This article contains references to eating disorders.
Tom Bennett often gags or almost throws up when he tries to eat anything that isn’t pasta, baked beans, cereal, chips or bread – the foods that are part of his diet.
Tom says he’s not a fan of flavors, flavors or textures; in fact, he is “someone who doesn’t like food.”
“If I could take a pill and that would be all my meals for the day, I absolutely would,” the 26-year-old told The Feed.
Watch the full video below.
He says he has a food phobia and believes his fear of new foods is caused by his severe dairy and peanut allergies dating back to childhood.
In primary school, he spent lunch breaks separated from his classmates and ate under the supervision of a staff member in case he had an allergic reaction.
“I always look at food through that lens that, ‘Oh, this new food could possibly kill me,’” Tom told The Feed.
Mushrooms, meat pies, kebabs and vanilla slices are among the wide range of foods that Tom has never tried.
Tom has a small list of meals that he likes to eat on a regular basis. Source: SBS
‘Not a fan of taste’
When we meet him at the elegant restaurant overlooking Perth’s Swan River where he is getting married later this month, Tom tries zucchini for the first time.
He usually only eats hot fries when he’s at a restaurant. But after realizing he won’t be eating anything from the menu at his wedding, he tastes other dishes in hopes of finding at least one tasty option.
Tom stares anxiously at the four zucchini fritters.
“It’s much greener than I expected,” he says.
“Maybe you like it crunchy,” his fiancée Georgia says encouragingly from across the table.
Tom forfeits his usual order of chips to try some new dishes in preparation for his wedding. Source: SBS
Tom’s verdict on zucchini: “Strange as weeds…what would the grass clippings from an overgrown lawn taste like, I guess.”
Tom’s usual dinners are predictable: He alternates between baked beans on toast, regular pasta topped with dairy-free butter, and homemade nachos or tacos made only with taco shells, red beans, and tomato sauce. Breakfast consists of cereal and lunch consists of toast.
“When I cook for myself, easily 99 percent of my diet consists of these products,” says Tom.
What is selective eating?
Selective eating, also called picky or fussy eating, is when someone limits the types of foods in their diet and is reluctant to try other foods.
Gabriella Heruc, a dietitian and adjunct associate professor at Western Sydney University, helps young people with eating-related problems.
She said selective eating is very common: Most children are picky eaters in early childhood but usually grow out of it.
“But for some people it can become a bigger problem that disrupts their daily lives,” Heruc said.
Heruc said selective eaters often experience sensory issues when trying new foods — for example, they may struggle with the taste, texture, smell, temperature or appearance of the food.
Having negative experiences with food, such as choking or food poisoning, can also cause a fear of food. Other picky eaters may simply not be hungry.
And she said there could be consequences for people’s health.
“If someone eats selectively… it can lead to all kinds of complications in young people,” she said.
“It could be that their growth is stunted, they’re quite malnourished and they’re underweight, which can impact their bone development and their brain development.”
“It can also impact physical complications due to malnutrition, such as causing problems with heart function.”
“I had a blood test done and it all came back fine. I’m very fit,” he said.
Trying new foods
Tom has the most difficulty with food that is soggy or runny, contains too many ingredients, has a strong taste or contains hidden bits.
But he now tries new foods several times a week and documents his progress for thousands of viewers on social media.
“My motivation for trying new foods is to better myself… if I ever want to have children in the future, I don’t want to pass this on to them,” he said.
ARFID: a life-threatening condition
Tom has never felt the need to diagnose his eating behavior: “My mentality is that there is nothing wrong with me.”
But for others, this can become a more complex condition.
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a relatively new eating disorder diagnosis, first classified in 2013.
It is estimated that approximately 1 in 300 Australians are living with ARFID (although this is likely an underestimate as research is still limited).
More than 30,000 Australians were reported to be living with ARFID by 2023. Source: SBS
People with ARFID avoid eating or limit their food intake out of fear or anxiety about certain foods. Unlike other eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, this is not due to concerns about body image.
Heruc said what sets ARFID apart from selective eating is how severely the behavior affects a person’s life.
“[ARFID] It can stop them from doing social things, but it can also cause them quite a bit of anxiety or distress,” she says.
“It can cause malnutrition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies or cause them to be underweight.”
In severe cases, people with ARFID can end up in the hospital because they are so malnourished.
“They are almost paralyzed because they don’t eat because it is so scary for them,” Heruc said.
Gabriella Heruc helps young people with food and eating-related issues. Source: SBS
Heruc said if someone suspects they have ARFID, it is important to seek help from a primary care physician or mental health professional.
While treatments for the diagnosis are still being developed, mental health professionals and trained dietitians can aid in recovery.
Can you overcome selective eating?
Simple picky eating can be overcome, says Heruc – if the person is motivated.
“If someone is a selective eater and it’s not really causing a lot of distress in their life or physical complications, then it’s not something they necessarily need to address,” she said.
“The main thing is to try as many new foods as possible.”
Over the past few months, Tom has worked up the courage to try more than a hundred new foods.
Tom hopes that one day he can order more items at a restaurant, instead of his usual chips. Source: SBS
Some he hated (hard-boiled eggs and cherry tomatoes), while others were surprisingly delicious (butter chicken and French toast).
His goal is to “expand my palate so much that when I go out to eat, I might be able to have a few more items.”
“Just having a positive ‘can-do’ attitude and trying to remove that mental block around trying new things.”
Readers seeking support for body image concerns and eating disorders can contact the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673. More information is available at
To find a certified eating disorder doctor, visit connect.ed
Readers seeking crisis support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for under 25s). More information and mental health support is available at and on 1300 22 4636.
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