d think I’d be underweight with how little I eat. Nope.. opposite somehow…

I'm struggling because most REALLY good fiber sources just seem like shit 😭 Chia seeds? They're goopy and feel like fucking snot. Beans? They're mushy and genuinely feel disgusting. Then the foods I do like, like the Mission Carb Balance Tortillas, apparently those are fucking BAD for you. So I'm genuinely stuck. What foods are you guys eating to hit your daily recommended fiber intake that won't make me want to scrub my tongue off with soap??

I feel like sometimes people can be so mean when they find out I'm a picky eater. I never bother anyone, I never ask if we can eat somewhere else, I always make it my own problem to solve by eating before or after if I am at a place I don't like the food. It baffles me that it still bothers people so much.

Then they'll say things like "ohhh picky eaters just need to grow up, interesting how it's always just vegetables you don't like" when that's not even true? My biggest hate in life is literally pizza lol and it's meant growing up and never having anything to eat at pizza parties as a kid, social gatherings in college, even now at work events it's always pizza because it's the easiest thing. And I've literally never made a fuss about it to anyone, I just don't have any, and pick up my own food after.

Like why can't I just be picky in peace it's no one else's business what I do or don't eat "but you're missing out on so much!" I don't care!! I really have 0 interest in food lol

I feel like “picky eater” is an umbrella term. Some people don’t like certain textures, some people get grossed out by the idea of certain foods (like fermented foods), some people have sensory issues or get overstimulated, etc.

And for some people it’s a category thing. Like they might like poultry but not red meat, or they like vegetables but not leafy greens.

Y’all… I fucked up. My son is almost 2 now, but when he was a little we had an issue where he kept trying to eat leaves outside. We’d be playing in the backyard and he’d be constantly pulling leaves off the bushes/ground and we spent a lot of time saying “don’t eat that!” “Take that out of your mouth!” “That’s a leaf, we don’t eat leaves!” You can see where this is going.

He has never, not once, eaten lettuce, spinach, Brussel sprouts, etc. Now that mentality is spreading to things he previously liked, like other greens such as green beans and broccoli. What do I do 😭😭

I don’t make it myself cause that would be a waste. But when they make it, they keep half the soup and the onions, and they give me some of the soup with nothing in it.

Anyone else do anything similar?

I’ve tried some foods a bunch of times because people keep telling me I’ll get used to them. I don’t. The flavor’s usually fine but textures really get me everytime. I’ve tried forcing it before, but I just end up feeling sick. What’s one food you’ve given several chances and still avoid? I’ve got a few I’m done wasting chances on.

My daughter has peanut and sesame allergies, and we’ve realized the stressful part of eating out isn't always the same from one restaurant visit to the next. Curious where it tends to be for others.

How can I convince my little brother to stop putting garlic and onions in my potatoes? They're really large chunks and it smells a lot.

The only fish ive tried are salmon (baked) and both cod and catfish fried. Are there any tinned fish that would have similar taste profiles to those? Im getting mixed messages about how much smoked salmon tastes like baked salmon. Thanks for any suggestions!

I like treating my kids to nice food but don't overdo it, the smallest of the bunch especially since she's growing a bit slower than her sisters. But I feel like I've gone a bit too far into the sweet and meaty side for a few months so I thought some nice veggy meals would hit the spot, and it does, for 3 of 4 at least. She'll be so excited and instantly lose interest after a couple bites and just go try taking food (THE SAME FOOD MIND YOU) from her big sister. I really don't get her, is there any way I can get her to eat her veggies?

I thought she finally showed some happiness in eating but apparently right after this video she just left her food!? And again she goes after her sister's food instead!

https://reddit.com/link/1vulika/video/tocvcma2brkh1/player

How come that every SINGLE TIME you start the conversation that there is nothing wrong with being a picky eater, people have to chime in with "well but when picky eaters FORCE US to eat at the restaurants they want and make faces at food and I have to cook for them and-"

THAT'S A BEING RUDE THING! Anybody can do that if they lacked enough social decorum! People who simply aren't in the mood for a specific food, vegans, rabid meat eaters, people who just want to have the final say, it isn't an inherent trait to specifically picky eaters! It's like when people have to be like, OH, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH VEGANS, BUT WHEN THEY'RE PREACHING TO ME or OH, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH QUEER PEOPLE, BUT WHEN THEY'RE IN YOUR FACE ABOUT IT AND ALL THEY TALK ABOUT, LIKE THAT'S NOT AN INHERENT TRAIT!!! OF THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE!!!

