I've ‘never' eaten fruit, veggies or meat — I survive off two loaves of bread a day
A man with a rare condition has 'never' eaten fruit, vegetables or meat – and survives on two loaves of bread a day.
Thomas Sheridan, 35, says the thought of biting into an egg and sausage sandwich leaves him feeling 'horrible' and would make him 'throw up'.
Advertisement
After decades years battling his food aversions and being dismissed as a 'picky eater', Thomas was finally diagnosed with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in 2023 at the age of 33.
The condition leaves him unable to eat foods and he doesn't have any understanding of most textures or tastes – as he feels physically sick at the thought of taking a bit of fruit or vegetable.
3 Thomas' condition leaves him with a very limited diet.
William Lailey / SWNS
Thomas survives on a diet of white toast with butter, three bowls of Shreddies and Haribo sweets – and takes protein supplements to get the vitamins he needs – but longs to be able to enjoy a bowl of stew.
Advertisement
Thomas has been prescribed antidepressants but this hasn't helped and he has 'become accustomed' to his condition.
He is fundraising the $8K needed to pay for private hypnotherapy which he hopes will help him achieve his 'dream' of sitting down for a shared meal with his family.
Thomas, who is currently unable to work due to his health, from Liverpool, said: 'It's torture.
Advertisement
'I'm not living at the moment, I'm only surviving.
'I want to live a normal life and be able to go to work and not feel like a freak.
'It's closed so many doors for me.'
Thomas' aversion to certain foods first became evident when he was a toddler.
Advertisement
Born weighing 9lbs, his parents say there were no signs of unusual feeding habits until he was 18 months old and 'one day I just shut my mouth'.
Thomas was told he was taken to the doctors – with one suggesting his parents, Tom, 65, and Sheila, 59, 'just starve him' to the point he'd eat.
His dad also tried to 'bribe' him with gifts but to no avail.
3 His parents enabled him, allowing him to return home for toast instead of school lunch.
William Lailey / SWNS
Thomas said he can't even try most foods as his mouth 'just closes over' and previous attempts led to him feeling physically sick.
When he was at school, Thomas' parents allowed him to go home at lunchtime to eat toast – instead of trying to force down school lunches.
He said: 'It [the disorder] didn't really affect me until I was about 18, because I had a small bubble of people I was around.
Advertisement
'When you become an adult, you see people's opinions change of you, when they know you've got an eating disorder.
'Because the school didn't know anything about it, when they gave me work experience, they put me in a college, in the catering department.
'I was prepping all the foods, I was quite good at it and then I thought about going to college, maybe about food.
'I mentioned it, and then people were just like 'what's the point of that, you can't even eat a chip?'.'
Advertisement
Thomas struggles with socializing when plans are based around going out for food and often feels 'isolated'.
He said: 'There was one time when we started drinking and everyone used to talk about bacon sandwiches when they were roughed up.
'I attempted to make an egg and sausage butty one day and as soon as the egg touched my mouth I vomited about 10 feet across the room.'
Thomas is currently unemployed due to his condition which, he says, leaves him physically unable to work.
Advertisement
'The last time I worked over a 10-day period, I lost 21 pounds,' he said.
3 His limited diet of cereal and bread has forced him to take vitamins.
William Lailey / SWNS
He says being unable to work often means he struggles to afford foods he relies on – like Weetabix.
Thomas has also recently been prescribed food supplements to make up for the shortage of nutrients in his restricted diet.
Advertisement
But he can only consume certain flavors – with a taste profile he is familiar with.
Thomas' restricted diet has left him unable to put on weight and at his lowest he weighed just 8st 2lbs.
He maintains his current weight by regularly eating his beige diet of two loaves of bread, three bowls of cereal, and a packet of Hula Hoops.
Thomas says he's tried therapy – one of the treatments suffers of ARFID are usually referred for – but says the 'inconsistencies' caused him to struggle.
