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How to help adult "fussy eater" with food ishoos...

4 replies

YoMoJo · 08/02/2010 19:55

DH is a "fussy eater".

As a child he ate very little. His Mum took him to the doctor because all he would eat was peanut butter sandwiches & strawberry yoghurt. Doctor said that it was good it wasn't jam sandwiches & he would out-grow it. Unfortunately his Dad, coming from a big family of Irish emigrants was brought up to believe that wasting food was one of the worst things that you could do. So DH was made to sit at the dinner table until he had finished his dinner. This usually meant he would sit at the table until bedtime. As a result DH is unable to eat any cooked food cold (like party food etc) His Dad also, out of shear desperation force fed him on occasions.

Both DH parents are very sorry for what they put DH through & say it is their one regret about how they brought up their children.

So DH now has a rather unhealthy diet, but until now has managed to maintain slim figure, but now as he is getting older he is starting to pile on the weight.

He has very limited number of items he can eat & other things that he can only eat a certain way (like steak med-rare, no gristle) A couple of times he has attempted to try other things but he just looks at it but cant bring himself to try it. The only veg he eats are greens prepared a very specific way & only with a roast dinner. (no fruit)

Just wondering if this is something that he just has to live with or if there is something that he could do?? His cholestorol must be off the scale!

I may not reply tonight as DH doesnt know I am posting although he has said he would like some help with this.

OP posts:
luciemule · 09/02/2010 14:20

I reckon that lovely doctor in Birmingham (forgotten her name) could sort him out. She's is (I think) one of the country's top food phobia consultants:

Dr Gillian Harris
School of Psychology
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT

Tel: 0121 414 4934
Email: [email protected]

However, your DH would still need to be reffered to her - you couldn't just contact I don't think.

She was on the TV show last year, 'My Child Won't Eat' but not sure if she also helps adults.

Have you asked your DH to flick through some recipe mags himself and tell him he could choose the meals himself and then cook them himself? Not sure if that would work but I think whatever you do, it will have to be very gradual.

Chil1234 · 09/02/2010 14:33

I'd suggest trying your local GP and giving them the full story. 'Disordered eating' takes many forms (you don't have to be an underweight teenage girl to qualify for help) and there are specialists in dietary matters and psychological problems that can help your husband deal with his extreme anxieties around food. He may not end up eating every type of food - few of us do - but at least he would stand a better chance of avoiding the health problems associated with a poor/restricted diet.
In the meantime, does he at least take a daily multivitamin? Good luck

YoMoJo · 10/02/2010 15:41

Thanky you for taking the time to reply. I think cbt my be the answer. I dont think he would speak to the GP about it to be honest.

He is very specific about the foods that he eats & how they are eaten & these things are not transferable (he will eat say mash but only with sausages, he wont eat either as part of a different meal) So I dont think choosing & cooking a meal would help him.

He is ready to do something about it now & I think cbt may help - i now it wont be a cure but hopefully it will give him an enjoyment for food & a wider choice.

OP posts:
thirtysomething · 10/02/2010 15:47

CBT or other types of counselling would help. Otherwise would he consider very small short-term goals? Like say trying one new food a month and committing to having that food say once or twice a week for that month? Also keeping a diary about the food he tries - what he does/doesn't like about it/what he is scared of with it etc..

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