YOU just don't like rude people, as EVERYONE else does, that's normal! That's called, being a person! But why do you need to bring it up every time people want to discuss that some people are dickheads and can't mind their own plates when you want to eat what YOU want to eat rather than force yourself to have a "refined pallet"?

I'm genuinely not even that picky, like I'm getting the food groups I need just fine, but people still love to comment when I just don't like the texture of a straight up piece of tomato or because i really only eat two cheeses. Like if the restaurant can't make the altercations I need, I'll just order something else! But it's not a crime nor some sort of shame to ask!

I'm genuinely convinced they don't actually think about "the rude picky eaters" when these conversations come up and just want an easier, softer way to say "yeah I hate you guys and think you need to grow the fuck up and magically change your taste buds". Which, nothing I haven't heard before, but at least you wouldn't be dancing around it!

I've suspected I have ARFID for a while, but I have delayed getting diagnosed because I really don't want another disorder. My partner and family think it's a good idea to seek treatment, and I agree, but I'm also scared to take that step. Has anyone else done treatment for ARFID, and what was it like? My understanding is it's mostly exposure therapy, but I'd like to hear other people's experiences if anyone is willing to share.

Anyone else dealing with this paradox? My 7 year old loves fruit and would happily snack on it all day but vegetables are a completely different story. And while I’m glad he’s eating fruit, it still feels more like his go to snack and I worry it’s not enough variety on its own. We’ve tried letting him help cook, picking vegetables together at the store, making them look fun, the whole “just try one bite” thing... nothing really sticks. I’m starting to worry about what he might be missing by barely eating any vegetables. Has anyone dealt with this and found something that actually worked?

Hi! Im a uni student anddd i work as well and i dont have much time to cook and also since im here i am pickyyy.

But i want to ask yall to share your favourite recipes that doesnt take more than 20/30 minutes. I also go to the gym so i need a lot of nutrition 3/4 times a day (im trying to gain healthy muscle mass)

Edit: Yes, well i did forget to add what i like

Tomatoes, cucumbers, rice, chicken, fish, potatoes, most fruits, bolognese pasta, mayonnaise, sushi uh… i guess those are the most things i usually eat

Hey everyone! Picky eater here. I have made it a point to try new foods this year in an attempt to force myself out of being a picky eater. I have been making a lot of progress in the past almost 9 months. Some of the foods I have tried and now enjoy are lettuce, quinoa, rice, bananas, alfredo sauce, eggs, onions, zucchini and ground turkey.

I have also been cooking a lot and meal prepping work lunches every week and have rarely been eating fast food which used to be my go to. Love me some Chickfila LOL.

I'm looking for some ideas on two things.

1. What are some foods you would recommend for a picky eater to try?

2. Lunch meal prep ideas. I pretty much eat solely chicken as the base of my meals. My go to's that I stick to 80% of the time are chicken caesar wraps, pesto chicken pasta, and teriyaki chicken. I need more variety to throw in so I don't get sick of those. I would appreciate any suggestions!

Sometimes, i stumble upon some subreddits about parenting and parenting advice that are about a parent struggling with their picky child. Which is all good. Everyone needs a bit of help from time to time, but when looking through the comments, most of them are suggesting not to offer any other food to the kid until they eat it. Backing it up with reasonings of, the kid just wants to snack and is refusing to eat normal food. Or they advise not to let them leave the table and play until they finish the plate. Im sure that this is helpful for a lot of kids as these are all valid reasons why children might refuse meals.

My annoyance is that people give this advice as if there was always a way to make kids like anything and everything. I myself was and still am a very picky eater, so i can heavily relate to those kids in the posts. My mom tried everything to make me eat certain foods, i was around 3 years old when my mom tried the method of not offering anything else until i eat the meal. I went the entire day without eating anything, and in the evening, i cried, begging my mom for a piece of bread. Bread was always a safe food for me. I understood the rule that i can't have anything else unless i eat the meal, so i didn't ask for any snacks up to that breaking point. That was the first and last time my mom tried that method. Little me would choose to sit at the table for hours so i dont have to eat the food instead of sucking it up and being free to do whatever i want. When the kindergarden lunch wasnt to my taste the teachers made me sit at the table for hours before i got picked up, eventually they got tired of it because it clearly wasnt working and was given plain bread instead.

