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 | | Good Move: Andrew Forster is taking psychological treatment so he can eat food other than biscuits | London: A chef with a fear of food has survived for the past 25 years on a diet of biscuits.
Andrew Forster’s bizarre eating disorder means he cannot eat the meals he cooks up for customers at his restaurant.
Instead, the 27-year-old tucks into Blue Ribands, Rich Teas and Clubs biscuits and his favourite Tunnock’s Caramel Wafers.
He said, “I used to get through two packets of biscuits a day. When I was 18 months old, I stopped eating. Experts advised my mum to starve me as I’d eventually eat, but the only thing I’d want was biscuits.”
He added, “Just the thought of eating different foods would make me anxious and I’d start to feel sick. I thought I was going to be like this for the rest of my life.”
The phobia meant takeaways, romantic meals and even weddings were off the menu — as were his own dishes at Sale Pepe restaurant in Durham.
He had no choice but to rely on the verdict of his staff before sending dishes out to the customers.
Nutritionist’s help
“I’d think, ‘That smells delicious’, but the thought of tasting it would make me feel sick,” said Forster. “I always thought deep down it was psychological and that I was the only person in the world that had it.”
Worried girlfriend Caroline Lister contacted food experts, and a psychologist and a nutritionist are teaching Forster distraction techniques so he can try new foods. “It’s fantastic to be able to taste good food for once,” he said.
— Agencies
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