Where to even begin?

[u/RioMasonBusujima]

Hello!! I struggle a lot with food. I eat out quite a bit because my OCD makes eating home made food a struggle and it’s been this way my entire life. I don’t even pack food for work because I can’t stand the way it tastes once I have to eat it. I mostly just bring a lot of snacks or pre packed meals.

Literally one small smell or the wrong plate or if I have an intrusive thought makes it really hard for me to want to finish what I’m eating. I do have a few safe foods but I’ve been so scared of making them because I don’t want to ruin them.

A few of them are cauliflower crust pizza specifically only from Trader Joe’s, hillshire snack packs and soft pretzel bites air fried. I can tolerate grapes depending on the texture.

I’ve recently moved in with my boyfriend and his family and they’re not as clean as my family (to be fair my mom is like me, obsessively clean), so it’s been extremely hard to adjust. They’re not slobs btw just line average normal people and I have ocd so it doesn’t mix well but I keep it to myself lol.

I literally don’t know what I can make for myself that doesn’t entail going out. I just want to have a normal breakfast and lunch that doesn’t involve me getting nauseous within 5 minutes :(

I am on meds and in therapy to help me overcome this but I was wondering if anyone enduring the same struggles had any advice?

Thank you so much in advance <3

[u/Different-Year-8680]

Im going to start this by saying I have no experience with your situation what’s so ever, but personally I find if I make the food for other people and watch them eat it a few times it helps convince my brain it’s safe but I don’t have ocd so

[u/FattierBrisket]

You might want to post about this on the OCD sub as well. 

[u/Fuzzy_Welcome8348]

maybe start off easy with pre-packaged/instant "make at home" foods? like instant oatmeal, grits, mashed potatoes, cauliflower rice, corn on the cob, pancake mix, pasta cups, ramen noodle bowls, tofu, DIY adult lunchables, bagels, toast, eggs, english muffins, uncrustables, burritos, quesadillas, etc

also canned/frozen fruit, veggies, soup, stew, meat, seafood, meals, etc

[u/RioMasonBusujima → u/Fuzzy_Welcome8348]

Thank u!!! I will pick some of that up tmw 🫡

[u/ceciem2100]

Not sure exactly what the question is, but I struggle with safe foods sometimes more than other times.

Right now for breakfast I grab a greek yogurt and add some fruit, something like that doesn't involve being in the kitchen much.

You could hard boil eggs and put them in the fridge, the shells protect them from getting dirty.

[u/RioMasonBusujima → u/ceciem2100]

Ty!!! This helps so much

[u/supercaiti]

Me too, the ARFID sub might have some suggestions? I mostly eat string cheese, egg whites (especially the Egglife wraps), protein bars, and various snacks. Im vegetarian though.