selective eating disorder!

Selective eating disorder is a newly accepted and recognized form of eating disorder. The American Psychiatric Association is considering it for the 2013 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This manual is a reference book of psychological disorders. 

Some but not all children who are “picky” eaters may grow into adults who have this disorder. Unlike people suffering from bulimia or anorexia, selective eating does not appear to be based on stresses of weight or physical appearance. Suffers have just a small range of “safe foods” or foods that they find acceptable to eat. This restriction interferes with relationships, and strains social interactions. It may be linked to a sort of obsessive compulsive disorder and can lead to long term health consequences if nutritional needs of the body are not met.

 
My personal experiences with this disorder.
 
Ryan, the love of my life! I met him at work in the yogurt aisle of Target. It was our first day of work and he had escaped from his assigned location in meat. He explained to me that he was a vegetarian and being around the meat had been grossing him out! After many weeks we began slowly dating and I began to wonder if he was more than just vegetarian, because he did not seem to really eat anything. He also ate the same thing every day, no real variation. 

I talked to a friend who is a nurse about it several times, and speculated that he may have some compulsion about food. In my observations he only ate a few things, peanut butter and jelly, toast, bagels (un toasted) with cream cheese, cheese pizza, cheese itself (must be sharp cheddar blocks only, very thinned slices) French fries, yogurt, and fruit smoothies that he has made himself. 

I discovered he could eat meat…sort of. He likes bad hot dogs, the mixed meat variety, and if it tastes too good (all beef, kosher etc.) he feels very sick to his stomach and may vomit. He can also eat chicken nuggets of the McDonald’s or Wendy’s variety (again with quality, if it tastes too “good” he gets sick). 

Though there are multiple things on this list, he eats the same thing every day and most of these foods, while he will eat them, are not something he can eat daily.  His daily diet consists of peanut butter and jelly on potato bread (a complete protein yay!) sometimes twice a day, cheese, milk, and yogurt. 

After months of dating he finally admitted he just can’t eat like everyone else! What we would consider good food, like lasagna, steak or well anything with a mixed variety, looks like chopped liver to him! It appears completely inedible. If he is forced to eat something like it, he gets involuntarily ill and may even throw up. Imagine trying to eat liver or something that you can’t imagine as food.
 
He wishes he could eat, life would be easier for him if he could. It has affected him socially; food is such a social mechanism for us. It was something that made him stick out in the cafeteria in school. When people want to go out to eat and hang out, he often declines. When he is forced to eat around people he feels awkward, and feels eyes on him. I asked him how often he pays attention to people eating. Never was his reply, but he still feels pressure and self-conscious eating around people.   

Prior to meeting him, if I would have heard of this disorder I would have just been incredulous. Eat! Just eat, would have been my thought. He has wept and struggled and I have been there for him. It is distressing for him to know this is going to be how he eats for the rest of his life, if he could just snap his fingers and eat he would. This has a powerful mental hold on him. 

He is not crazy. He is a fantastic, loving, hilarious person! Outside of the kitchen you would never know he struggled with any problems. He takes excellent care of himself otherwise and he seems to be much more aware of his body’s needs than others his age. He eats small portions and takes many high quality vitamins and fiber every day to make up any imbalance in nutrients. He knows he doesn’t eat a balanced diet and does what he can to insure his health otherwise.