He said: 'They said 'you'll probably get a different person every time. We can't guarantee you the same person.'
Unlike anorexia or bulimia nervosa, ARFID lacks the awareness of other eating disorders and only appeared on the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases in 2022.
The British dietetic association recognized ARFID as an eating disorder in 2013.
Thomas says he's never met another person diagnosed with the same condition.
He is now looking to raise $8,000 to pay for private hypnotherapy that may enable him to expand his diet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cannabis found in Haribo confectionery not from production process
Traces of cannabis found within packets of Haribo lollies in the Netherlands did not come from the production process, the confectionery manufacturer has said. In late May, Haribo recalled packets of confectionery in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg after some were found to contain traces of cannabis. The food safety body in the Netherlands (NVWA) said three 1-kilogram packs of Haribo Happy Cola F!ZZ were found to be contaminated. Haribo's investigation, and tests by an independent laboratory, found the cannabis had not entered the product during production, Haribo said. "We are pleased to confirm that the results of these tests are all negative and there are no signs of contamination," a Haribo spokesperson said. "Our internal investigations also show that there were no irregularities in our production processes." Haribo was still working closely with authorities to determine how the cannabis could have gotten into the confectionery. NVWA had also warned that consuming the affected cola bottles could lead to health problems, including dizziness. Several people, including children, had complained of feeling unwell. Two children were treated in a hospital, and one was temporarily in a coma.
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
What are Americans' morning struggles?
Two in five Americans are 'bad' at mornings, according to new research. The survey of 2,000 general population Americans revealed 38% agreed with this sentiment — and respondents get out of bed later than planned an average of eight times per month. Advertisement For one in 10 respondents, this happens more than 20 times per month. When they're rushing through their morning routine, after staying in bed longer than planned, respondents were most likely to skip eating breakfast (41%). But others will neglect their personal hygiene: 16% will skip showering, while 11% will go about their day without brushing their teeth. 5 The average alarm user sets two alarms in the morning, and a fifth will hit snooze at least three times before they actually get up out of bed according to new research. Ana Blazic Pavlovic – Advertisement Commissioned by Avocado Green Mattress and conducted by Talker Research, the survey also looked at respondents' alarm habits. Less than half (43%) use an alarm to wake up in the morning — and for these respondents, the results revealed their first alarm goes off at 6:33 a.m. Younger generations were more likely to rely on an alarm: While just a fifth (19%) of baby boomers set an alarm, 63% of Gen Z and millennials do the same. Across ages, the average alarm user sets two alarms in the morning, and a fifth will hit snooze at least three times before they actually get up out of bed. 5 The survey revealed that less than half of the people who participated (43%) use an alarm to wake up in the morning SWNS Advertisement The survey also split respondents by early birds and night owls to see how that impacts their alarm habits and their sleep overall. Two-thirds (67%) of early birds who use an alarm said it's 'very effective' at getting them out of bed on time — compared to just half (52%) of night owls. Early birds were more likely to use a 'standard' or preset alarm sound (70% vs. 58%), while night owls were more likely to have an 'annoying' sound — like a fire alarm or honking cars — to wake them up (20% vs. 12%). Unsurprisingly, night owls were more likely to struggle to get out of bed on time (54% vs. 17%). Night owls were also more likely to say their body needs more sleep than they're currently getting (70% vs. 55%). That's despite the two groups getting about the same amount of sleep — right around six and a half hours per night. Advertisement 'Whether you're a morning person or a night owl, quality sleep is non-negotiable,' said Laura Scott, Director of Brand Marketing at Avocado Green Mattress. 'Your natural sleep rhythm should be supported — not disrupted — by an environment designed for deep, restorative rest.' 5 51% of Americans are 'bad' at sleep due to their own anxieties keeping them awake. SWNS The top reason Americans aren't getting enough sleep? Their own worries are keeping them up (51%). That was followed by a sleep condition (like insomnia, sleep apnea, etc.) (30%) and nightmares or stress dreams (20%). Also in the top five was an uncomfortable bed or mattress making it more difficult to sleep (19%) and loud noises outside (14%) keeping respondents awake. 5 Sleep conditions, nightmares, uncomfortable mattresses, and loud noises are other significant sleep deterrents. Prostock-studio – While night owls (35%) and early birds (37%) were almost equally likely to struggle to stay asleep, night owls were more likely to face other difficulties. This included going to bed later than they 'should' in the evening (48% vs. 24%), struggling to fall asleep (44% vs. 27%) and staying in bed longer than they 'should' in the morning (25% vs. 8%). Advertisement 5 Creating a stable sleep habits is very important for daily living. Elnur – 'So many of us lie awake at night, our minds racing with worry or stress,' said Scott. 'That's why it's so important to create sleep spaces and habits that are calm and supportive — so you can wake up feeling like yourself again.' Survey methodology: Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was commissioned by Avocado Green Mattress and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between May 9–15, 2025.
