Now, this article will be biased. The reason this is, is because I’m a “picky eater”. Most of the time, though, these picky eaters aren’t actually just being rude, or ‘not like the other girls,’ but instead it’s something much deeper, and a more unrecognized issue.

As a child, and even now, I was incredibly picky. I wouldn’t eat most foods, and when I became a toddler, my mom needed to entertain me just to keep me sitting and eating at the table. Even now, there’s a long list of all the foods I’ve never tried. In my family, going out to eat is an issue. My family can’t go out to eat unless there’s something there I’ll eat, so many times, we go to the same few restaurants. I love my parents for not making me sit and finish whatever food is left on my plate. Granted, I would’ve sat there until I died of starvation.

But what’s actually happening? The most common diagnosis of this problem is ARFID. ARFID is considered an eating disorder, because it is, but it’s not like most we think of. People with ARFID don’t avoid foods because of their body image, but simply because of the anxiety or fear of trying a new food. This anxiety can be small, but especially for me, it rarely is. Just to be clear, being a picky eater and just disliking some foods is not the same as ARFID.

Now that we know what ARFID is, what are the signs you, or someone else, might have ARFID? Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, so please don’t diagnose yourself, and especially not others, without a professional giving their opinion or without researching more on it yourself. The most common signs are: being sensitive to specific textures, smells, or temperatures, only eating a small range of foods, always having the same rotating meals, only eating foods of similar colors, and trying to avoid situations where food is present. Like any other mental disability, it’s different for every person, but if any of these signs are relatable to you, it can be very helpful to lots of people to figure out why something’s happening. Most of the time, there’s no cure, because only around 4% of people have been “cured”. Normally, it’s roped in with autism, because autistic people have lots of sensory issues, so food is much more of a difference, and is often overlooked. It’s a fairly new mental condition, so there’s a large range of research. The eating recovery center states “… ARFID affects between 0.3% to 15.5% of the general population”. In short, it’s not overly common, but at the same time, there’s not much awareness about ARFID. 

Now, to get more specific, there are four main types of ARFID. They’re Avoidant, aversive, restrictive, and ARFID plus. Avoidant ARFID feels a little self-explanatory and is the most common. This is when someone avoids foods because of texture, smell, color, temperature, or appearance. Next is aversive ARFID. This is avoiding eating certain foods or all foods, out of fear of vomiting, choking, or an allergic reaction, even if there’s no ‘real’ risk. Then there’s restrictive ARFID. This is a person who doesn’t have much interest in eating. It’s not because they don’t like specific foods; it’s because they just aren’t motivated to eat. ARFID plus is anyone who also has another mental disorder, like autism, ADHD, or OCD. 

The main reason I wanted to talk about this was because there’s not much awareness that ARFID exists, but it’s such a daily struggle for many people to deal with. Earlier, I said there hasn’t been a “cure,” but there are ways to cope with it. The NEDC advises to gradually expose yourself to ‘unsafe’ foods, to expand your diet. As a person with ARFID, that sounds like the most terrifying thing. I’d much rather starve than eat a hamburger, but that’s the only way to ‘grow out’ of it. For me, I just stick to ‘safe’ foods. These foods are familiar, and I know I enjoy them. But for every person, ‘safe’ foods are different.

Now I’ve told you all this information, but what are the solutions? I feel as if ARFID awareness should be spread, so fewer parents feel like they did something wrong, or their kid has done something wrong. In restaurants, making sure there’s a list of all ingredients, or maybe a picture of what the meal looks like. A list of ingredients would be helpful for people with allergies, and for people with ARFID, because when I go to a restaurant and order something, sometimes it comes out with a burnt layer on top, or basil, and I refuse to eat it then. 

In short, being a picky eater normally isn’t a person trying to be quirky or different; it’s an eating disorder. People always pick on me for never having lots of food, and saying I don’t like them before I even try them. I feel like it shouldn’t be treated as a quirk, but more as a part of who a person is. People shouldn’t be ashamed of being picky; it should instead just be treated like any other preference or mental disorder. Don’t try to force someone with ARFID to eat new foods or eat everything they’re given. Instead, you should talk to them about it politely and without shaming them. Don’t get them a doctor or therapist for their eating disorder without their consent, unless they are physically ill. In conclusion, all we need is to spread awareness and be patient with those around us.