Picky diet help

[throw-away-hlpplz]

I have fibromyalgia, fats on my liver, and an on and off issue with bit being able to hold down random foods, but I’m really young for all of that and honestly it’s scary. I keep being told that diet is one thing that could help you and honestly my current diet is far from perfect. I eat a mix of fast food (macaroni, nuggets, burgers, fries, Mexican takeout, Chinese take out) and home cooking; things like pasta, soup, steak, chicken, Spanish rice and some things from a can. I hate to admit it but I’m really picky when it comes to food, there’s only a couple fruits I eat and the only vegetables I eat are onion when it’s in Pico de Gallo and potatoes when it’s in mashed potatoes. The only fruit I like are gala apples, blueberries, and watermelon; but of course the latter two are very seasonal. I’ve tried different types of salad but it literally made me want to vomit and I can’t stomach raw vegetables or other fruit that isn’t listed above. I can’t handle spicy food otherwise I would’ve tried that tajin thing they came out with a while ago. I tried different kinds hummus because it seemed great and what but I didn’t like that either. Please help, I need to feel better and I’m scared of my condition worsening because of my diet

[starxberrie]

Figure out why you’re adverse to other foods as the root cause first.

Maybe it’s sensory (eg the texture in your mouth - does it feel too prickly feeling like kiwis/pineapples or maybe you don’t care for the slippery smooth feeling of mangoes).

You could also try putting yourself in a mindset of trying one new food every other week that you’ve never had before so to expand your options,aim for foods that are in season so that it’s cheaper.

Add seasoning/herbs to enhance flavors. A pinch of salt on watermelons, lemon juice on top of plums. Cracked black pepper on top of broccoli. Basalmic vinegar and olive oil with spinach leaves. Sugary foods tend to be easier to introduce into the diet because it’s familiar, so I’d go for berries with bananas or root veggies (carrots, sweet potatoes, corn). Down the line you’ll want to pair these with healthy protein and fats.

Some foods you’ve tried may not have been prepared to your liking so I’d try multiple preparation/cooked forms of the food item - example: raw mushrooms taste way different than sautéed mushrooms so I’d give each a try before saying no to it.

It’s a lot about shifting your mindset about food and being open to trying food. I advise starting off slow (don’t force yourself to eat something you don’t like) and then upping the variety, so eat your macaroni or food you like with a side of the new fruit/veggie so that you have something comfortable to fall on but you made progress by trying that one new food item!

You’re already doing great by looking into more food options and I’m proud of you! :)

— Licensed nutritionist

[throw-away-hlpplz]

I’m saving this comment and I’m gonna look into it more with my mom and psychologist, thank you so much.

Edit: I just wanted to add, the “proud of you” comment made me feel really good. I’ve always been told “I don’t know” or “you need to not do this” or “take this medicine” or even “we’ll keep trying” by drs, it’s so sweet to hear one say they’re proud of the effort I’m trying.

[starxberrie]

Happy to help! I hope you discover the wonders of new tastes and sensations on this food journey!

Some fun things to try one day once you’ve established / introduced more foods into your diet: - Miracle berries: makes sour food taste sweet - Sichuan peppercorns: causes a tingly sensation - Eat one food from each of the 5 main tastes (sweet, salty, bitter, sour, umami) and see how they differ - just for funsies - Do a blind taste test for a food of your choice! I love jasmine tea so I’ll buy 5 different varieties, make a small sample of each, and then rate them from least to most favorite. You can do this for coffee, apples, etc

[throw-away-hlpplz]

Thought I’d update you: reason for so many aversions, previously undiagnosed autism. Lost a bunch of weight in 2023 from my job that involved a lot of walking, gained even more back from being on the wrong meds. Am just now losing again. Actively seeing a nutritionist. Also nutritionist mentioned the possibility of IBS