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
My lip filler dissolving treatment went horribly wrong — and left me looking like a Bratz doll
A woman's lip filler dissolving treatment went horribly wrong and left her looking like a Bratz doll. Kimia Awazi, 24, visited a popular clinic for a budget dissolving treatment — but she instantly regretted it when her lips began swelling uncontrollably. Advertisement Kimia claims the practitioner injected 3ml of dissolving agent instead of the standard 1ml, which triggered a severe allergic reaction. 5 Kimia Awazi visited a popular clinic for a budget dissolving treatment – but she instantly regretted it when her lips began swelling uncontrollably. Kimia Ahwazi / SWNS Within minutes of leaving the clinic, Kimia says her lips had grown so large she could barely speak and had to pull her car over. Kimia couldn't speak properly for 24 hours and had difficulty eating and drinking, forcing her to use straw. Advertisement The swelling eventually reduced on its own over the next few days without medical intervention. 5 Kimia claims the practitioner injected 3ml of dissolving agent instead of the standard 1ml. Kimia Ahwazi / SWNS Kimia, a branding and marketing assistant from Leiden, Netherlands, said: 'I was just watching my lips get bigger every minute. 'It was funny at first but also terrifying. Advertisement 'I felt like they were going to explode.' Kimia first started getting filler shortly after turning 18, starting with her nose, then moving on to her lips. 5 Kimia couldn't speak properly for 24 hours and had difficulty eating and drinking. Kimia Ahwazi / SWNS After five years of regular filler treatments, she began experiencing long-term issues, including lumps and even a lisp. Advertisement According to Kimia, the practitioner had been injecting the filler too deeply. Kimia said: 'Instead of dissolving naturally, the filler would shift and give me a speech problem. 'I spent years dissolving and refilling. 'But it was just a waste of time and money.' 5 The swelling eventually reduced on its own over the next few days without medical intervention. Kimia Ahwazi / SWNS Last year, in March 2024, Kimia decided to remove everything and start fresh and opted for a cheaper clinic. She said: 'It was $171 for up to seven dissolving sessions, compared to $400 per session at my usual place. 'It seemed like a great deal until my lips started swelling up.' Advertisement The extreme reaction lasted about 24 hours before it began to settle. The incident made Kimia reconsider her entire approach to cosmetic work. 5 Last year, in March 2024, Kimia decided to remove everything and start fresh and opted for a cheaper clinic. Kimia Ahwazi / SWNS She said: 'I always told myself not to go somewhere cheaper just to save money and this time I didn't listen. Advertisement 'It wasn't worth it.' After a six-month break, Kimia eventually returned to lip filler but this time only had 0.5ml added by a trusted clinic. She said: 'Now I'm much more cautious. 'I'm happy with how my lips look, and I'm sticking with what I know works. Advertisement 'Just because somewhere's popular doesn't mean it's right for you. 'Don't risk your face just because it's trending or cheaper.'
