All my childhood, growing up, I had people tell me that my eating habits were bad, and as an adult, they say I eat like a child. What they don’t know is that certain foods have a different effect on me. Grapes have a weird texture; bananas are too squishy, and pears have a weird, grainy taste. I call it food sensitivity, and others call me picky. I even had someone tell me that because of how I eat, I won’t live to be 30(i showed him I’m 36 now)
If things are too sour, hot, spicy, or anything, they can upset my stomach, and it just makes eating unpleasant. It’s tough being neurodivergent when every food is just a texture that you like or dislike, and nobody can understand you, and it’s there, but it’s not something you can see, and that makes it even harder.
Then there are people, like me, who have gastro problems, and that’s even harder. Imagine not being able to eat beef or pork, not because you don’t like the texture but because it upsets your stomach so much that you are in pain. I’ve even been in the hospital from the pain.
What people don’t understand is that we don’t avoid foods to be difficult or eat only one thing because we are childish; it’s just that safe foods are always safe. We know we like the texture. We know we like the taste. And we know that we won’t get sick from it. It’s because the sensitivity is invisible that people don’t understand. When you grow up with people who eat all their veggies and can eat pork and beef, they can’t understand that it can make you physically sick.
I’d do anything to make it more known, like spread awareness, so that children who have it won’t be shamed by their parents, teachers, siblings, and friends. Awareness is always a good thing, and having that knowledge will make the child feel more relaxed and not dread dinner time. And that is the goal.
