I can’t physically eat leftovers

Yeah totally its like people with depression taking up scant resources for diagnosis and therapy they should just take personal respinsibility witj something as simple as being happy...

Just because you havent experienced something doesnt make it less valid

The fact that people in third world countries get diagnosed with eating disorders/sensory disorders is really going to mess with your head

'Picky' eaters will not let themselves starve, if its a choice between eating something they dont like and starving they will eat

People, especially children, with bad sensory processing disorders will let themselves starve and its really dangerous to believe the whole 'a child will eat if they are hungry' thing. One of my neighbours growing up ended up with her son in hospital because she was surrounded by people (even medical) who told her her son would eat if he was hungry and not to give in to his pickiness. He wouldnt through

Do you also see depression as a luxury, or me/cfs etc or do you just reserve it for things you dont know much about so cant possibly be a 'real' issue

I have an ASD diagnosis (among other things).

Calling this a sensory issue is completely wrong.

The only thing wrong here is thinking your experience is the only one. Lots of people can and do have huge food related issues which will extend to leftover food. It's interesting how you go on to say it's a mantle issue as if that removes it from the disability though. Perhaps you could learn that we all have different experiences? The biggest problem I have ever had as an autism person is not being listened to. If I tell you I have an issue with something, you don't get to tell me I don't. If I say 'this is a problem' you don't get to tell me it isn't. It might not be an issue for you but it is for many others. Please stop gatekeeping autism. It's really unhelpful for everyone, yourself included.

I have an ASD diagnosis (among other things).

Calling this a sensory issue is completely wrong.

There's no way your senses can universally tell the difference between food that has been cooked just now and food that has been cooked earlier and stored and brought back up to temperature properly.

This is entirely a mental issue. The OP could work on it if they need to (i.e. if they don't have time/money to cook from scratch every meal), but if they are happy as they are and don't waste food then there is no need to.

I've never met anyone who genuinely cooks everything 'fresh' so if people on this thread wanted to work on the issue I'd start by thinking about all the food you do eat that's pre-prepared (cooked meats/cheeses, anything in tins, anything that's cooked before freezing, meals in restaurants etc).

Lots of 'issues' with leftovers on this thread could easily be dealt with i.e. if the plastic tubs you are putting food in give it a 'plasticy' taste, then use different containers! (Glass exists!). If you don't fancy the same food two days in a row then freeze and eat weeks later, or change what the food is (one days roast meat becomes another days pie filling etc).

@BrightYellowDaffodil

Feel free. My view remains unchanged whether my post is removed or not.

I'm not sure if it's arrogance or the inability to learn, whichever it is I feel incredibly sorry for you going through life with such a bad attitude towards others. I hope it improves for you.

Feel free. My view remains unchanged whether my post is removed or not.

It's not simple.

You clearly don't understand.

Sensory issues are actually real and can be horrendous.
My son is severely autistic. Severely. His "sensory issues" (as you write it) ruin his life. I'm fairly sure you wouldn't be using the quotes to imply sensory issues don't actually exist if it was you he attacked due to complete sensory overload!

Or maybe you would think you got a punch because he was just being precious. 🤷‍♀️

@BrightYellowDaffodil

I'm reporting your ableism, every time.

Oh and just to add to that I actually starved myself many times in my childhood before I simply could not eat certain things. Literally went hungry. I think the idea that an autistic person will eat if hungry just shows that despite all the raised awareness people are still massively ignorant.

Oh yes, the fucking luxurious disability

Away you go with your ableist pish

They ate.
Of course they did.

If the op had nothing to eat for ten days and was then offered a plate of leftovers and told it's this or nothing for another ten days then I'm fairly sure she'd eat it. Survival instincts kick in and override other things.

But if you aren't in that situation, does it matter what people did when they had no food? when that isn't the case and you do have food?

I hate olives. I would never open a full fridge, choose them and eat them on the grounds that if I lived in a place/at a time when it was eat them or starve, I would eat them. If I was starving then yes, I'm sure I'd chow down on Satan's sweaty bollocks.

In the most dire of situations people have resorted to cannibalism. I'm fairly sure there's nothing more repugnant and nauseating than eating someone but when it's that or die 🤷‍♀️

None whatsoever

Your point?

It's interesting just how many PPs have referred to ASD.

oh ASD is mentioned on threads from “where’s best to eat in London?” To “what do you spend on a hair cut?”

It pervades mumsnet

Indicating that perhaps this posters issues with leftovers are entwined with some kind of life/death situation!

It's interesting just how many PPs have referred to ASD. I hadn't associated my aversion to leftovers with autism until recently but it definitely seems to be a thing.

Not sure why people are banging on about waste. It's perfectly easy to cook only what you need. It's just more effort. And I'd rather make the effort than eat leftovers.

For example, I've got a small pack of beef mince in the fridge. I used half today to make spag bol and will use the other half tomorrow to make chili con carne. I'm sure most people would have cooked once with all the beef and had leftovers for the next day....I can't stomach that. I'd rather just cook again.

To follow up, yes, I'd go without eating rather than have food I have an aversion to. It's worse when my anxiety is high. I'm just coming out of a major depressive episode and I have lost weight.

I would suggest that those who do think we're weird do a little reading up on asd and food issues. Please quit the ablism.

I empathise OP. I'm not as extreme as you, in that I don't get the unbidden throwing up thoughts, but I really would struggle to eat leftover meat. Even things I've found delicious, lovely takeaways too etc. However wonderful the meal has been, I couldn't bear the thought of eating it the next day. My husband loves having leftovers though, so we have a harmonious balance. I have sensory issues too. I never considered it may be connected until now. So thank you for the interesting and insightful thread!

Aren't the majority of meat sandwiches 'leftover' in the sense that the meat isn't cooked specifically for the sandwich? Like packs of ham, sliced chicken etc?

I'm the same. I've tried meal prepping loads of times. Doesn't work. The only thing is leftover meat sandwiches.
I'm autistic though so I struggle with lots of food related weirdness. I need all for served piping hot and hot drinks

@PlanetNormal

I would love to be able to afford to turn my nose up at and waste perfectly good food just because it was cooked the day before. I’m sure millions of other people also wish they were in that position.

If you read any of the posts from autistic people who don't eat leftovers you would have seen that we don't have leftovers. I cook what we need. Someone else gives the leftovers to other people in the family. Nobody is talking about wasting food. Nobody.

This is me 🤯 it's incredibly hard coz I can't always cook daily due to health issues but I would rather go without food completely

@PlanetNormal You think people with ASD can't also be poor? Have you seen the employment stats for autistic adults?! It's extremely unfair to imply sensory issues are some kind of luxury when in fact those issues are often another burden on top of people's existing poverty but go on with your faux-naive