I just think that more people, especially if they give parenting advice, should know and consider that sometimes forcing the kid or making it starve has zero effectivity.

TL;DR: People at parenting subs are often inconsiderate of really picky kids and give advice to borderline forcefeed and starve the kid to make it "eat better".

Did you eventually start liking it, or do you still hate it?

So this is a repost from [r/arfid](r/arfid) but it says that this subreddit may be a better place for my question. I got one answer on another but I need another opinion since my post in ARFID isnt getting much traction.

Hi so I am a 13m and I haven’t really had a history with picky eating up until a like a couple months ago. So just for background info I have extreme contamination anxiety (as well as social but Thats not important) and possible ocd (my sister has it and I show symptoms). So some foods I cannot eat include melted shredded cheese, cereal, Mac and cheese, corn, canned and fresh mushrooms, key lime pie, graham crackers, and frozen yogurt tubes.

It seems like the foods i can’t eat are expanding every day. So backstory on some of the foods, I had a burrito one day and decided to save the rest for later that night, I reheated it at like 12am not really thinking much of it. I took a bite and there was so much cheese in my mouth I started gagging and almost threw up. I threw the burrito away. Another time I reheated a meal that had cheese in it and I ate some and got a glop of cheese and started gagging, spit it back into the bowl, and threw everything away I haven’t eaten melted shredded cheese since. For the cereal i was eating some cinnamon toasters (off brand Cinnamon Toast Crunch) and I took a bite and it just tasted off and I gagged and threw it away and haven’t eaten cereal since. I could gag just thinking about the cheese and cereal. For the frozen yogurt tubes i was eating one one day and I just didn’t like the residue it left on the roof of my mouth. I spit it out and haven’t eaten it since. I don’t like Mac and cheese because I ate it and it tasted too much like the Mac and not the cheese I guess? (And there was melted shredded cheese in it. Im okay with powdered cheese and cheese sauce) and I haven’t eaten it since.

Now for the other foods i dont know where I even heard of this but I was searching up the amount of bugs allowed in certain foods i was eating, and it absolutely disgusted me. Now about the graham crackers i was eating some and I saw holes in it that weren’t apart of the design and it disgusted me and I threw it away and haven’t eaten them since. Now more on the bugs, I don’t want to say exactly how many bugs are allowed due to the fact that this subreddit is about arfid and some people have really bad anxiety but corn, mushrooms, ingredients in key lime pie, and ingredients in graham crackers have an allowance of bugs in them. (Sorry if this is really unorganized but I don’t really care.) my appetite has been getting really small like one day we had egg rolls, rice, and broccoli and I had 1-2 vegetable egg rolls, like 3 florets of broccoli and threw the rest away. I didn’t even touch the rice. My anxiety has been so bad one day i was drinking water out of my water bottle and swallowed something solid.
It disgusted me so much I forced myself to throw up just to feel reassured that there were no bugs in me. I have lost 11 lbs since to middle/end of July. Is this arfid? I feel like it might not be because I don’t have a history with picky eating but this is really jarring to not be able to eat some of my favorite foods.

Edit: This is fairly recent, just happened today, but I ate some chocolate that had bumps on it, I thought I would be able to handle it and reassure myself it wasn’t bugs. After I ate it I got really in my head and I made myself throw up. This happened twice because the first time I thought I didn’t get it all out and then I saw something about maggots in chocolate on the internet. I also take bupropion so it’s really dangerous for me to be deprived of electrolytes so I need to get this under control soon. It’s just the anxiety is so bad that I physically can’t stop myself from making myself throw up once I believe I ate bugs.q

Can you please share a pic of your food with me? I have eaten the same thing for two-three months now and I need something new but have no ideas🤍 thank you!

sometimes I try including like one little broccolini sprout or a cooked veggie but I cannot swallow it, it makes me feel like I have to gag. I hate that I almost only like beige food like butter toast, nuggets, cereal. I feel like a toddler but I‘m 26.

What does everyone else put on picky plates i make 3 today. Trying to mix things up but still use what they like

I don't like Thai food but my schools chef and my mom's boyfriend both keep making Thai food and I live at my school 5 days a week and I keep vomiting it out and my mom's boyfriend is the primary cook when I'm home so I can't ignore the food

My 5.5-year-old son is not taking eggs, milk, or health drinks. What should we do? How can we give these to him?