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[whatajuckingfoke]

LOOKING FOR RESPONSES FROM ND PEOPLE OR PARENTS OF ND CHILDREN. THIS IS ON THE ND BOARD. I DO NOT NEED PEOPLE TELLING ME NOT TO BE FUSSY OR TO PUNISH MY CHILDREN FOR THEIR RESTRICTIVE EATING. THANKS.

Hello fellow ND Mumsnetters.

I'm recently diagnosed with ASC and ADHD. 37, female. Had no idea I was ND until my first child was diagnosed with ASC nearly 3 years ago and ever since then it's been a cacophony of 'oh!' moments. I'm a SAHM currently and a parent carer to my eldest child.

Anyway. I've always struggled with food. I was extremely 'fussy' as a child eating a very limited diet (which of course in the late 80s and early 90s was 'naughtiness').

As an adult I eat loads of different foods BUT I still cannot tolerate almost any fruit and veg. Any crunchy wet foods make me gag and vomit, no matter how they're cooked or presented. Dry and crunchy (like crisps or breadsticks etc) are fine.

I was wondering, what do you all eat? Do you eat 'normally'? I eat lots of meals (which do not contain fruit or veg, unless veg is blended to oblivion and then fine sieved like for a spag Bol sauce or soup). I've realised recently that accidentally, I seem to eat about five evening meals on repeat.I also binge eat when I'm stressed or anxious, likely part of the ADHD dopamine-seeking. I often cook separately for DH because he doesn't like to eat the same thing over and over (and works late, hence me doing the cooking, he's not horrible!) and the children so with a fair amount of frequency I will cook four different dinners a night.

My children do the same. They're not as 'fussy' as I was, but they have a handful of (mostly different!) meals that they eat, and that's it. Luckily the eldest who is six (the diagnosed child) eats from all food groups so she's fairly balanced, if restrictive. Youngest (age 3) is on the waiting list for assessment and will be assessed shortly. She is super restrictive and also doesn't eat fruit or veg except apples, bananas and strawberries. Luckily they are growing well and healthy weights.

I know food issues are common. Just wanted a space to chat about it really, and see if I'm unusual or not!

I don't think you're unusual in your eating, but I'm not judgemental about what people eat (or don't eat) because I have loads of food related issues.

I think you're incredibly tolerant cooking 4 different evening meals. That cannot be easy!

My diet is very bland and I have no problem eating the same food every day. As a child of the 60's and 70's, I was force fed and mealtimes were really stressful. My parents were abusive bastards so I have some horrendous memories attached to food.

I have synesthesia and food tastes of colours. As an adult, I 'know' that tasting brown doesn't mean that I'm eating poo, but as a child, anything that tasted brown meant it was poo and I used to scream if I was force fed 'brown tasting' food (potatoes spring to mind; not brown in colour, but brown in taste).

I had to teach myself to eat certain foods, mainly vegetables and salad veg in order to appear 'normal' when eating out and for nutrition.

I can't eat anything that I don't like the smell of and texture is a huge thing for me too.

I wish I had a proper adult palate, but I never will. My diet is very restricted.

Thank you for replying.

I am very non judgy about other people's eating too, probably as a result of a lifetime of people being judgy about mine!

I wish I'd been able to teach myself to eat fruit and veg. For health reasons as well as appearances. I do have smoothies and soups as long as they are smooth - I can tolerate a couple of the Innocent smoothies and I make my own 12 veg soup. But as for eating them properly, no chance.