I have ARFID, and at least in my case, my diet isn’t as restrictive as most stereotypes portray, even though my list of safe foods hasn’t really expanded since I was in middle school. I was raised vegetarian, and have never eaten meat in my life AFAIK, and I that think helped me to have broader, or at least healthier tastes than many with my disorder.

I of course have some stereotypical safe foods, like fries, pizza (on which the only topping I will tolerate is pineapple) and mac & cheese, but that list also includes things like sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, and tofu stir fry.
The list of foods that I will not eat also has some things you may not expect, like most juices, sodas, and energy drinks, anything cherry flavored, and chocolate, which I will only eat if it’s mixed with something like caramel or peanut butter.

There are some genuine benefits to ARFID as well in my case. The smell of red meat makes me nauseous, which has ensured I’ve stayed vegetarian into my adult life. it’s also prevented me from getting hooked on caffeine or alcohol, as I can’t stand the taste of coffee, tea or any alcoholic beverage.

My biggest barrier to eating healthy is actually executive dysfunction, rather than ARFID. The healthy foods I like all take some active prep work, whereas I can grab a box of cheese-its or throw tater tots in the oven with almost no effort.

My brother was the best man at my wedding. He was one of 6 people who ordered chicken nuggets. The other 5 were children.

This is a completely psychotic thought, but I’m really curious to see what kind of circumstances would break their pickiness. For example, how many days of starvation before they change their minds. Also, would that happen sooner if no one was observing them?

Absolutely unethical and it could never happen as an experiment, but I wish I could see the results somehow.

I’m a picky eater, or whatever the correct semantics for it are. I don’t enjoy it.

Figuring out what to eat every day is a giant pain, let alone even attempting to eat healthy. It bothers me that other people seem to think it’s some kind of selfish malicious plan. Forcing myself to eat something I don’t like makes me gag.

any adult that says choccy milk deserves to be hit in the face with a sledge hammer.

Is this what people think when I tell them I can’t eat gluten? Cuz it definitely feels like it.