Woman lives on chicken nuggets, hasn’t eaten fruit or veg in 22 years
A British woman living with an unusual condition that makes her gag when she eats most foods has shared he one meal she can stomach.
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A British woman who hasn’t eaten fruit or vegetables in 22 years has revealed she lives on a diet of chicken nuggets, fries and potato chips — and says she’s perfectly healthy.
Summer Monro, 25, suffers from avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and the thought of eating an apple or a banana is enough to make her gag.
“I can’t remember the last time I ate a fruit or vegetable,” Summer said.
“It’s not that I don’t want to try. It just makes me feel sick, and there’s a part of my brain that physically won’t let me do it.”
Her phobia began when she was about three-years-old, she explained, stating she’d tried to eat some apple but “physically couldn’t”.
She believes it was sparked after being forced to eat mashed potatoes against her will one night.
The situation is so severe, Summer even turned down her grandfather’s offer of £1,000 ($1800) to eat a single pea.
“I just can’t see myself changing,” she said.
“I like the smell of food but if I try to eat it, it makes me physically sick. As soon as it touches my lips, I can’t do it.”
As a result, Summer’s diet involves skipping breakfast and before eating a bag of potato chips for lunch.
Every single night, her dinner consists of six to eight chicken nuggets with a side of fries.
Shockingly, the fussy eater said she’s in great shape and doesn’t take any vitamins or supplements.
“A lot of people say they’re surprised that I’m never ill. I’m also a very upbeat, happy person and people don’t understand how I’ve got so much energy,” she said.
“It doesn’t affect me physically. I don’t feel lethargic or anything and I’ve had blood tests but they’re all fine.”
Doctors have been left baffled by the fact Sumer has regular weight, she explained, but she insists she is “fine” because she is getting “protein from the chicken” in the nuggets.
Over the years Summer has been to therapy and hypnotherapy in a bid to beat the disorder, but nothing has worked.
“It’s definitely something to do with the texture. The things I do eat are crispy, which is the opposite to mashed potato,” she speculated.
The woman, who lives in Cambridge, 100 miles north east of London, says her condition means partner Dean McKnight, 26, has to make a separate meal every day.
However, Dean has been supportive, Summer said.
“My partner takes it really well.
“When we first met, I didn’t tell him about ARFID and we were walking around town looking for a restaurant and I ended up having to tell him because I kept saying no.”
However, despite her supportive partner and her “good health,” she said she wishes she was able to eat more exciting foods.
“I’m really bored, I don’t get excited to eat,” she admitted.
“It affects me mentally, especially when I go to restaurants and I sit with nothing. We went out for my sister’s birthday and I sat and didn’t eat and it made me feel crap.”
Originally published as Woman lives on chicken nuggets, hasn’t eaten fruit or veg in 22 years
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