I Only Eat Six Foods

Yes, you did read that correctly. I only eat six foods.

• Mcdonald’s French Fries (Literally only their French fries)
• Peanut Butter Sandwich
• Cereal
• Waffles
• Hot Pretzels
• French Toast Sticks

Then of course I eat junk food like popcorn and ice cream but those are my main foods.

The look on your face while you are reading this is probably a “WTF?!” look. So let me explain.

When my parents switched their precious baby girl, me, to table foods I would gag at the touch of foods like hot dogs. So being first time parents my parents freaked out. They took me to all kinds of doctors and all said the same thing- “She will grow out of it.” Jokes on them. I am now 22 years old and look at me now. I still eat the same foods I always have.

It was not until I was a freshman in college that I actually discovered that what is wrong with me is actually a disorder. Up until then it was always the same response “I am just really picky” and people always said things like “Well you can fix picky” or “Haven’t you tried anything” and it was always so hard to explain that I just couldn’t.

Then I got a phone call from my Nana and my life changed. All I remember is her going “Tyler, I read an article and it’s you!” I was so confused until I got to my dorm and looked the article up and read it. I started to cry because it was like a wave of relief that I was going to be okay and that what was wrong with me, it was okay.

I had Selective Eating Disorder.

Having a name to tell people has given me all kinds of confidence. I used to hate having to go out to eat with people because I would get so self-conscious, it was miserable. As time has gone on, I have learned to embrace this about me, but it still has its moments when it is the most frustrating thing. Like when my boyfriend wants to get pizza and I can’t enjoy that with him.

Reading this article was everything. It gave me a glimpse into my future, and my future is okay. I remember when I was younger one of my so called “friends” told me that I would never be able to have kids because I couldn’t eat. I was devastated because having kids is a priority in my life and her telling me that I was actually scared. In the article this woman, who is just like me, has two children and had healthy pregnancies. One of her children is just like her; I have concerns about that because I would not wish this on anyone, so the thought of possibly passing this down to my children is a huge concern. But… I guess there are worst things in life than them being picky.

To kind of explain to you what is wrong or make you kind of understand I tell you all what I go through with the thought of putting a piece of food in my mouth. Now you all know that on Instagram there are the “foodies” that constantly post delicious looking food that makes you guys really want to try. Well I don’t have that. I can look at food and have zero drive to put that in my mouth. It just looks like something on a plate. So I have this like mental block that prevents me from wanting to try new foods. Then I also have this thing where if I imagine putting a new piece of food in my mouth, I have a mini anxiety attack. I start to panic and freak out, it just does not go so well.

I have accepted this of myself. Sure, it is tough and annoying, but by this point I am an expert at figuring out how to handle this. My doctors have run tests, and I am perfectly healthy. I just don’t eat common food. I have started to kind of venture out of my comfort zone and try new foods. I have tried Oreo balls that have cream cheese, which I would have never eaten if I had known there was cream cheese. I have tried Poptarts. I want to try bagels, so that is next. Now this may not seem like a big deal, but to me this is huge progress. Brandon even wants to eventually get me comfortable enough to eventually try pizza, so stay tuned on my progress with food!