Fussy eating preventing me eating healthily - can anyone help?! (Adult with ASD & ADHD)

[Dodecahedr0n]

I have ADHD & ASD, I know there is common overlap between the two with some things so I thought I’d post this here. I am an extremely fussy eater. I know the importance of a healthy balanced diet to help regulate your mood/ raise energy levels etc, but, I just hate healthy foods! I really struggle to stomach vegetables, chicken, fish, salad... anything remotely healthy is just urgh. I live off plain and mostly unhealthy things, cereal, breakfast milkshakes, pizza, burgers, a lot of takeaways. I’m an emotional eater too, and a bored eater. I’ve piled on a lot of weight because of it ( 5 stone in 3 years ).

I’m thinking of reaching out for therapy for it. I fear that the sensory processing side of things maybe is the problem (I hate weird textures), coupled with negative childhood dinner time experiences (eg Dad always forced me to finish my plate before getting down even though I hated everything). I fear I probably have a bunch of vitamin deficiencies because of my poor diet and my weight is bothering me now too, it’s getting out of hand and I just feel so unhealthy. I really want to incorporate a healthy diet into my life. But the not liking healthy food thing really gets in the way of me having any kind of sustainable healthy diet. (+ the eating to stimulate myself thing, and emotional eating thing.. it all doesn’t help)

Has anyone experienced anything similar and/or can recommend any help for me?

Thanks!

[Autisticframework]

Eating fried egg, or scrambled egg or boiled egg with pizza and eating salad with burger or mashed potato mixed with root vegetable turnip is nice combination. Basically combing what you like with vegetables or try stir fried Chinese vegetable or rice mix or curry of vegetables. A little bit at time - get used to taste and then eat more. Something should work keep trying - and good luck!

[kevinmhickson]

Start with the emotional eating aspects - notice which mood promotes the more junk food. Also, particular times of the day and week when you are most likely to eat most unhealthily. Change routines to adjust this. How about exercise to reduce weight?

Sounds like you are ready to make some positive changes but focus attention on the whole picture of lifestyle and not just the food!

[Fuunycat]

You probably should go to the doctors to get your blood checked out and talk to a nutritionist. But you need to try a food over 10 times before you like it. When I was adopted I wouldn't eat veg until my dad had dip night. It is basically a mixture of veg both cooked and raw and dips. There is no stress as you pick but it is there so you can. Dips can take away taste. I would suggest starting with foods with similar texture or try stuff like cauliflower pizza bases

[Stanley51]

Thanks for asking this question I have found the answers very useful, I have 7 year old Grandson who is autistic his diet is very restrictive with his main meal being plain penne pasta and other food but only at certain times for instance an apple before bed, he will eat chocolate at any time! So we are working on it. I have to agree about exercise but not thinking about it to lose weight but to feel better mentally to feel good about yourself, its something you can control.. dont worry too much about the other issues but develop a regular routine..

[Dodecahedr0n]

Thank you everyone for your responses and advice