Adult Picky Eaters

Macaroni and cheese, pizza, plain noodles – this menu sounds like that of a child, and a picky one at that. What if I told you these were a few of only a handful of foods that many adults limit themselves to? Millions of full-grown Americans may may not have to wait long for a title for their restrictive eating habits. “Selective Eating Disorder” may soon be officially recognized by the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Researchers are currently conducting surveys and studies to see how many Americans this “disorder” affects and what can be done to prevent it. Many believe it stems from childhood, which would make sense considering America’s food culture seems to have some unwritten rule that children and adults must eat differently. Child-specific foods, which should be at least as healthy, if not more, than our own consist mainly of nutrient-lacking sugars, starches, salts and preservatives. This early introduction to malnutrition doesn’t start here, but rather at infancy according to pediatrician Alan Greene, M.D. The white rice cereal that is fed to many infants consists of “processed white flour, and to a baby’s metabolism, it’s about the same as a spoonful of sugar.”

Many suffering from Selective Eating Disorder claim to have an aversion to many foods’ textures or aromas which keep them from eating certain foods (more common in those who suffer from Autistic Spectrum Disorders) . Most of these individuals would do anything to have normal eating habits. SED can even keep people from everyday events, such as attending dinner with friends, in fear that they’ll embarrass themselves when it comes to their extreme finickiness. While researchers continue to search for the cause of SED it seems all we can do is wait and watch what we’re feeding our children.
Source: Huffingtonpost.com/healthy-living/