For the Fear of Food

Chocolate. Bread. Cheese. Butter. Potatoes. Pizza. Jelly. Cake. Pastries. Chips. Guacamole. Beer. Ice cream. Acai bowls. Burgers. Fries. Steak. Sandwiches. Popcorn. Dumplings. White rice. Fried chicken. Fried anything, really.

These were just some of my fear foods. The list was endless and constantly evolving each time I learned about a new food. Fried polenta? Sounds like a fear food. Dippin dots? Fear food. Mochi? Fear food. Falafel? Fear food. Strudel? Fear food.

Most people have foods they prefer not to eat; foods they don’t like or that make them feel ill. The avoidance of those foods is not rooted in fear. The avoidance of a food that you actually like or crave is a fear food. Many individuals suffering from eating disorders have incredibly intense fear foods, and conversely, many foods they consider “safe.” Specific foods are considered “safe” if they are perceived to not cause weight gain or because they do not pose a risk of overeating. Common “safe” foods are vegetables, fruits, bland foods like plain oatmeal, and foods with no calories such as coffee, tea, or diet sodas.

So, What are fear foods? A fear food is a food an individual finds difficult to incorporate into their diet. Fear foods feel scary to eat, often because of negative thoughts or feelings related to the food’s nutrient content. Fear foods are often individual items (pizza…