My daughter only eats pizza. AMA

[IThinkILikeThisLittleLight]

She has ARFID

Posting to give some insight into what life with ARFID is like

”She’s eating and that’s good enough” - that sounds like such a sensible and empathetic response, @IThinkILikeThisLittleLight. I hope you are getting support too - I haven’t been though this myself, but I can only imagine how stressful and worrying life must be for you all.

Mine eats apples, pears and lettuce. He also has one safe type of crisps.

as I have said earlier in this thread that has caused massive issues for us to the point he is tube fed for most of his calorie intake.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I’m sure I have read somewhere that one of the reasons so many ‘safe’ foods are ultra processed or ‘junk’ is that these foods are consistent in every way, because they are factory made, mass produced. Two apples, which look identical, can taste very different to each other, so a person with ARFID can’t rely on the next apple tasting like the last one, and they absolutely need that level of consistency so they can have confidence in the food they are eating.

I see @mm81736’s comment has been deleted - I assume it is the one @Sirzy quoted, and I hope this may help @mm81736 to understand, and not be so judgemental.

Several people, including me, have already explained why processed foods are safe. In case you feel too lazy to read the thread properly, it's because processed foods are consistently the same flavour and texture and smell every meal. You never get an unripe or overripe chicken nugget.

It’s amazing how these people have absolutely no qualms at all about showing just how lacking they are anything useful to society

Mine eats apples, pears and lettuce

my son will eat broccoli, carrots, roast potato and green grapes. He’ll also eat homemade pasta sauce that I make.

his dinner is a rotation of loin cops , roast chicken, fillet steak.

His lunch is frozen chips and something beige.

Hes 33 now.

I'd just like to say thanks for this thread OP, and in particular your point about your other children not having these traits and therefore it not being an effect of upbringing. I think my son has something very similar and all too often I'm questioned (and probably judged) on his diet. But like you, I'd rather he eats something than go without and I make every effort not to induce stress around the issue with him. I too have another child who will gladly eat or try a variety of foods. So yes, thank you for opening up this conversation it's been very heartening and informative and I wish you and your family all the best.

@IThinkILikeThisLittleLight I appreciate this thread and your replies. I've learned a lot from it, I have a friend whose daughter has ARFID and I know she has really struggled with it.

As a parent with ARFID, I’ve been very careful with my dc. I don’t want them to have food issues like I do. It’s hard to explain to a toddler why mummy is having chips but they have vegetables

Now at 11 and 9, I can safely say they are doing well with food. Dd doesn’t like anything fish based, bbq sauce based or egg (though she will eat things like pancakes and eggy bread).

Ds doesn’t like anything too spicy but apart from that is pretty good

@IThinkILikeThisLittleLight how do you feel about all the lovely food and experiences your DD is missing out on ? My DS (now 18) has ARFID (and autism and other ASD/SEN) he has no interest in food and it gives him very little (if any) pleasure or enjoyment. He eats the same dinners every single night, he has no interest in going to a restaurant - he is not interested in savouring the ambience, enjoying reading/picking from the menu or the chat/drinks, he hates the wait for food. For him, food is only a necessity to stay alive.

He eats very little and can go all day with no food. We cook separate meals on demand to ensure he is eating enough. Its draining. But a necessity for our son. Who without us risks being severely malnourished.

For us it's also upsetting to see what our DS is missing out on. But he is happy as he is.

To be fair though I know an over 60 year old adult with no additional needs who is exactly the same in terms of restaurants. Enjoys eating a variety of foods at home (with a tendency towards traditional British) but absolutely no interest or enjoyment in eating in a restaurant. It baffles me as I love it but he really gets no enjoyment from it, it only stresses him out and spoils it for everyone else.

@ohgreatwiseonesaidnooneever I do find it sad that she has no joy in food but it's who she is. I can't change it so I don't dwell on it.

She's also officially been diagnosed with ARFID by the NHS now.